As the leading journal for UK security professionals, Security Management Today’s (SMT) key remit is to assist practitioners in performing their roles to the very best of their ability. That is the major reason why the journal with the support of CMP Information’s dedicated Conferences Division has launched a new strand of educational conferences for managers.
The inaugural event – entitled ‘The Threat Within’ (Enhancing Internal Security and Combating Employee Crime) ran at the Earls Court Conference Centre in west London on Wednesday 5 December, and was attended by close on 100 delegates intent on learning the latest techniques and tactics for preventing fraud and creating a security-conscious enterprise.
Embedding Best Practice
Following an introduction by Brian Sims (Editor of SMT and chairman of the day’s events), Sharon Kerr – commander of the Serious Crime Directorate with the Metropolitan Police Service – gave an excellent Keynote Presentation on Best Practice in the workplace to minimise overall organisational risks.
Kerr explained that crime in the workplace rarely occurs without collusion, bemoaning the fact that incident under-reporting hampers clear understanding of threat levels. “In those companies where crime starts to escalate, it can create a culture wherein a certain level of criminality is deemed acceptable. That’s bad.”
Kerr went on to address information security issues, the security of buildings and sites, key personnel and radio and telephony before discussing Operation Grafton (which has helped cut staff theft at Heathrow Airport retail outlets by 80% and reduce losses by 94%).
“Crime prevention is not the sole responsibility of the police,” suggested Kerr. “Private sector practitioners must work with us at all times to defeat The Enemy Within.”
Employment vetting strategies
Next to the lectern was Donna Alexander (former personnel protection manager in the Group Security Division at Barclays) who examined the establishment of individual ongoing validation levels for employees.
“Your Human Resources and Legal Departments need to be on board, and there has to be a sound justification for re-screening of given individuals. Keep the screening process simple and prescriptive,” opined Alexander.
Fresh from winning the Best Security Manager (In-House) accolade at the 2007 Security Excellence Awards, Guy Mathias (associate director for UK security at Huntingdon Life Sciences) looked at single issue extremism and the infiltration threat.
“When you’re interviewing for security posts, are applicants struggling to explain gaps in their employment history? Are current employees intent on working strange hours? These are but two tell-tale signs that there could be a problem.”
JP Morgan’s international security manager Don Randall MBE considered what Best Practice in combating employee fraud looks like, stressing the need for constant reviews of security procedures, while barrister Adrian Maxwell closed the morning session by focusing on the Companies Act 2008, the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and the Serious Crime Act.
Fraud prevention and awareness
A superb presentation from Alan Day (senior audit and investigations manager in the Fraud and Security Division at Transport for London) emphasised the need for partnership working.
“You are looking for the presence of the abnormal, and the absence of the normal,” said Day. “We work closely with the Unions and the British Transport Police to fight accounting fraud, refund fraud and cheque fraud. Strong policies must be in place and regularly enforced.”
Ensuring that employees don’t become the victims of social engineering dominated Dan Hooton’s delivery. Dan is the group security advisor (operations) at the Prudential, and discussed document handling procedures, whistle-blowing and anti-bribery policies.
An impassioned delivery from healthcare security manager Nick van der Bijl stressed that corporate security managers should be continually checking their operations ‘in the field’ and John Scott (head of security at the Post Office) stated that one of the biggest deterrents to employee crime is prosecution. “No-one in the organisation should be viewed as being beyond reproach. Everyone has to be accountable.”
