Initially, I was going to walk to HMS Belfast from SMT Online’s hq but, looking out of my window from our new vantage point on the first floor at Ludgate House, the dreary grey morning sky and drizzle on the window didn’t bode well. Hello British Summertime… Take cover in a taxi!
I do pride myself on arriving in good time for events, so I made a point of calling IPSA CEO Justin Bentley to double-check what time I needed to be on board. Good job, too. I had midday in my Outlook calendar, but the AGM was to begin at 11.00 am sharp (preceded by teas and coffees from 10.30 am).
I’ve been aboard the magnificent HMS Belfast – now part of the whole Imperial War Museum ‘estate’ – a fair few times before, but I’m no naval officer and navigation around the deck remains an issue for most members of the general public. Luckily, a smartly-dressed tour guide kindly showed me where I needed to go in order to reach The Gun Room.
A few circuitous steps over puddles and one fairly steep ramp later, I arrived and was warmly greeted by IPSA International Council member Simon Smith (who’s a director of Amtavale, the facilities, fire and security management specialist, in his ‘day job’). Simon asked me to sign the Visitors’ Register, and I duly did so with one of the IPSA pens being given out.
I have to tell you that these pens take The Security Industry’s Best Pen Award. I’ve been afforded some good ones over the years courtesy of The Security Institute, the BSIA and Skills for Security, but a ball point that writes and feels like an ink pen, gliding effortlessly over the paper? Sublime.
Meeting IPSA’s great and good
Over coffee, I chatted with IPSA vice-president Patrick Somerville and his lovely wife Nan (more of whom anon), David Barratt – the organisation’s international chairman – and Paul Trendall, IPSA treasurer. I also reconvened with HRH Prince YF Bala-Tonglele of Golden Shield Security, whom I first met just before Christmas at the SIA Small Business Network Forum gathering which took place at Prudential’s London hq in The City.
Just when I thought I’d bagged three seats all to myself in the front row – so I could lay out my numerous digital recording and writing implements and have the prime spot for photos – a sharp-suited man with an extremely loud, Battenburg Cake On Acid-style tie plonked himself down on the seat immediately to my left.
I wasn’t unhappy about this intrusion, though, because the chap concerned happened to be my great friend and long-time industry collaborator Bobby Logue (editor of the excellent security guarding website www.infologue.com)
As you’ll probably know, Bobby and I have worked on some major initiatives over the years – among them the Four Issues, One Voice campaign targetin changes to SIA regulation – and, of late, I would say both of us have become increasingly frustrated at what we perceive to be this industry’s lack of desire to make matters change for the better.
Unbeknown to me, Bobby was later to make a presentation-stroke-Call To Arms at the behest of Justin Bentley, and it turned into a fairly heated and frank exchange of views (see the SMT Online News article entitled ‘Logue sparks strong debate on guarding industry structure’… a dedicated link is provided on the right hand panel of this page)
Address from the international chairman
Opening the AGM was David Barratt, the supremely smart business account director at Shield Security Services in the Yorkshire region. In his introductory address, Barratt made no secret of the fact that he was honoured to take over the international chairman’s role from Patrick Somerville, and duly paid tribute to the great man.
“Patrick has served the Association so well,” enthused Barratt. “He has expended an enormous amount of effort and spent so much time working for the benefit of IPSA’s members. In fact, he recently spoke at the East-West Security Conference, and I know the membership is extremely grateful for everything he has done and continues to do for us all.”
Not surprisingly, there was a round of applause at this point that lasted several minutes. That applause continued when Patrick was presented with a beautiful cut crystal decanter and his wife, Nan, received a fulsome bouquet of flowers in recognition of all the tireless support she has given to her husband over the years that has allowed him to fulful his pivotal role at IPSA.
Barratt necessarily included some information on where IPSA stands at present in terms of membership numbers. In June 2009, there were 82 company members (71 of them in the UK) and 228 individual members (168 of those resident on home shores).
Come June 2010 and company membership has dropped off slightly – it now stands at 78, but individual memberships have increased markedly. They now stand at 271, and 209 of those are UK-based practitioners.
Some of the new company members that have joined in the past 12 months include ISC (Independent Security Consultancy) Services, Shield Security Services (Yorkshire), First Response Service (Trading Standards and Civil Resilience) Oldham Council, Command Security Solutions and WSG Associates (whose application is currently being processed).
Numbers and figures, numbers and figures
Next up was IPSA treasurer Paul Trendall, who gave a brief overview of the organisation’s accounts prepared by chartered accountants Bishop Fleming for the year ending 31 December 2008.
Turnover marginally increased from GB pound 123,697 in 2007 to GB pound 127,586, less the cost of sales ( GB pound 20,457) leading to a gross profit of GB pound 107,129. Once all expenses had been deducted (for items such as legal fees, website maintenance and insurances, etc) the organisation made a small loss of GB pound 3,370 overall. A solid performance in the current economic climate.
“Subscription income continued to fall, but a good proportion of companies and individuals who resigned were replaced by new members,” said Trendall in affording us all ‘the top line’ on IPSA’s finances.
Trendall continued: “Training income improved greatly as a number of successful courses were run on screening, security risk management and surveying and supervisory management. However, inspection and certificate fees declined slightly in line with the loss of company members, and the fact that others asked that third party certification, including that for the ACS, be accepted in lieu of an IPSA inspection so as to reduce costs.”
The figure for training expenses increased substantially as trainers’ fees and expenses were included in full whereas previously some fees had been trated as part of the deputy chairman’s salary.
“All-in-all, I reckon that Brian Sims, who’s with us today, would be pleased if his beloved West Ham United could post accounts that are this stable,” said Trendall. I laughed out loud, and so did the rest of the football-savvy members of the 50-strong IPSA crowd.
Election of the International Council members
The accounts duly approved, it was then time to elect members to the International Council for 2010. Ex-officio are Justin Bentley and Patrick Somerville, while 13 nominations were submitted by exisiting International Council members.
These members are Stuart Naisbett, Lynn Watts-Plumpkin, Basil Bland, Bruce Woodcock, Simon Smith, Roger Felgate, Dennis Ricketts, David Barratt, James Henderson, Shaun Murphy, Mike White, Paul Trendall and HRH Prince YF Bala-Tonglele. As there are only 12 places available on the International Council, Paul Trendall offered to stand down (on the understanding that he’ll be co-opted back on to the Council at the next meeting).
With the formal element of the meeting duly closed on the stroke of noon by David Barratt, it was then time for some luncheon (an excellent buffet, by the way, complete with some roast chicken wraps that were a tastebud sensation) and a little networking.
I had a pretty extensive chat with Peter Jones, who used to write regularly in the pages of SMT. You’ll be pleased to know Peter’s still very active within the East-West Institute, and I’ll be covering some of its events in due course.
Counter-terrorism and the history book
Closing a fascinating day was detective superintendent Christopher Greany, head of counter-terrorism with the City of London Police. Chris’ discourse on counter-terror issues was conducted under Chatham House Rules, so you’ll just have to take my word on it that his presentation was top drawer.
Consultant Adrian Kingston-Jones (of AKJ Consulting) is beginning to piece together a history of IPSA which he envisages will take him around two years to complete. On that basis, he’d like to hear from anyone – most notably past and current members of IPSA – who might have some anecdotes and/or information that could prove useful.
Kingston-Jones said: “The history will be treated as a pure biography, and I’m looking for it to be constructive, rational and proportionate.”
Contact Adrian via e-mail at: [email protected]
