Reflections on 2004

January

2004 began in turbulent fashion for the Security Industry Authority, with the resignation of Molly Meacher. Undeterred from the task at hand, chief executive John Saunders spoke at length to SMT about creating an environment in which “the buyer worries if the supplier isn’t making sufficient margin”. The gargantuan task of licensing the private sector’s security officers would begin 12 months down the line...

The Home Office announced the formation of a new National Action Group to tackle business crime – the Action Against Business Crime Group would be a joint initiative with the British Retail Consortium. £900,000 of tax payers’ money was awarded to the scheme covering the period to 2006.

NSI chief executive Tom Mullarkey used the regular ‘Raising The Standard’ section of SMT to discuss the Accredited Fraud Investigators Scheme, a joint project run by the Metropolitan Police Service, the City of London Police and the CBI. “It will make the selection of people hired to uncover fraud both transparent and subject to independent review,” stated Mullarkey at the time.

The spectre of suicide bombers had loomed large in the period leading up to the New Year. Superintendent Stephen Swain’s wise words delivered at Consec offered useful combative tips for UK security managers.

February

Security Management Today unveiled details of its push to campaign on issues of major importance to the security profession by announcing the launch of The SMT Forum. The motion to be debated at the inaugural discussion chamber, to be held at Securex in October, would examine whether or not security management should remain a separate discipline rather than be amalgamated with generic facilities management operations.

In Parliament, the Civil Contingencies Bill (depicted on SMT’s Front Cover) put forward the notion of far stronger powers of action for the UK Government under emergency scenarios (such as a terrorist attack) – in turn establishing a fully-revised framework for civil defence. SMT attempted to clarify some of the issues for guarding companies, examining their possible new role as members of the Home Office’s ‘wider policing community’.

Is security seen as a profession? That question was posed by Security Institute Council member Ian Johnson, who suggested that membership of the Institute is one step along the road to an enhanced status.

Whitehall Security md John Legge used the pages of our annual Manned Security Solutions Supplement to stress that the SIA must engage with the industry’s client base throughout the licensing process.

March

‘Group 4 Falck confirms merger deal with Securicor Security’. Arguably the biggest news story to hit the guarding sector in decades dominated headlines in SMT this month. The combined group creates a global security operation with a turnover approaching £3.8 billion and an estimated market value of more than £1.6 billion.

There was a spate of activity in the manned security sector, in fact, as SMT reported the OCS Group’s £24 million buy-out of Resolution Security and Securitas’ long-term agreement with Land Securities Trillium. In an exclusive interview, Securitas md Morten Ronning told the industry how he was grafting the Scandinavian security model onto the UK business. “There’s far too much emphasis on volume in the UK,” said Ronning. “That elephantine disease. It’s far better for contractors to grow slowly by taking on commitments whereby they can actually earn money and reinvest to create a healthy, stable private security business.” How true.

As the year progressed, more and more job advertisements in the Recruitment section of SMT were specifying the Certified Protection Professional (CPP) qualification as a basic requirement. With this in mind, CPP expert and ASIS International tutor Barry Walker told the readership why they should sign up for instruction right away!

April

The security industry authority's licensing roll-out for door supervisors began with the launch of its scheme for operatives in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Rapid strides forward were also being made in the systems sector. The latest European standards and IP technology made viable through Broadband and corporate networks are now offering security managers better quality alarm systems at lower cost. WebWayOne’s Paul Carter – whose outfit would scoop two ‘gongs’ at the Security Excellence Awards in October – looked at the improvements to be realised from engaging with the ‘digital age’.

SMT’s publishing house CMP Information decided to reflect this move towards digital by announcing the launch of Network Advantage, a dedicated IP show running alongside IFSEC and Security Solutions at the Birmingham NEC in May.
Following on from the landmark Court case regarding the
Data Protection Act and its relevance to CCTV (‘Defining moment’, SMT, March 2004, pp32-33), the Office of the Information Commissioner issued new guidelines for system end users.

Our annual Access Solutions Supplement managed to answer some of the most commonly asked questions concerning the Disability Discrimination Act.

May

The way in which manned security companies are often seen as part of a labour pool rather than partners involved in the delivery of a successful business solution has played a key role in creating image problems for the discipline, not to mention less-than-perfect market conditions. According to Wilson James’ Stuart Lowden, contractors need to improve the knowledge base of those who sell the guarding service to clients – and he used The Security Institute’s regular column to tell them so.

The National Security Inspectorate decided to publicise its June conference for end users and specifiers of both security and fire services. The event – entitled ‘Delivering Customer Confidence’ – would turn out to be a great success.

