"In a mature market," said Dickinson, "prices have been forced downwards, while security services have been treated as a commodity by some clients. Not only does that lead to a lack of resources for security companies to reinvest in their business and the welfare of their people, it also leads to a lower perception of the 'value' of security and perpetuates the 'grudge purchase' image." Quite so.
With the Private Security Industry Act 2001 in place and the Security Industry Authority taking shape, it's important that the changing climate in the private security industry is mirrored by a change in attitudes. That change will only come about if, collectively, we raise the status of the very people upon whom the industry relies. The security officers. Avid readers of SMT will know that 'raising the stakes' for officers has been a constant theme in the magazine throughout the last two years, encapsulated by our support for the industry-led initiative that is 'A Contract of Substance' (SMT, April 2002, pp20-24).
David Dickinson's remarks were made at a presentation to Reliance Security Services Personnel as part of the 2002 BSIA Security Officer of the Year Awards. Highlighting the skills of this industry's many and dedicated officers, we felt that it was an opportune time to devote a section of the magazine to honouring the 'Cream of the Crop'. The people who make your buildings safe. The people who really generate the revenue for the guarding companies. The bread winners. The property protectors. The unsung heroes...
Once again, the competition has been split into five categories – 'Best Team', the most 'Outstanding Act', the 'Best Use of Technology', 'Best Newcomer' and 'Service to the Customer'.
The regional winners reported here will then progress to the final judging round, while the national winners will be presented with their awards at the BSIA's Annual General Meeting and Luncheon (to be held on 10 July at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London).
The Best Security Team
The Whitehall Security Services security team at architect Foster and Partners has won the prestigious title of London Security Team of the Year for its work over the last two years in protecting the renowned organisation's head offices in Hester Road, SW11. The nine-strong team was nominated by Whitehall's managing director John Legge, who praised their consistently high standards.
The Whitehall team's nomination was supported by client Dominic Kelly, a director of Foster and Partners. "Members of the team not only manage themselves with minimal input from us, but they do so while instilling confidence in all those who deal with them," commented Kelly. Praise indeed.
The title of Scottish Security Team of the Year has been won by the team at NEC Semiconductors on the Deans Industrial Estate, Livingston. The 35-strong team of officers from Reliance Security Services – led by manager Grahame Duguid and senior supervisor David McConville – was nominated by Reliance's contract manager John Underwood, who praised the officers' "innovative approach to their work, which has introduced a vast number of new ideas" – including a training matrix and skills analysis for security staff, as well as cost-saving techniques for employees' identity cards.
The Securicor Guarding team at Sunderland AFC's Stadium of Light has walked off with the title of North East Security Team of the Year for 2002, having worked for the last five years towards making the areas in and around the ground 'crime-free' zones. "The football club has set its own security priorities in terms of image and reliability," said Securicor's area manager Ian Clarke, who nominated the team. "The team must also strive to maintain the delicate balance between crime prevention and ensuring that supporters enjoy their day out."
According to Clarke, the Securicor team has managed to "combine dedication and pure teamwork with the use of new technology to ensure that the end user's needs are met to the full." You can't ask for better than that.
In 2002, the South East Security Team of the Year also goes to Securicor Guarding, this time around to the dedicated team working at BACS. The team has won the regional award for "the exceptional quality of its work in a wide range of security tasks" – encompassing patrol and reception duties through to the operation of bespoke electronic security and fire systems.
The team was nominated for the award by Securicor area manager Kenny McKenzie, who told SMT that BACS' own internal audit department had praised the team's "high level of motivation, discipline and professionalism".
The security team at Bradford's KirkGate Centre takes this year's Yorkshire Security Team of the Year regional award. The KirkGate team from Chubb Security Personnel won the day for its professionalism and bravery during the riots which took place in the city last July.
In nominating this team for the award, Chubb's national accounts manager Tony Stallard praised the officers' assertive response to potential troublemakers, and their empathy in reassuring frightened members of the public. "During the height of the disturbances, members of the team administered first aid to a man stabbed by a rioter, while colleagues gathered CCTV surveillance evidence that gave rise to the assailant's arrest," said Stallard. "The team acted with bravery and professionalism."
Across the water, the security team at the major TeleTech Call Centre in Duncairn Gardens has scooped the accolade of Northern Ireland Security Team of the Year. The team of six officers from Group 4 Security Services won the regional award for its work over the last 18 months, during which time the TeleTech facility has grown from a building site to become one of the Province's foremost high-tech Call Centres.
"The team members have become an integral part of the site's operation, managing the Control Room and its electronic security systems as well as operating a combined reception and switchboard facility," said Group 4's operations director Rory Mallon, who nominated the team for this award.
Look out for an exclusive report on the team's work, and an interview with Rory Mallon, in the July edition of Security Management Today.
South Wales and the West Country Security Team of the Year goes to the team at Cardiff Crown Court – comprising 52-year-old supervisor Roger Jenkins and his band of three officers from Initial Security.
