Supporting the Thin Blue Line

Rising crime figures have again focused attention on the most effective ways of tackling crime, bringing the police under the spotlight once more.

It was reported in February’s SMT that I was critical of the police for failing to make optimum use of the security industry. Nothing could be further from the truth. As managing director of one of the UK’s leading manned guarding companies, I know full well the skills which the guarding industry can deploy.

However, our suitability for supporting the police is only now becoming clear. I would accept that in the past the security industry may not have been in a position to provide the support that the police require. Now, however, we can.

So what has changed? Firstly, legislation to provide for regulation of the industry should soon be in place. Secondly, I believe that the security industry has consistently raised its standards in recent years. Intense competition between the industry’s major players has led to better vetting and training of staff and improved management systems.

We are also seeing a consolidation of the security industry with players at the top end of the market becoming increasingly acquisitive. Larger companies can invest more in IT and training, thus providing a more comprehensive service.

Finally, the National Minimum Wage and Working Time Regulations have helped to drive out some of the low-cost operators at the lower end of the market.

There is broad public acceptance of private sector provision of former public services. In the past 30 years the challenges facing the police have increased dramatically while resources have not kept pace. In response to this, the line between duties performed by police officers and those provided by non-police officers has blurred. Many backroom functions, which were traditionally carried out by police officers, are now carried out by civilian staff.

The manned guarding industry is already supporting the police, in such areas as prisoner escorting, alarm response, and monitoring CCTV.

But this is just the beginning of the story. If the police decide to develop an even closer relationship with us, it will be necessary to define the support the security industry could provide on a force-by-force basis.

Police officers’ unique skills should be employed at the sharp-end of crime prevention and law enforcement. It is the ancillary functions which the security industry should be looking to provide.

I believe the security industry now has the capability to deliver some of these services, albeit in the capacity of a junior partner, freeing up the police to ensure that future crime figures make more encouraging reading.