Biometric technology and identity management consultancy Human Recognition Systems (HRS) has appointed Citypress to advise on its media relations activities.

The Manchester agency has been briefed to support a national and specialist media relations objective to raise HRS' profile across sectors where security has become a major industry issue.

HRS, based in Liverpool, claims to be behind some of the UK's biggest security control projects, including the country's first iris-recognition access-control system at a UK airport and a biometric site entry system for construction giant Carillion.

The company was established in 2002 by Neil Norman and its clients include Next, BNFL, WH Smith and Manchester Airport spanning Government, healthcare, defence and several other sectors.

Norman said: "We are at a stage both in the development of the business and the biometrics industry where we need to be shaping and leading debate on a topic which energises media and impacts at the highest level of Government.

"A raised profile and intelligent thought leadership across a number of sectors will be crucial to HRS as we enter a period of strong projected growth."