Having flown down from Glasgow International to London Luton Airport on the red eye special (since when was Luton in London, by the way?), I geared myself up for a full-on day with assorted dignitaries from The Security Institute.
Before the Members’ Evening, you see, vice-chairman David Gill and general manager Di Thomas were due at Ludgate House for an IFSEC wash-up meeting with myself, Tracy Bebbington and Jo Mayer – both of whom sit within our division’s marketing team – representing United Business Media’s opinions.
For me, IFSEC this year was an unqualified success. I was able to plan my own high level agenda, which included interviews in the SMT SELECT Lounge with Lord Carlile (the Institute’s president) and chairman Mike Bluestone, various debating sessions and a plethora of content for this web site.
Another feeling of deja vu
Anyway, following our high-powered editorial gathering in which we discussed everything from car parking at the NEC through to the drive for Chartered status and where the Institute’s stand should be located next year, David had to wend his way to another rendezvous so I waited for Di to collect her things before we jumped in a taxi and headed for The Railway Tavern.
I’ve been in plenty of pubs in my time – although don’t let that create the impression that I’m another Fleet Street alcoholic, because I’m definitely not! – and as soon as we walked into this boozer I knew I’d paid a visit in the distant past. I can even remember the day. It was a Saturday in late October in the middle 2000s, and I’d stopped off with my friend Paul Potton to watch the football results on Sky before we travelled down to Ipswich for West Ham’s game at Portman Road the following day.
A very polite young woman ushered us upstairs and, as soon as I pitched up at the bar, there was Mr Bluestone offering me a drink!
I spotted a fair few luminaries in attendance as I surveyed the room, among them Chris Brogan (more of whom anon), Geoff Whitfield, the lovely Patricia Knight and Ian Mansfield from the City of London Police (the evening’s guest speaker, in fact). Then it was time for a quick chat with my good friend Shaun Murphy, the md at Polyguard and Trevor Gannon, who’s now in charge of security for Hilton International Hotels in the EMEA region and, by all accounts, doing very well indeed.
Security Institute opts for English classic
We all sat down to a delicious supper of Bangers ‘n Mash, which just happens to be one of my personal favourites, folks! I ended up breaking bread with Patricia and Mike on the dais that was later to be used for the presentations.
Having chatted to Patricia about my recent wedding and Eddie, the 14-week old Yorkshire Terrier puppy that Annora and I have welcomed into our home, it was time for Mike to open official proceedings.
“It’s a testament to the increasing popularity and growth of our Institute and to you, our valued members, that on a hot and tropical night in the City of London after a hard day’s work we can attract close on 70 professionals to an event like this. Well done to you all!” Well done indeed. ASIS International’s UK Chapter had to cancel a similar gathering only recently due to lack of numbers, so an attendance of this nature cannot be ignored.
Bluestone told us all that the Institute’s membership continues to grow. “Our hard-working Validation Board volunteers, ably led by Emma Shaw,” said Bluestone, “are sweating it out on a weekly basis to plough through the many applications for membership we’re now receiving. This month, there have been 20 applications.”
It’s over a decade now since Bluestone joined the ranks. He was membership number 020, Chris Smith of HSBC having taken the coveted 007 card! He felt that this evening was as good a time as any to spread the word, and let people know about the information and benefits new members receive on successful validation.
Benefits for all new Institute members
“There’s a new Members’ Handbook,” confirmed the chairman. “A letter confirming acceptance by the Institute and the grade of membership awarded. There’s a Hear4U membership card, training leaflets, a supporters’ logo and additional information, an order form for a special membership card that’s issued free to all new members, a CD containing electronic versions of the Institute’s Best Practice Guides and, last but not least, a membership certificate.”
Bluestone then turned to what he called “Breaking News”, urging all and sundry to take a look at SMT Online and read “an outstanding article on the licensing of security consultants” by Institute vice-chairman David Gill. “In my opinion, and in the opinion of others who’ve read it, David’s article is a serious contribution to the licensing debate and I commend it to you.”
Following on from that announcement, everyone in the room congratulated Mr Gill on recently completing his MSc in Security Management with Loughborough University. Congratulations again, David, from all of us here at SMT Online and info4security!
Gill wasn’t the only practitioner singled out for praise on the night. Institute member Anders Groenli recently won the prestigious Imbert Prize bestowed by the Association of Security Consultants for his Masters dissertation. He took a well deserved bow, as did young Mr Brogan – described by Bluestone as a “veteran Institute member and Data Protection guru” – who was a runner-up in another category at the Imbert Prize presentations.
Again, well done Anders and Chris for your brilliant efforts.
Towards the goal of Chartered status
Next up, there was some positive news concerning the Institute’s key strategic objective of obtaining Chartered status for its membership. A few days prior to the Liverpool Street gathering, Bluestone and fellow Board director Ken Livingstone from PRCI met with “one of the UK’s leading experts on Chartered status… Someone with very close links to the Privy Council.”