Forward-thinking managers at Stafford General Hospital had procured an IP-based surveillance system to improve rendered image quality and (hopefully) make some financial savings on the bottom line. Within our detailed Case Study, system supplier Axis Communications suggested that the installation had realised a 56% saving in overall cost. Pretty impressive stuff.

SMT offered a comprehensive round-up of travel security provisions for corporate managers sent to work overseas, while the BSIA revealed that its retail crime reduction programme Raid-control would be extended.

June

BSIA chief executive david dickinson expressed his “deep concerns” over the proposed European Directive on Services, which threatened to provide the opportunity for self-employed or temporary overseas workers to enter the UK and offer services (including security) in accordance with regulations adopted in their home nation rather than our own. As the year draws to a close, the industry still awaits the outcome of this particular EU announcement...

On a more positive note, Dickinson welcomed the publication of the Rowntree Report, which looked at the effectiveness of visible security patrols in residential areas. “Private security officers can play an important role in reducing low level anti-social behaviour,” opined the BSIA supremo. “They’re not carrying out police work and nor should they, but they can engage in positive working relationships with the police service, and support them in their overall objective of reducing crime and disorder.”

SMT’s Profile section concentrated on Dennis Ahern, security and safety manager at one of the most high profile public buildings in the country – Tate Modern. Dennis’ attention to detail and great skill in moulding a dual operation combining security and Health and Safety would win him the Security Manager of the Year Award come October.

July

Just how ready is the security world for regulation? That was the question posed by Professor Martin Gill, director of Perpetuity Research and Consultancy International (PRCI) and the man commissioned by the SIA to undertake a major study of the sector on behalf of the regulator.

Not surprisingly, Gill and his colleague from PRCI – Dr Tony Burns-Howell – suggested that parts of the industry are in “a very poor state” with the scope for radical change in the guarding sector “minimal” at best. We’ll know a little better when the licensing of contract security officers begins in January.

SMT secured a major ‘exclusive’ in the shape of an interview with Sir John Stevens, commissioner of the Metropolitan Police and Patron of The Security Institute. He told SMT: “While working within the rigid framework required by public accountability has helped the police to control the ways in which its services are delivered, the private sector benefits from having a much freer rein which encourages innovation. Security professionals have very specific areas of expertise, and can offer us a better understanding of the challenges they face.”

In the news, an investigation by The Times newspaper into some of Britain’s biggest firms revealed “gaping holes” in mobile phone handset security. The phenomenon of ‘Bluesnarfing’ arose, whereby hackers and data thieves threaten mobiles that use Bluetooth wireless technology by downloading text messages and lists of names and numbers from a given individual’s address book. Just when we thought the security gap had been plugged, too...

August

With the dust beginning to settle on the Group 4 Securicor merger, SMT devoted an entire section of News Update to the company, letting the end user community know who’s going to be in charge of which element in what’s now the UK’s largest contractor by far.

The md for the UK guarding business is David Beaton, who’d be the subject of an exclusive Profile in the September edition.

Following a trial period as chairman in the wake of Molley Meacher’s unexpected departure, Peter Hermitage was confirmed as the full-time appointee at the Security Industry Authority. Excellent news. Indeed, Peter’s considered approach to the task at hand has proven very popular in the ensuing months.

Our Case Study centred on the wireless CCTV surveillance scheme that’s being trialled by Westminster City Council. Interestingly, the scheme has been championed by a non-security specialist – the Council’s information services networks manager Andrew Snellgrove. Are schemes of this nature the shape of things to come? Only time will tell.

Security director for chief executive? Bill Wyllie’s intuitive discourse in The Security Institute’s regular section set tongues wagging, and helped inform The SMT Forum scheduled for October. Certainly, many industry protagonists feel that EVERY Board of Directors should include a representative professional from the security community.

The Security Institute also unveiled a joint plan with the BSIA and PRCI to shed new light on customer perceptions in the industry by way of the ‘Security Research Initiative’. The project is now scheduled to run over the next three years. The results will be interesting.

September

A quite superb ‘opinion’ piece courtesy of Steve Goodwin MBE – general manager at Widnes-based contractor Noble Security Services – examined whether or not the Government’s decision to spend over £8 million of tax payers’ money on sending out a booklet advising us all how to deal with a terrorist strike was a wise investment.

According to Goodwin, it wasn’t. “While this country’s leaders allow unwanted outsiders to enter through its porous borders with little or no checks, but at the same time hire hundreds of outreach workers to mollycoddle the population, what do they seriously expect?” A comment wholeheartedly endorsed by SMT.

