Outspoken Labour MP and security industry champion Bruce George has called on those security managers and consultants in the UK who continue to operate under the peculiarly British practice of the “competent but unqualified amateur” to embrace formal qualifications such as the Certified Protection Professional (CPP) and Physical Security Professional (PSP) courses run by ASIS’ UK Chapter 208.
Speaking at the latest Chapter Certification Ceremony and Dinner, the man who helped drive the Private Security Industry Act 2001 through the Houses of Parliament and the Lords stated: “Until formal qualification is the norm rather than the exception, we will continue to be viewed by other recognised professions as being semi-professional at best.”
In addressing the evening’s newly-certified CPPs and PSPs – whom he referred to as a “Corps d’elite” – George singled these students of the discipline out as a “model for the future shape of the profession.”
The MP for Walsall South also declared as “totally unacceptable” the prevailing view that while security officers and supervisors require training (and on a regular basis), security leaders can “somehow rely on their former military or police service credentials. To be quite frank about it, I’m disappointed the Security Industry Authority hasn’t already tackled this issue.”
A total of 21 candidates sat last November’s certification examinations. 80% of the candidates passed. This is consistent with the high standards that ASIS International’s UK Chapter 208 has maintained ever since the introduction of this learning programme on home shores. Great testament to the efforts of the review programme leaders, namely Barry Walker and John Julian (CPP) and Peter Horsburgh who looks after the PSP.
The CPP is the leading international designation in security management, and is now held by over 5,000 security practitioners worldwide – all of whom have demonstrated advanced knowledge of security solutions and Best Practice in general management. In the UK, preparation for sitting the examination in November begins this month.
The PSP is a newer designation, introduced to the UK in 2003, and is intended for individuals with expertise in conducting threat surveys, designing integrated security systems or indeed operating them.
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