Bluestone explained: “It’s still early days yet, but we are buoyed by the encouragement and support which we received from the gentleman in question. We’re now planning the actual submission and working on the application process along with the supporting documentation and evidence we need. I must stress again that it’s still early days, but your Institute is committed to this process and will work hard to achieve our goal.” That’s very positive news.
Then it was time for Bluestone to introduce the guest speaker. Ian Mansfield has been an officer with the City of London Police for close on 30 years, the last 12 spent in the field of counter-terrorism work. In 2002, Mansfield became a counter-terrorism security advisor under the auspices of the National Counter-Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO), and was part of the original team that developed Project Griffin – the subject of his talk for the Institute.
Outspoken as always, Mansfield began by assuring us all that the police have been the biggest drawback when it comes to Griffin’s progression. “We have to say ‘No’ when some organisations ask us to join the movement because certain force areas don’t run Griffin,” opined Mansfield. “We think it’s a simple little idea, but it’s one that really works well, too.”
Mansfield began his discourse proper by recounting the history of Project Griffin. I’ll not go into too much detail on this as I’m sure many of you know the score anyway.
Suffice to say that, back in the early and mid-1990s, lots of police officers in the Capital were beginning to ask the question: “Why the Ring of Steel?” Mansfield said there was a need for re-education in the police service back then. “That’s happened, to the extent that we’ve just run our 60th Griffin training course and are now sharing more information with you than ever before.”
Indeed, Mansfield continued: “We are placing trust in you, your company and your colleagues. It’s vital that we do. We need your help. There are 3,000 people in this country looking to cause us all harm. We must make their task as difficult as we can.”
Stark reminder of what we’re facing
As if to embellish the point – and why not? – Mansfield then showed some videos of terrible atrocities, among them scenes of the IRA terror campaign on the mainland (including the Docklands bombing in 1996), the Istanbul bombings of November 2003, the Madrid rail bombings, 9/11 and, of course, 7/7. All of the footage was accompanied by a haunting soundtrack, during which a girl repeatedly sung: “No matter where you go, I will found you”. Chilling.
Stage 1 of Project Griffin is an Awareness Day. ‘Delegates’ are taught about the current threats facing the UK, there’s advice on bomb recognition, actions to be taken at the scene and an overview on specialist cordon work.
Hostile reconnaissance and terrorist planning also merit attention, so too person-borne explosives. “We give out a good deal of information,” suggested Mansfield. “There’s no doubt that we’re showing a lot of trust in the people who turn up to Griffin courses.” A point enhanced by a 3D modelling run-through of how typical car bombs are constructed, and the devastating effect they can have.
Positively, reports coming in to the Griffin project leaders have allowed the initiative to grow. “We had 66 intelligence leads in the lead-up to the G20 protests,” explained Mansfield, who went on to discuss the typical behavioural traits exhibited by suicide bombers.
Mansfield pointed out that the operation is continuously asking companies to let some of their security staff go for the day such that they can become “Griffin aware”, but at the same time he fully appreciates client desires have to be respected.
Stage 2: The Bridge/Conference Call
The Conference Call occurs every Friday at 2.00 pm. It’s an intelligence update involving the City of London Police, Westminster Police and, of course, the Met.
In practice, British Transport Police will talk about the latest criminality in the Capital. “There are upwards of 75 organisations involved in these calls,” urged Mansfield, “and that number is rising.” The more the merrier, I say.
Stage 3 involves the deployment of personnel. “It’s at this stage where there has to be a commitment from client organisations to release Griffin aware personnel for incidents,” said Mansfield.
For Mansfield, the best part about Griffin is that it energises community engagement in security and law enforcement. “It’s a true partnership,” he eulogised. “Griffin has certainly enhanced our relationship with the private security sector, and has greatly improved communication links. There are far more reports coming in to us now than at any time in the past.”
Now, Mansfield is deeply embroiled with Griffin 2. This is a refresher package of seven training modules for all operatives who’ve passed Griffin 1. “We’re covering things like crime scene management, first on-site responder, hostile reconnaissance spotting and the like. There’s also going to be specific training for airport security staff.”
Potential for going Met-wide
Mansfield did mention that there’s a strong possibility of Project Griffin training being rolled-out to all Metropolitan Police areas at some point, so watch this space.
It’s great to know that there are now 2,000 Griffin aware staff in the Canary Wharf area alone, and 4,500 in the Westminster zone. Nationally, Griffin has been rolled-out to 24 forces and, on the international stage, has been adopted in the USA and Australia.
Long may its popularity and undoubted success continue.
So, yet another excellent and informative gathering of The Security Institute. Thank You to Di, Mike and all of the team. Looking forward to the next Members’ Evening already!