RiskXtraDecember2018

Opinion: Developing Security Skills and Knowledge
this point and then it was suggested that theft
may be an issue as well as fire. I asked if they
were familiar with the contents of PAS 96:2017.
They were not.
I then asked the bidders about the proposed
security risk assessment (as the retained
security consultant it seemed a good idea not
to replicate the work I had conducted over the
previous eight years when retained by the
client) and who would conduct it. The regional
manager said it was his role and that he would
conduct the assessment process along with the
proposed contract manager. Given his SIA
licence training and the ‘ILM Level 5’, I enquired
as to his experience and qualifications to
complete the risk assessment for my client. He
had no formal qualification and uses the
“template that Health and Safety gives me”.
When asked about potentially using the
Operational Requirement process, this was met
with a number of blank faces.
In an attempt to salvage what was becoming
a bit of a train wreck, the sales manager added
that they would also use a well-known security
consultant (one who holds a PhD in security
and risk) and that he would support the
security risk assessment. Helpfully, I offered to
give this external resource a call after the
meeting as he and I were discussing the
Register of Chartered Security Professionals
and the Register of Security Experts and
Specialists at the time.
Serious issues raised
The purpose of this little anecdote is not to
belittle the security guarding sector. Rather, I
feel it raises serious issues with regards to our
sector, and notably so in terms of the way in
which we present ourselves to other sectors
and how we’re often unable to demonstrate the
value we, as security professionals, can bring to
our peers within our business or organisation.
In the example above, surprisingly the bidder
mentioned was not successful. However,
imagine how different the outcome could have
been had that bidder offered to conduct a
security assessment based on a recognised
framework and transacted by a manager who
held a recognised qualification?
Whether it’s the Certified Protection
Professional (CPP), the Physical Security
Professional (PSP) or even the newly-launched
Associate Protection Professional (APP) from
ASIS, an accredited security surveying course
from an established provider or a security
management qualification from The Security
Institute, the knowledge these courses of study
bring to the understanding of the core
principles involved with security risk
mitigation, physical and technical security is
essential for the development of individual
professionals and, indeed, the profession itself.
Yes, there are many very good individuals
who have previous careers that prepare them
well for the private sector, whether those
previous careers have been spent in the military
or the civilian police. Yet increasingly we need
to recognise that there are those entering the
security world as a career choice, completing
undergraduate degrees and working their way
up the (slightly rickety) career ladder that
exists. Alternatively, security is being added to
the portfolios of those professionals in other
sectors, such as facilities management.
Given the range of backgrounds and skill sets
that exist, let’s not be afraid to recognise where
we need to develop, perhaps engage with the
mentoring programmes that are provided by the
professional associations and conduct a
personal ‘training needs analysis’ that ensures
the learning of new skills or the development of
existing knowledge.
Bringing value to projects
While often much maligned as providing little
useful advice for the payment of exorbitant
fees, consultants do bring value to projects as
long as they have the necessary experience and
background to do so.
The majority of security managers seem
reluctant to outsource or consult other
specialists out of fear that the organisation will
doubt their own knowledge and ability. Reports
written by external resources should be part of
the ‘homework’ for the security practitioner –
reading and understanding the analysis, the
basis for recommendations and technical
specifications. This is part of our education as
security professionals. You will soon be seen as
the ‘in-house SME’ who will bring value to
security planning and project implementation.
Let’s not forget, either, that one of the traits
of being a profession is that the sector
practitioners within have ‘specialised
knowledge’ and show a commitment to selfdevelopment
as well as keeping up-to-date with
the latest trends such that they can provide the
best possible service to their clients.
Without up-to-date knowledge and skills,
‘security’ will continue to be seen as a cost and
not the ‘business enabler’ we know it to be.
Angus Darroch-Warren BA
(Hons) MSc PSP CSyP FSyI:
Senior Consultant and Group
Director at the Linx
International Group
“Given the range of backgrounds and skill sets that exist,
let’s not be afraid to recognise where we need to develop
and perhaps engage with the mentoring programmes that
are provided by the professional associations”
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