The team was nominated for the award by Initial's contract manager Wayne Jones. Jones stressed that the team has been responsible for wide-ranging improvements in security, including controlling access, car parking, keyholding, emergency evacuation procedures and dealing with the needs of disabled visitors.
A team of 13 officers from Chubb Security Personnel, led by supervisor Gary Albert, has won the North West Security Team of the Year for their work in helping to protect the Spindles Shopping Centre.
Their prompt and well-considered response to an unwanted intrusion by members of the Anti-Nazi League in May last year – an intrusion that caused £2,000 of damages – contained the situation, and prevented anyone from being harmed. Otherwise, the incident could have led to a major threat to both people and property alike.
Outstanding Act for 2002
Local security controller Wayne Broughton of Chubb Security Personnel has won the Midlands Security Officer of the Year for his courage and quick thinking in tackling a fire at the RS Components plant in Nuneaton, where 32-year-old Broughton has been a member of the security team for the past five years. "Wayne prevented what could have been a very costly loss," said Chubb's contract manager Graham Pollard.
The London Security Officer of the Year regional award goes to 39-year-old Bam Bello, who works for Securicor Guarding. Bam won the award for single-handedly preventing a robbery at a private estate in Hampstead last March, where he has worked as a security officer for the past 20 months.
Bam was nominated for the award by Securicor's area manager David Danby.
Scottish Security Officer of the Year for 2002 is Tom Condon. 41-year-old Condon, who is employed by Group 4 Total Security, won the award for his bravery in detaining an armed intruder at the Renfrewshire Electronics site in Port Glasgow, where he's been based for the past three years. "Threatened with being stabbed, Tom restrained his assailant and waited for the police to arrive on scene," commented Tom's nominator Gary MacKay, Group 4's service delivery manager.
Security manager Alan Brierley has won the title of North West Security Officer of the Year. Another employee of Group 4 Total Security, 34-year-old Brierley helped save a young man from drowning in the River Mersey near Warrington. When the incident came to light, Group 4's operations director Neil Forshaw made enquiries and was informed in writing by Chief Inspector Madeley of the Cheshire Constabulary that Alan would be nominated for an award by the Liverpool Shipwreck and Humane Society.
Local security officer Matthew Bridger, 23, who works for Reliance Security Services, has won this year's South East Security Officer of the Year award in the most Outstanding Act category for his courage and quick thinking in rescuing the occupants of a burning house near the Priory Meadows Shopping Centre, Hastings.
Bridger was nominated for the award by Reliance's contracts manager Kelvin Cranford. "Matthew saw that one of the houses opposite was on fire and went inside without hesitation to first alert and then evacuate the residents," said Cranford. "Despite the dangers of smoke and falling glass from shattered windows, Matthew managed to evacuate everyone quickly and safely before cordoning off the area to safeguard passing traffic."
Umah Sagir, a 44-year-old security officer with Fraser Security Services, has won this year's South Wales and the West Country Security Officer of the Year award for his actions on 3 July 2001, while on duty as a relief security officer at the Fitzalan Court Estate in Cardiff. On a night of torrential rain, Umah prevented flooding and moved electrical equipment and office furniture out of harm's way. If water had reached the power supply, the repair bill would have been astronomical.
59-year-old Andrew Templeton of Reliance Security Services has taken the 2002 Northern Ireland Security Officer of the Year award for his quick thinking and bravery in thwarting a robbery at the Ulster Bank in Carryduff, where he has worked for the past six months.
Yorkshire Security Officer of the Year in this category is Mirko Maric, who has worked as Chubb Security Personnel's security manager at Bradford's KirkGate Centre for the past four years. During the riots of last July, Mirko closed down the Centre and helped guide people away from potential danger areas, in due course saving over 500 members of the public from possible harm.
The Best Use of Technology
Local security supervisors Peter Chinnery and Greg Woods of Reliance Security Services have won the prestigious title of South East Security Officer of the Year in this category for their effective use of the CCTV camera system installed at Compuware on Bath Road in Slough. "Peter and Greg have helped the local police by supplying images of known local offenders," commented Reliance's contracts manager, Ian Hall.
Security officer Eddie Frame, a staff sergeant with Group 4 Total Security, has won the Scottish Security Officer of the Year award for 2002 in this category for his efforts at the home of Inventec (Scotland), based in Hillington.
Eddie has helped greatly with the implementation of a new access control system, set up a Control Room and introduced an airport-style scanning system to prevent stolen goods from leaving the premises.
27-year-old Chris Pratt takes the Midlands Security Officer of the Year award. Chris, who is employed by The Watch Security, has worked at the British Timken site at Duston for the past year, providing an IT maintenance and advice service to the company by way of adding to his pure security role.
Members of the Initial Security team at Yeovil's Quedam Centre have shared the South Wales and the West Country Security Officer of the Year award for their skilful and professional operation of the extensive CCTV camera system installed within the shopping centre itself, as well as its adjacent car park.
Eddie Goodburn is another regional winner, having been named North West Security Officer of the Year. Eddie, who works for Galago (part of the OCS Group of Companies), is deployed at the Telewest site in Knowsley and is involved in controlling and monitoring CCTV systems for the client's north west operations.
