To those of us with a few years under our belts, the very early images of security bring back memories of a night watchman huddled around a blazing brazier of coke (the fossil fuel variety) and supping from an old tin mug while roasting a few chestnuts.
Then there was the introduction of the earliest form of early warning equipment: the security guard dog attached to a chain that seemed to go on forever.
In one form or another, then, security has been around for a pretty long time.
When asked at school by the careers master: “What do you want to be when you leave school?” did anyone ever say: “A security officer, Sir”? Individuals may have mentioned wanting to be a train driver or a footballer, maybe, but never a security officer.
Birth of a new industry
Pinkertons Inc is one of the world’s oldest security firms, providing security guarding personnel and investigative services to some of the largest businesses in the United States (including the ITT Corp and Hewlett-Packard).
During the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the company emerged as a leading detective agency whose private investigators became famous for solving crimes involving the country’s railroads, banks and businesses.
Since the 1940s, however, Pinkertons has focused increasingly on security, developing into a business primarily engaged in guarding property. In 1990, more than 98% of the company’s business consisted of contracts to provide security officers.
When it was discovered there was a need for organised bodies of security employees, and the fact that companies (especially those in the private sector) were prepared to pay for these services, a new industry was born.
An industry which – pre-Security Industry Authority (SIA) – wasn’t regulated and in which anyone, irrespective of background or integrity, could start up and run a contract guarding company.
As a requirement of the Private Security Industry Act 2001, of course, the UK now requires all contract security officers to hold a valid SIA licence.
Suffering from a tainted image
For many years, the image of security and the perception of those that work in the industry was tainted by poor-to-zero management, a lack of regulation and legislation, rogue traders and poor working practises and guidelines.
Even now there’s little recognition outside the industry that security is a profession that can lead to a career. Those working within the industry can have a good career path developed through training, and clearly defined managed development and education.
Historically, security – and in particular the security management element of it – was dominated by those individuals with either a police or military background, but as time has gone on this automatic ‘right of entry’ ticket is being eroded.
Nowadays, host organisations demand individuals with good business acumen and those that can understand today’s requirements in what is an ever-evolving market. In essence, individuals who can validate their experience with formal academic qualifications.
Often, security officers are uniformed and act to protect property by maintaining a high visibility presence to deter illegal and inappropriate actions, observing (either directly through patrols, or by monitoring alarm systems or cameras) for signs of crime, fire or disorder.
Officers then take action and report any incidents to their client and/or the emergency services as appropriate.
Detect, deter, observe and report
Since at least the middle ages in Europe, the term ‘Watchman’ was more commonly applied to this function. This term was carried over to North America, where it became interchangeable with night watchman until both terms were replaced with the modern security-based titles.
Security officers themselves are now sometimes regarded as fulfilling a private policing function.
Many security firms and proprietary Security Departments (along with security practitioners) practise the ‘detect, deter, observe and report’ methodology. Security officers are not required (and have no power) to make arrests, but they do have the authority to make a citizens arrest (or otherwise act as an agent of law enforcement at the request of a police officer).
In addition to the methodology mentioned above, a private security officer’s primary duty is the prevention and deterrence of crime. Security personnel enforce company rules and can act to protect lives and property. In fact, they frequently have a contractual obligation to take care of such actions.
Security officers are often trained in control procedures (including handcuffing and restraint), operate emergency equipment, perform First Aid (sometimes including CPR) take accurate notes, write detailed reports and perform other tasks as required by the client they are serving.
Economic justification for security personnel
One major economic justification for security personnel is that insurance companies (particularly fire insurance carriers) will give substantial premium discounts to sites which have a 24-hour presence.
For a high risk or high value venue, the discount can often exceed the money being spent on any security programme. This is because having security on site increases the odds that any fire will be noticed and reported to the local Fire Department before a total loss occurs.
Also, the presence of security personnel (particularly in combination with effective security procedures) tends to reduce ‘shrinkage’, theft, employee misconduct and safety rule violations, property damage and even sabotage.
Security personnel may also perform access control at building entrances and vehicle gates (meaning they ensure that employees and visitors display proper passes or identification before entering the facility).
Security officers are often called upon to respond to minor emergencies (lost persons, lock-outs, etc) and to assist in serious emergencies by guiding emergency responders to the scene of the incident, helping to redirect foot traffic to safe locations and by documenting what happened as part of their incident report.
In some scenarios, security officers’ duties merge into a facilities role which can lead to conflict and dilute the effectiveness of the overall security of a given location.
Changes in the patrolling function
Patrolling is usually a large part of a security officer’s duties. Often these patrols are logged by use of guard tour patrol systems which require regular patrols.
The most commonly adopted solution used to be mechanical clock system that required a key for manual punching of a number to a strip of paper inside with the time pre-printed on it.
Recently, electronic systems have risen in popularity due to their light weight, ease of use and downloadable logging capabilities. Regular patrols are, however, becoming less accepted as an industry standard as it provides predictability for the would-be criminal, not to mention monotony for the security officer on duty.
Random patrols are easily programmed into these systems, allowing greater freedom of movement and unpredictability.
Global positioning systems are also easing their way into the market as a more effective means of tracking officer movement and patrol behavior.
Security personnel are classified as either of the following:
Career paths: the ideal scenario
While the career path may differ from company to company depending on the service provided, the ultimate aim and ideal situation for many would be for a contract guarding officer to be taken in-house by the client and work their way through the company’s own development programme to (possibly) attain a senior management role.
Within the contract guarding sphere the first step for a security officer is to be recognised as a potential leader, gain experience as a team leader/supervisor and then work their way through to controller or site manager up towards accounts manager and a director’s position.
Whichever path is chosen, there’s a recognised need for the individual to have formal qualifications and demonstrate the capacity to be able to communicate at all levels and network extensively.
There are numerous organisations and association a security practitioner can apply to join and extend their networking capabilities.
There’s a number of training courses, certificates, diplomas and degree programmes now relating to and focusing on ‘security’. Each individual must decide what is best suited to them should they attempt entry to the ‘new world’ of security academia.
The recent recognition of the ASIS Certified Protection Professional (CPP) certificate by Bucks New University as a prequalification for a Masters degree is but one example.
Standing in front of the Board
New duties at Board level mean many security practitioners now have to stand their ground with the Board. That means understanding business drivers from the quite different perspectives of finance or marketing, sales or governance and so on.
While you probably already hold security qualifications and are an acknowledged ‘security expert’, perhaps what may suit you is some form of executive management training or a qualification: an MBA is the recognised ‘gold standard’.
Armed with their new found educational qualification, it’s possible for those security personnel who have plenty of drive and ambition to work their way up through the ranks to a very senior management position within the company who employs them (even as far as the Boardroom with its corporate perks and handsome salary package).
Yes indeed. Security has come a long way since the building site days. Importantly, the potential to take it further now rests in the hands of today’s security practitioners.
Mike Alexander MSc FSyI is chairman of ASIS International’s UK Chapter and global head of security and safety at Henderson Global Investors
