A Chartered Security Professional, O’Neill was among the first group of individuals admitted to the Register of Security Professionals devised by The Worshipful Company of Security Professionals in conjunction with The Security Institute.
O’Neill served in the Parachute Regiment until 1990 before founding his own security company – Greymanns – in 1993.
Last May, O’Neill joined forces with Professor Martin Gill in an all-new security consultancy business slated to become “an international focal point” for “the effective delivery of risk and security consultancy”.
Professor Gill – the director of Perpetuity Research and Consultancy International (PRCI) – and O’Neill (then managing director of the Greymans business) coalesced their operations in forming the Optimal Risk Group.
This all-new business offers a range of services, among them risk and security consultancy, information security consultancy, business intelligence and compliance advice, investigations and litigation support in addition to protective services.
Going forward, Optimal Risk Group encompasses all the work of Greymans and that of the security consultancy work carried out to date by the Perpetuity Consultancy.
Perpetuity Training and Perpetuity Research – the other businesses operational within the Perpetuity Group of Companies – remain separate from the merger but collaborate with Optimal Risk Group on various projects as and when deemed appropriate.
Wide range of expertise
O’Neill’s expertise covers a wide range of business risk services including crisis management, business continuity planning, investigations and close protection.
On his new appointment, O’Neill commented: “Close protection has experienced significant growth in recent years, and is expecting increased demand in the run-up to the events of next summer, when close protection services will no doubt be required on an unprecedented scale as the Olympic Games take place.”
O’Neill added: “I’m delighted to have been elected chairman of the BSIA’s Close Protection Section and welcome the opportunity to become involved in the industry’s preparation for next year’s exciting events across the UK.”
The BSIA’s Close Protection Section: of increasing importance
Close protection officers provide the highest level of protection for their client and are involved in the safeguarding of individuals, their families and assets. They have a duty to keep that person comfortable and safe in carrying out their own role and responsibilities (and sometimes in a very volatile environment).
The BSIA Close Protection Section is becoming increasingly important and contributes to the UK economy in two ways:
- through the increasing demand for highly trained personnel to protect people and valuable asset
- it exerts a valuable indirect influence by establishing the UK as a place where the protection of high profile individuals can be confidently assured
Thanks to the various specialist skills that are required of close protection officers, clients using close protection companies can rest assured that they are in safe hands. Every close protection officer has to be able to think fast and react quickly on their feet and must have the ability to cope under pressure in a manner that does not bring him or herself and their client into disrepute or harm.
Furthermore, the close protection officer will develop a detailed understanding of their client’s security needs and the potential risks that face them as well as understanding the prevalence and nature of often widely diverse threats in different parts of the world.
Additional benefits for the client
Further benefits for clients of close protection companies can be found in the many additional skills that a close protection officer possesses. Such an officer may well be able to drive to an advanced level, should be competent in First Aid and life support systems, proficient in conflict management and unarmed combat and should have the basics in anti- and counter-surveillance techniques to counteract any breaches of security.
A desirable, but not compulsory requirement for a close protection officer is firearms training, which provides clients in a high risk or conflict zone with extra protection. Even if the close protection officer isn’t able to carry weapons due to the local laws, having the ability to establish whether the local protection team can protect them and their client in a time of need is paramount.
Clients overseas will benefit from close protection officers’ language skills. Even having just a basic understanding of the local dialect can sometimes make the difference between defusing an innocent situation or it escalating out of control.
All BSIA Close Protection Section members are required to meet the ISO 9001:2008 standard.
The Security Industry Authority (SIA) introduced licensing for close protection operatives which provides a basic level of training and requires a Criminal Records Bureau check. As well as the identity and criminality checks, officers 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.
To find out more about the BSIA’s Close Protection Section visit www.bsia.co.uk/closeprotection