This month, the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) announced its backing for the Government’s recently revised counter-terrorism strategy CONTEST2.
The BSIA’s backing recognises the private security industry’s formal role in delivering key parts of the strategy. A comprehensive guidance document has been produced for the Association’s members, describing the strategy itself and the areas applicable to the private sector. The main aim is to ensure the most effective possible contribution from the industry at a time of an unprecedented and sustained threat to life and property.
The recent Jakarta bombings exemplify the potentially devastating threat from terrorist groups determined to cause the maximum damage and loss of life. Here at home, the continuing high level risk to public places was exemplified earlier this month with the conviction of a would-be suicide bomber who targeted a Bristol shopping centre.
Indeed, this case represented the third time in four years that terrorists are known to have targeted large shopping crowds. In March 2004, a plot to attack the Bluewater Shopping Centre in Kent with half a ton of ammonium nitrate fertiliser was foiled by MI5 and, last year, a man tried to blow himself up with a sodium hydroxide bomb in the Princesshay Shopping Centre in Exeter.
Threat level moves from severe to substantial
During July, the current UK threat level has been reduced from severe to substantial, but this level means that an attack is still a strong possibility and so complacency is not an option. The incidents detailed earlier highlight the continuing need not only for high levels of security awareness but also for organisations to address vital elements pertaining to business continuity.
Training is a central issue, and the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) has held training days for shopping centres and other vulnerable targets up and down the country. MI5 has also launched Operation Lightning to record, research and investigate suspicious activity with a particular focus on the “hostile reconnaissance” of targets.
Recently, NaCTSO warned: “Crowded places, including shopping centres, are likely to feature in the attack plans of terrorist organisations in the future as they are usually locations with limited protective security measures and, therefore, afford the potential for mass fatalities and casualties.”
The industry clearly has a vital role to play in supporting counter-terrorism efforts, as well as helping to deliver the overarching aims of CONTEST2 (which are summarised as Prevent, Pursue, Protect and Prepare). The revised strategy seeks to achieve this by describing the changing threat and developing appropriate action in key areas.
It also puts these actions in context by describing the recent history of the international terrorist threat, monitoring trends such as terrorists’ use of new technology and working to counter the threat of attack using chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear devices.
Against this background, CONTEST2 develops co-ordinated programmes of action to tackle the symptoms and the causes of terrorism, and indicates how resources and techniques will be used to disrupt terrorist operations planned against this country.
One of the strategy’s prime objectives is to involve a wider range of people and resources than ever before, ensuring that the public, private and voluntary sectors – as well as private individuals – are all working together to counter the threat.
In joining this effort, the security industry clearly plays a fundamental part in strengthening the protection of terrorist targets, including business interests, transport and essential services. The BSIA and its members understand the important role they have to play in making the CONTEST strategy become a reality, and will seek to contribute to all the elements which are dependent upon the private sector to deliver.
Security smoke devices: new Euro standard
The BSIA has welcomed the publication of the new European Standard for security smoke devices (EN 50131-8). The new standard started life as a BSIA Code of Practice, and was then developed into a British Standard before progressing to Europe.
The BSIA has led the way in the development of the standard throughout its transition. Alex Carmichael, the BSIA’s technical director, told SMT Online: “Developing standards is essential to ensuring the supply of high quality products for the market. The Association has been at the forefront of developing this standard from its beginnings as a BSIA Code of Practice. Now, thanks to the publication of this European Standard, Britain has led the way in raising standards right the way across Europe, an achievement from which both the industry and its customers will benefit.”
EN 50131-8:2009 is the European Standard covering security fog systems that are part of an intruder and hold-up alarm system. The purpose of a security fog system is to reduce visibility in a protected area by the use of a non-toxic fog in order to form a barrier between the criminal and the criminal’s intended target.
The Big Issue (by Dave Allison)
This month saw the inaugural meeting of the BSIA’s new Close Protection Section, highlighting the importance of driving up standards and levels of professionalism in this sector in the face of an increasingly complex security climate.
The BSIA has long been in the forefront of this work, playing an active role in supporting regulatory measures which now require close protection operatives to hold an SIA licence.
As well as the identity and criminality checks applicable to the wider industry, operatives must undertake 150 hours of knowledge and practical skills training leading to a Level 3 qualification in close protection and a recognised First Aid certificate.
Of course, the essential skills involved in close protection go well beyond these fundamental requirements, and the SIA’s definition of the role provides an interesting introduction to some of the key disciplines involved. It describes close protection as: ‘Security activities that involve establishing and maintaining a safe environment in which a specific individual can live and work, while continually minimising risk.’
The key words here are ‘establishing and maintaining a safe environment’ because they outline a role which goes far beyond most peoples’ understanding of the traditional bodyguard. In order to establish a safe environment, for example, it’s necessary to understand the threat and this often involves a level of planning, research and sophistication more often associated with the field of political and economic risk assessment.
Risks often mirrored by threats
The two areas are in many ways indivisible, since the types of risk facing commercial operations are often mirrored by the threat to individuals, whether arising from personal factors or from the operating environment.
It’s therefore necessary not only to develop a detailed understanding of the client and his or her potential risks, but also the prevalence and nature of often widely diverse threats in different parts of the world.
This intelligence-based approach to security is clearly the first essential element of planning and delivering the sector’s core product. At a time of greatly increased threats from terrorism and volatile security situations in many overseas locations, brain rather than brawn has never been more important.
The sector is of course increasingly important in its own right, contributing to the UK economy in two ways. It does so directly through the increasing demand for highly trained personnel to protect people and valuable assets. In addition, it exerts a valuable indirect influence by establishing the UK as a place where the protection of high profile individuals – ranging from foreign royalty through to international business people and celebrities – can be confidently assured.
The BSIA’s new Close Protection Section has been established to deliver this confidence by bringing together high quality service providers in a professional trade association with established links to key Stakeholders such as the Regulator, Government and the police service.
The definitive mark of quality
The Close Protection Section’s founding members – namely Clearwater Special Projects, Greymans, Octaga Security Services, Pilgrims Group and UniTrust Protection Services (UK) – share this view, and are committed both to promoting the sector and to establishing the BSIA as the definitive mark of quality. The Section’s objective is thus not only to provide leadership in raising standards, but also to act as the primary differentiator for potential users of close protection services.
For more information on the work of the BSIA’s Close Protection Section, or to find details on companies who can assist you, visit the dedicated web link provided on the right hand panel of this page
Dave Allison is chairman of the BSIA’s Close Protection Section