The last Members’ Evening of the year is always a popular affair among those industry luminaries who belong to The Security Institute. So it proved on Thursday 4 December at The Victory Services Club near London’s Pall Mall, with something approaching 100 high level managers and directors in attendance to hear the latest behind-the-scenes news and tuck into a curry supper ‘underwritten’ by joint event sponsors Niche Events (organisers of Counter-Terror Expo) and the Chesterfields Group.
It had already been a very busy week for me, what with the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme launch at Brunel University on the Monday, luncheon with Servoca’s Tim Whitfield on Tuesday and both the Axis Security Christmas Luncheon and David Dickinson’s Retirement Dinner taking up much of Wednesday! Yes indeed, Christmas time can be mighty busy for us writer types. Work needs to fit in somewhere as well, though!
I’d bumped into the Institute’s general manager Di Thomas earlier in the day. The lovely, always-cheery Di had pitched up at UBM Towers in Blackfriars alongside Events Committee chairman Patricia Knight and the Institute’s vice-chairman David Gill for a meeting with our marketing team – including Jo Mayer and Tracy Bebbington – and myself (as well as SMT Online’s publisher Jonathan Collins) about how The Security Institute can work together with us to develop our business relationship in 2009 and beyond. Watch this space for developments…
Co-ordination on recruitment
Also attending that meeting was Peter Hale MSyI (Dip) who’s now taking the lead in co-ordinating the Institute’s recruitment strategy. Peter told me that he’s hoping many members will support this vital initiative by helping with specific tasks and chipping in both ideas and contacts. If you’d like to contact Peter and offer your support then send an e-mail to: phale.security@gmail.com
As always, I arrived at The Trafalgar Room in good time for a chat with not only Di but Geoff Whitfield – Tim’s father, of course, and the founding chairman of the Institute. Geoff told me that Stewart Kidd is to stand down from his ten-year stint working on numerous British Standards Institution Committees. “He has done a tremendous job on behalf of the entire industry,” said Whitfield. Praise where praise is most certainly due as far as SMT Online’s concerned.
Following David’s welcome and introductions, an EGM was held and several motions carried on a vote. The Security Institute is making no secret of the fact that its Board needs to be streamlined following the merger with the International Institute of Security. There are currently 22 Board representatives, but this needs to be trimmed to just 12. One proposal ratified on the night is that, going forward, the four longest-serving members of the Board will now stand down automatically once their term is served and offer themselves for re-election.
Speaking about SMT
Earlier in the day, David had asked me if I’d like to say a few words on the changes occurring at Security Management Today, and I was only too delighted to grab this opportunity. The Security Institute is MY Institute. By that I mean its whole ethos – striving for Chartered, professional status for security managers – is the exact same one I have lived by in the pages of SMT and now carry on at SMT Online. I shall continue to do all I can to help the Institute in this regard.
Before beginning my speech, I asked for a show of hands on how many of the audience either reads or subscribes to SMT. Virtually every hand was raised. A good start. I then explained what I’m doing – and what we’re doing at UBM Live ‘in the round’ – to cement the SMT Online brand.
“Misleading and ill-informed gossip has been spread that we are no more,” I commented. “There have been suggestions that I no longer have any print responsibilities, which is totally untrue. For one thing, I’m now Editor of The IFSEC Magazine. Perhaps certain individuals ought to check their facts a little better.”
In truth, Ladies and Gentlemen, you’ll be pleased to know that I’ve been promoted. Not only am I now Editor of SMT Online and ‘Brand SMT’, but I’m also Group Content Editor for UBM Live’s security portfolio, encompassing webinars, podcasts, conferences, the Security Excellence Awards, SELECT at IFSEC and a host of other initiatives.
“‘Brand SMT’ is very much alive. Sign up to all of our Newsletters, air your views and continue to contribute. UBM Live and SMT Online will be the pioneers of digital publishing in this sector and beyond. Make sure you join our Security Revolution.”