Finally, the award of Yorkshire Security Officer of the Year for' Best Use of Technology' has been bestowed upon 25-year-old Craig Smith of Group 4 Total Security. Craig works as a supervisor in a secure centre supplying stationery to a Government department. Group 4's project manager Chris Harris praised the young officer's commitment to providing an error-free service.
The Best Newcomer
There were four regional winners in the 'Best Newcomer' category this year, representing the South East, Midlands, Yorkshire and Scotland.
Tony Callaghan has won the South East Security Officer of the Year award for his dedicated performance at the Vodafone buildings at Arlington Business Park in Theale. Employed by The Corps, he is responsible for the security of four separate buildings and no less than 1,000 members of staff.
"Since Day One, Tony has shown great commitment in a variety of tasks, including the development and operation of our post room, setting up a database to monitor the location of all staff and improving the roster for the eight-strong security team," said Vodafone's facilities manager Graham Birch.
Terry Gordon of The Watch Security has taken the Midlands Security Officer of the Year prize in recognition of his work at The Belgrade Theatre, where he has implemented new security systems, established new radio procedures and rationalised the paperwork. Commendable stuff.
Meanwhile, Initial Security's Neil Duggan has won the Yorkshire Security Officer of the Year award in the 'Best Newcomer' category thanks to his efforts at the Doncaster Royal Infirmary, where he has been a member of the security team for the past nine months.
His work includes dealing with potentially violent patients.
Across the border, 39-year-old David Stewart of Reliance Security Services has won the Scottish Security Officer of the Year award. David is a mobile supervisor responsible for a total of 15 sites around the country. He is described by his general manager Keith Murray as being "immensely professional, cool, calm and collected."
Service to the Customer
Security supervisor Mark Hutchinson has won the Yorkshire Security Officer of the Year award for his work at the Darton Plant of BP Chemicals. 41-year-old Hutchinson, of Constant Security Services, has been a member of the security team for 15 years. Unswerving loyalty and high standards in performing a wide range of duties – encompassing access control, reception and patrolling duties – won the Judges over.
The South Wales and the West Country Security Officer of the Year went to Nicholas Fry of Initial Aviation Security. The regional award is in recognition of Fry's work at Bristol Airport. Baggage screening and passenger searches take up much of Nicholas' time. His vigilance once located a firearm that had been broken into three pieces and hidden in separate items of luggage.
Marie Murphy takes this year's South East Security Officer of the Year award for her work over the past two-and-a-half years at the Royal Bank of Scotland's Property Services Facility at the Arlington Business Park in Theale. Marie and her team of five officers from The Corps combine their security duties with a range of additional services, including the handling of all incoming and outgoing mail.
Marie was nominated for the award by The Corps' area manager Rab Ritchie, who praised her "presence of mind. Marie adds value by introducing new ideas to improve the quality of service to the client."
Another female officer, Patricia Hunter, has won the Scottish Security Officer of the Year award in the 'Service to the Customer' category. Patricia, of Chubb Security Personnel, scooped the award for her work over three years at the DuPont Teijin Films plant in Dumfries. She was nominated by Chubb's area manager Shaun Kennedy, who praised Patricia's professionalism in managing the site's high-tech gatehouse, and providing a range of essential services such as co-ordinating training for staff.
Northern Ireland Security Officer of the Year is Securicor Guarding's security supervisor John Quee. For the past 12 years, John has worked at the Ards Shopping Centre in Newtownards, County Down, co-ordinating all of the Centre's security activities.
Frequently changing his hours to suit the Centre's needs, John has also built excellent working relationships with the Centre's Management Team, tenants and members of the public alike.
Store detective John Farnsworth has taken the 2002 North East Security Officer of the Year award in this category. 35-year-old Farnsworth, an employee of Securicor Guarding, has worked as a detective at a number of major stores in the region throughout the past 18 months.
John has thus far contributed to 145 arrests for theft, and recovers stolen goods valued at over £1,000 on a monthly basis.
Meantime, local security supervisor Christine Barton of The Watch Security has won the Midlands Security Officer of the Year award for her continued good work at the Sunningdale Business Centre, where she has been a supervisor for the past four years. Now responsible for a 20-strong team of officers, Christine leads by example, frequently attending out-of-hours meetings and diligently overseeing her team's training on site.
The London Security Officer of the Year award for 2002 goes to 51-year-old Andrew Stylioti of Lynx Security Services for his work over the past four years at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children. Andrew was nominated for the award by Lynx's personnel director Ian Noble, who praised his dedication and close relationships with staff, parents and patients alike.
Last, but by no means least, Securicor Guarding's supervisor Jay Anderton has scooped the North West Security Officer of the Year award. 34-year-old Anderton wins the award for his dedicated efforts over the past three years at the Clayton Square premises of Boots The Chemist in Liverpool.
In support of Jay's nomination, store manager Simon Pickering told SMT: "Jay has always maintained a professional and calm response to severe provocation. It has never deflected him from dealing with difficult and sometimes dangerous situations."
Source
SMT
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