A new centre of training excellence – The Academy of Security – was launched in a bid to help private sector practitioners prepare for SIA licensing and regulation. Representatives of Group 4 Securicor, SITO, Step To Training, ProteXus Training and Business Link formed what was termed a “unique partnership” at Cirencester College.

In time, The Academy of Security will offer training in static and patrol guarding and close protection.

SMT reviewed the Government’s intention to introduce enabling legislation that would create Business Improvement Districts, whereupon local councils and private sector companies suggest projects – including bespoke security installations – that will be directly funded by business rates. The big question is whether or not this US-style model will work in the UK?

The BSIA announced Jim Harrower’s appointment as chairman of the Association

October

A worrying phenomenon arrived in ‘Security Town’... in the shape of e-tendering. Or online tendering. Or e-bidding. Whatever you call the process it’s not good, eliminating any kind of personal contact and added value associated with the contractual documents while hanging security companies – already beleaguered by eroding margins – out to dry.

The All-Party Internet Group’s comprehensive investigation into cybercrime called for the Home Office to update elements of the Computer Misuse Act.

Following on from talks involving the BSIA, the Association of British Insurers, the National Security Inspectorate and the Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board, a statement was released confirming what many felt would be the case... There would be a dual running of PD 6662 and British Standards until October next year.

“Security companies held valid concerns about introducing EN 50131-1 without allowing them any time to prepare,” said the BSIA’s technical director Alex Carmichael at the time SMT passed for press. “It was estimated that the premature introduction of the standard would cost larger manufacturers £1.5 million. Costs which may have had to be passed on to the client at some point.” Dual running was obviously the best solution.

In SMT’s most ambitious Case Study to date, we covered the security installation at 30 St Mary Axe (the Norman Foster-designed home of Swiss Re that went on to win this year’s Stirling Prize for architecture). Facilities managers in charge of security? Can that really work? Swiss Re’s Andrew Green and Gerry Campbell certainly think so...

November

Invited speakers at the SMT forum debated the motion: ‘Should security management continue to remain as a separate discipline?’ During the past four years, the journal has evolved into a practical design reference work for security managers (both in-house and contract), but now was the time to raise the stakes yet again. The industry needs a magazine that campaigns on its own merits. SMT is that title, and will continue to be so...

After many years of excellent service to the industry, Joint Security Industry Council chief executive Michael Welply stepped aside to be replaced at the helm by Richard Childs (former chief constable of Lincolnshire Police and no stranger to the pages of SMT). Childs is now setting about securing financial stability for the Council, and building closer working ties with the BSIA and related industry bodies.

First Security md Jonathan Levine’s excellent company was bought by MacLellan in a move which mirrors many of late. Levine told SMT that he’s “absolutely delighted” with the deal, though. Good news for all of First’s contented client base, then...

On a disturbing note, the latest findings from the AXA Business Crime Index revealed a huge increase in the number of crimes perpetrated against UK businesses.

Chubb Security Personnel’s national training manager Jane McKenna spent a good part of the year working side-by-side with SITO in producing an excellent video aimed at increasing security awareness among women. The video – launched at the SITO National Conference – should be essential viewing for all security managers, male and female, as well as all members of staff in any corporate firm.

December

2004 draws to a close... SITO’s national Conference – subtitled ‘Together we can’ – proves to be a massive success, with a record number of delegates, the welcome return of BSIA chief executive David Dickinson to the fold following heart surgery and a fabulous KeyNote address from Sir Ronnie Flanagan.

SITO’s theme for training in the future is that of partnership-based working. That’s exactly what the industry needs. It’s no longer valid for security professionals and contracting companies to think of themselves in splendid isolation. The good of the whole is greater than the needs of the one.

Ever controversial, the Security Watchdog’s managing director Terry O’Neil suggests that BS 7858 is no longer sufficient in this ‘new age’ of heightened terrorist threat.

Meantime, Group 4 Securicor’s national operations director Doug Hewitson uses the Letters pages to point out to Boards of Directors that they can no longer buy security on the cheap. Certainly, contractors have been handcuffed by ridiculous tender prices in the past, but the industry will never be truly professional if we continue to pay security officers a poor wage.

On a national level, Shadow Minister for Homeland Security Patrick Mercer OBE spoke out against Prime Minister Tony Blair, warning him to take heed of the atrocities in Madrid before some of London’s populace are forced to endure a similar fate. Quite right. It’s not booklets we need, Mr Blair, rather practical implementation of security by Parliament...

We do hope you’ve enjoyed another year of SMT, and we look forward to bringing you all the very best information once again in 2005.