Randall was speaking today (as the outgoing Master of The Worshipful Company) at the 2011 Master’s Installation Luncheon, which was attended by 265 Liverymen, Freemen and guests at The Drapers Hall on Throgmorton Avenue in The City of London.
Twelve months ago as the incoming Master, Randall spoke of the challenges that lay ahead in researching and developing the Register, as detailed in The Worshipful Company’s Royal Charter which was granted in February last year.
The Register itself now endorses the main aim of The Worshipful Company, which is: “To promote, support and encourage standards of excellence, integrity and honourable practice in conducting the profession of security practitioners, and to aid societies and other organisations connected to the profession.”
Recognising The Security Institute’s experience in developing and refining its own membership validation process (and as reported exclusively on SMT Online), in 2010 The Worshipful Company agreed to partner with the Institute in developing the necessary chartered professional competencies, management controls and processes that would underpin the Register, and for the Institute to be the first licensee permitted to admit registrants into the Register.
This development was funded jointly between The Worshipful Company, The Security Institute and The City of London Crime Prevention Association (who remain a key supporter of the Register in its inaugural year).
Comprehensive research and extensive consultation
Speaking at the 2011 Master’s Installation Luncheon, Randall stated: “The close co-operation and commitment of key individuals in both organisations has enabled us to create a dynamic Register inside 12 months. This commitment included comprehensive research and extensive consultation within The Worshipful Company and The Security Institute, as well as discussions with many external organisations and individuals.”
Randall continued: “Acute attention to detail has been given to every aspect of the Register’s development, in turn affording Chartered status the highest credibility and standing for individuals in the security sector. The pilot scheme proved popular, and we look forward to providing this enhanced level of credibility to future applicants, thereby allowing them to build on their individual career profiles.”
At The Drapers Hall, certificates of admittance were presented to those initial registrants in attendance. They were: Bill Wyllie, Mark Lindsay, Mike Bluestone, David Gill, Chris Northy-Baker, Emma Shaw, Mike O’Neill and Kevin Blythe.
Registrants unable to attend were Angus Darroch-Warren and Jerry Woods.
Any member of the new Register (ie the ‘registrant’) is now known as a Chartered Security Professional and is able to use CSyP as a post-nominal.
After receiving his certificate, Mike Bluestone CSyP – chairman of The Security Institute – told SMT Online: “This is a groundbreaking day, not just for security professionals but also for the United Kingdom. At long last we have a Chartered Security Professional qualification that places security practitioners on a par with other recognised professions. I’m immensely proud of the fantastic co-operation that has taken place over many months between The Security Institute and The Worshipful Company of Security Professionals. Our two organisations have come together for the betterment of professional security practice in our country, and I congratulate my fellow registrants on attaining their hard-earned CSyP status.”
The incoming Master of The Worshipful Company, Nigel Churton MBE, is also company secretary of The Security Institute and served on its Board of Directors for many years. Churton is fully supportive of the Register and the recognition of professionalism in the security sector.
Chartered Security Professionals’ Registration Authority
In tandem with the Register, a new committee has been established to set and maintain the standards of professional competence required and to provide an overarching management role across all elements of the Register.
The chairman of the Chartered Security Professionals’ Registration Authority (CSPRA) is Lord Carlile of Berriew QC, president of The Security Institute and an individual fully committed to the enhanced levels of professionalism the new Register will bring to the sector.
“I’m delighted we’ve been able to produce a registration process that’s as good as any in place for other professions,” explained Lord Carlile. “Our Chartered Security Professionals can truly be regarded as members of a quality and regulated body. This is the beginning of a major new organisation in which industry and the wider public can have full confidence.”
Routes to application
Entry to the Register is based on applicants demonstrating achievement across five core competencies weighted in favour of security knowledge and application skills, but also including references to leadership, communication and professional commitment.
Those applying must be of undisputed integrity and have a good level of expertise, and be operating at a strategic level (or the senior end of operational level) within a security practice.
Admittance to the Register demonstrates to clients, employers, peers and the public an ability of any given individual to perform their security duties to the highest standard, as well as a commitment to Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
Those joining the Register of Chartered Security Professionals have to demonstrate competence and can do this via the achievement of qualifications and/or demonstrable experience in the practical arenas of the security discipline.
Under the Standard pathway, applicants must hold a Bachelors or a Masters degree in a security-related discipline (or an equivalent qualification recognised by CSPRA) OR a Bachelors or a Masters degree in any subject PLUS a security-related vocational qualification (such as The Security Institute’s Diploma in Security Management or the ASIS Certified Protection Professional).
They must also have a minimum of five years’ operational security experience (with at least two years spent at the Chartered competence level).
For applicants without security qualifications it’s the Individual pathway which applies. For this, applicants must have ten years’ operational security experience, with the last five years at the Chartered competence level.
In addition, applicants are asked to complete a portfolio statement (between 4,000-5,000 words) on a subject chosen to compliment their application.
Assessment interviews and presentations
Every applicant attends an interview with two assessors, and is required to give a presentation to demonstrate their competencies. Recommendations from the interview combined with references and vetting checks result in a recommendation for admittance to the Register.
Four of the initial ten registrants announced today were interviewed under strictly professional conditions in a separate and private meeting room within The SMT SELECT Lounge at IFSEC 2011.
Once admitted, all registrants are required to undertake mandatory CPD on an annual basis. Registrants are also obliged to act with integrity and in the public interest according to a defined Code of Conduct, and are subject to a professional disciplinary code.
The initial application fee is set at GB pound 300, with the annual renewal fee being GB pound 75.
Further details on the Register, including the application form, can be found at www.csyp-register.org (note that this website only contains holding pages at present… SMT Online will be first with the news when the site is fully functional)