Signed copy auctioned for Help For Heroes
On the night, I signed a copy of the November 2008 edition of SMT – the final print edition, in other words – and this was then auctioned to the highest bidder to raise money for Help For Heroes (more of which anon).
‘Auctioneer’ Gill started the bidding at GB pound 50 and, to my delight, a ‘war’ broke out between Security International’s Chris Brogan and Patricia, both of whom seemed so determined to win! In the end it was Patricia who triumphed, paying no less than GB pound 500 for the edition. Thank You, Patricia. What a wonderful gesture.
Before the guest speakers took their turn on the podium, there was an emotional and, at times, harrowing talk delivered by Major Phil Packer. As a serving officer with the Royal Military Police, Major Packer was injured in Iraq earlier this year – his spinal column snapped in a vehicular incident. As a result, he was flown home from duty to Birmingham on 2 March for double surgery on his back.
Major Packer stood up from his wheelchair and delivered an impassioned speech. Already this year he’s raised GB pound 110,000 for the magnificent Help For Heroes Charity. At the end of January, he’s rowing the Channel with pal Al Humphreys to raise even more money.
Pleasingly, The Security Institute was able to donate GB pound 1,000 to the fund (including the GB pound 500 from SMT’s auction, GB pound 300 from a raffle and a further GB pound 200 courtesy of the Heads and Tails game held on The Dixie Queen as part of the Institute’s summer luncheon).
“Phil is such an inspiration to us all,” said Di as Major Packer finished his plea for more sponsorship and sat down. I would urge any companies or individuals to check out the Help For Heroes web site (see the link on the right hand panel of this page) and give any form of money or support you can. The guys and girls in our Armed Forces do a tremendous job, often in the face of obstinacy from our politicians and leaders. Our servicemen and women desperately need our help, so please do what you can.
Talk on airport terror
Introduced by Peter Jones – the astute and smart md of Niche Events who runs Counter-Terror Expo – the first guest speaker of the evening was Chris Yates of Yates Consulting. Chris is one of the most sought-after sources for authoritative comment on aviation terrorism, security and safety-related matters. He’s regularly seen on leading news channels including the BBC, Sky News and CNN.
This time around, Yates’ presentation was based on video clips and news items. Some of it was fly-on-the-wall documentary scenario-driven, with hidden camera footage of some less-than-savoury attitudes to security at certain airports. One clip focused on baggage handlers who were more intent on reading newspapers and eating and drinking than actually watching the x-ray screens in front of them. There were also anecdotes of security staff sleeping when on duty, Boarding Card rackets and the like. It doesn’t instil a great deal of confidence, I must say.
Although Chris’ presentation was good, it told me little if anything I didn’t already know. A touch more focus on what’s actually being done to tighten airport security wouldn’t have gone amiss.
“We need effective security, and to analyse security personnel everywhere so that they are of the highest calibre,” said Yates. Of course we do, Chris, but I’ve seen the pictures of the Twin Towers disaster and the 7/7 and Madrid bombings one too many times now.
What are we actually and actively doing to counter terrorism at airports and preventing the like of these incidents from happening again? That’s what needs to be brought out into the open. The world is full of documentaries, many of them giving a totally lop-sided view of the world.
Insurance and Corporate Manslaughter
Rounding off the formal presentations was Simon Cassey from the Chesterfields Group who made some interesting points about the insurance sector and its relationship with security practitioners. Corporate Manslaughter legislation was touched upon. The whole insurance question will be dealt with on SMT Online in due course.
Alas, I was forced to miss out on the delicious-smelling Christmas curry (I presume it was turkey-based!) and copious amounts of lager from the bar as the last coach back to Hertfordshire beckoned.
I thanked Patricia, Di, David, Geoff and ‘photographer for the night’ Mike Bluestone for another tremendous evening and headed home, happy in the knowledge that SMT was now helping to support the brave but wounded souls from our Armed Forces.