Guy Mathias – director of UK security at Huntingdon Life Sciences – has constantly had to deal with threats posed by Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (SHAC) and other protest groups. With help from his dedicated and loyal team, Guy has helped produce GENESIS (a staff vetting database) which has helped prevent infiltration by activists. In reality, Guy has had to deal with threats not only to the company, its staff and suppliers but also to himself, but he has never been dissuaded from his commitment to the cause. Guy also finds time to be an active member of The Security Institute and a regular speaker at industry conferences.
Runners-Up
Malcolm Clark
(UKAEA, Dounreay)
For the past six years, Malcolm has worked as security manager (deputy site security manager and physical security manager) at the Dounreay site belonging to the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA). He manages the infrastructure and environment for the Civil Nuclear Constabulary – the uniformed police/security personnel operating from the GB pound 4.75 million on-site Control Centre. Malcolm has recently put forward plans whereby the team can ‘citadel’ certain site areas for secure access and egress. Replacement of the site’s perimeter fencing, managed by Malcolm, required some degree of innovation to keep costs down while maintaining tight security at all times. He is also masterminding a new access control project which is completely changing the way vehicles are brought on to site. The most noticeable feature will be the installation of vehicle stoppers. Malcolm wrote the operational requirement which then formed the basis for the system design.
Denis Murphy
(PD Teesport)
Security Institute Member Denis Murphy MSc was appointed security manager at PD Teesport (the second largest port in the UK, handling well over 50 million tonnes of cargo each year) in December 1999. Murphy’s role is to provide accurate and timely advice and guidance to the company on all security matters affecting property, assets, personnel and commercial interests. Commendably, Denis has insisted that all staff are trained and licensed to Security Industry Authority standards even though it is an in-house team. CCTV cameras have been introduced throughout the Port Estate in support of the security function, with images monitored from a dedicated Control Room. Additional fences, barriers, gates and staff ID card/pass scheme have also been introduced at Denis’ behest. Denis has done much for staff development in recent times, designing a comprehensive career structure which allows all operatives to progress within the company. Since recruitment began, at least 30% of all security officers have progressed to supervisory positions across the operation.
