Challenging the status quo

II must say I found the article not only very interesting but also hugely relevant to what is happening in the security industry today.

For my part, I have spent nearly 20 years working in the private security sector, taking in various ‘verticals' from retail security through to working as a security consultant for a large international organisation in the Far East.

Rightly, Chris highlights the role of the security manager in the corporate environment, focusing on the knowledge such individuals must possess. The issues that security managers may now be called upon to deal with can vary quite a bit. Some of them will be pretty complex in nature, with managers specialising in different areas.

Ex-services personnel can (and do) bring many qualities to the ‘security table' thanks to their experience and knowledge, but serving in Her Majesty's Armed Forces or the police service is a very different kettle of fish to working in the corporate security arena.

Transferring from what is necessarily a very structured environment in the Armed Forces to the large-scale commercial world will be a massive culture shock for many. Will a given person be able to adapt, and will they be able to answer all of the questions asked of them on an immediate basis?

Chris also talks about development inside - and acclimatisation to - the security environment, and the host industry within which the individual will work. These days, managers who have a diverse career background will be of more benefit to their host organisation than those who have spent all of their time in one area. To be frank, I suspect that many corporate concerns looking for a security manager are blinded by titles and what people have done in the past in their old profession. Instead, they should be asking themselves: "Would this individual be able to cope with our working environment and culture, and be able to deal efficiently and effectively with our security issues?"

How will the security professionals of tomorrow develop their careers if they are continually pipped at the post when attending for interview by individuals who have little or no experience in the security sector, but were high ranking in the services?

One has to question the status quo in this industry from time to time or it will not progress or change for the better.

I suspect there will be many readers who will not agree with Chris' view of the world, nor my own, but if matters such as this are not debated in Open Forum what will be the end result?

I'll tell you. A ‘secret society' limited to - and dominated by - a chosen (but unqualified) few.

David Cawrey Security Manager Euston Tower Security Control Centre