Security & Surveillance

Many people protect themselves, their families, their businesses and their property by employing security companies to safeguard them against criminal and terrorist threats. This means that security is currently high on the UK agenda and, as a result, the market is strong and expanding, and offers a host of roles – as outlined in this feature – to those looking to work in this diverse sector.

THE SECTOR AT A GLANCE

4.25 million estimated number of CCTV cameras in the UK

500,000+ people employed in the UK’s private security industry

£6 billion amount contributed to the UK economy by the security industry

634,850 security qualifications held*

328,787 valid licences held*

* As at 6 April 2010 Source: BSIA, SIA

The Security Industry Authority

The Private Security Industry Act 2001 established the Security Industry Authority (SIA) to, among other things, reduce criminality and raise quality standards within the private security industry. The following sectors or activities (which come under the banner of ‘manned guarding’) must be covered by a licence (cost £245, valid for three years):

Cash and Valuables in Transit
Close Protection
Door Supervision
Key Holding
Public Space Surveillance (CCTV)
Security Guarding
Vehicle Immobilising.

The SIA is currently developing its approach to the licensing of private investigation activities – operating as a private investigator, as a security consultant or as a precognition agent will be licensed but no date has yet been set for implementation.

To gain an SIA licence, applicants must attend an approved training course, attain nationally recognised qualifications (see the box on the SIA’s new modular training scheme), and undergo identity and criminal records checks. Everyone working under contract in licensable sectors needs to be licensed; this includes employees, managers, supervisors and directors of security companies. Licensing does not extend to those who are employed in-house.

NEW MODULAR TRAINING FROM THE SIA

The SIA is introducing new licence-linked qualifications this year, bringing training up to date and introducing a modular structure. The new specifications reflect current industry best practice so that individuals working, or wishing to work, in security undergo good basic training for their specific role.
Licence applicants will, with a couple of exceptions,* now need to take two compulsory modules: Common Security Industry Knowledge (the ‘common module’) and Conflict Management. Once they have attained these compulsory modules, they can then ‘bolt on’ the relevant specialist modules for the sector in which they wish to work and obtain a licence (e.g. Door Supervision, Security, Cash and Valuables in Transit, Close Protection, Public Space Surveillance (CCTV), Vehicle Immobiliser). (For all other licence-linked qualifications, the SIA will accept – from January 2010 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and from September 2010 in Scotland – the new modular qualification(s) for the relevant sector and a current qualification, as long as it is less than three years since it was awarded.)
This new structure, with core-plus-specialist modules (see table), will mean less overlap and duplication in content across sectors, which will make it easier to qualify to obtain more than one licence, as only the required and relevant training will need to be taken for each additional qualification.

Licence	Common module	Specialist module	Conflict Management	Escorting & Disengagement
Door Supervision	YES	Door Supervision	YES	YES
Security	YES	Security	YES
Close Protection	Close Protection	YES
Public Space Surveillance (CCTV)	YES	Public Space Surveillance (CCTV)
Cash and Valuables in Transit	YES	Cash and Valuables in Transit
Vehicle Immobiliser	YES	Vehicle Immobiliser	YES

Source: www.sia.homeoffice.gov.uk
To find out more, visit www.sia.homeoffice.gov.uk/Pages/training-changes.aspx

* The Conflict Management module is not compulsory for those wishing to attain Cash and Valuables in Transit or Public Space Surveillance (CCTV) licences; the Door Supervision licence requires applicants to take an additional module in Escorting & Disengagement; the Close Protection licence covers the ‘common module’ as part of its specialist module, so it does not need to be taken separately.

The British Security Industry Association

The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) is the largest trade association for companies operating in this sector. Its 570-plus members are responsible for more than 70% by turnover of all the security business conducted in the UK. The industry sectors covered by BSIA members are:

access control
associate (suppliers of products or services)
cash and property marking
cash and valuables in transit
closed-circuit TV (CCTV)
civil aviation security
close protection
crowd management
export council
information destruction
leisure industry security
physical security equipment
police and public services
security consultancy
security equipment distributors
security equipment manufacturers
security guarding
security systems.

Skills for Security

Working alongside the BSIA is Skills for Security, the Sector Skills Council for the security industry. It is the skills and standards-setting body for the sector, responsible for working with employers and other stakeholders to deliver a range of educational and related services to improve skills, raise professionalism and improve business performance.

Security skills gained in the Services

Service people spend a great deal of their lives thinking about, planning and implementing security. Part of basic and more advanced training in some parts of the Forces is the accumulation of units leading to national and Scottish vocational qualifications in security.

TRANSLATE YOUR SKILLS

The personal qualities for which people are selected to work in security, and which are then developed during training, are highly relevant, and most Service people will possess many of the skills that security employers look for. They should be:

physically fit, and
able to patrol an area, take note of what they see and write a report.

The following skills are also vital:

the ability to work as part of a team
common sense
integrity
courage
ability to react to the unexpected
self-reliance, and
self-confidence.

During resettlement there is a range of intruder alarm and security systems installation courses available. Modules take the novice from the most basic level, through intruder alarms, to access control and CCTV, and should provide sufficient knowledge to allow them to visit premises and quote for contracts. For the manned guarding sector, there are also specialised programmes to prepare Service leavers for all sectors of this employment field. In addition, there are security management courses available for people who wish to convert security and management expertise into a recognised qualification.

Employment in the security industry
Most security is carried out by static guards who patrol premises, and use CCTV and surveillance equipment. They will probably have radios, and may combine security with gate control and reception duties. Some will use dogs. Mobile guards use vans to patrol a number of establishments, while cash-in-transit guards protect money and other valuables.

Store security officers usually work over 40 hours a week, Monday to Saturday, sometimes operating in plain clothes as store detectives. They check for shoplifting, that delivery contents are correct, and deal with general emergencies such as sick customers and lost children. They need good interpersonal skills and the ability to produce written reports and give evidence in any case of theft where they have made a citizen’s arrest.

KEY ATTRIBUTES AND SKILLS FOR A SECURITY OFFICER

Honesty
Communication skills
Ability to deal with people
Supervisory management
Reception duties
Looking after visitors
Driving
First aid
Mail handling
Fire duties

Security alarm fitters install and maintain systems that should have been planned by a trained surveyor. They have to make good any damage, and could be working anywhere from a small private house to a modern office block. They work normal weekday hours with some requirement for overtime, jobs at weekends and response to emergency call-outs. Much of their work involves cramped conditions and working at heights.

Locksmiths install and maintain security devices, including locks and safes, in commercial and private premises. They cut keys and can often work closely with security alarm specialists. They often provide a 24-hour call-out service.

Qualifications and training

Skills for Security is developing standards and training for the industry. A list of the national occupational standards that have been approved to date can be accessed from its website (see ‘Key contacts’, below). As well as vocational qualifications, Skills for Security has developed industry-led apprenticeship and advanced apprenticeship programmes with regional UK cooperatives designed to carry out this training. It also accredits and certifies courses, and runs training for trainers.

Graduates and postgraduates

Security managers need to have organisational and management skills, a knowledge of law and criminology, an acquaintance with risk theory and the ability to conduct a risk analysis. They should also know the principles of physical security and information security; they need to be familiar with computer security and contingency planning, and they must be able to communicate their ideas professionally. Many employers look for a postgraduate qualification. Security industry-specific qualifications, up to master’s level, demonstrate knowledge of the relevant aspects of security and management, and give the individual personal and professional confidence.

The Security Institute

There has been an increase in the range and nature of academic and vocational security-related qualifications, and security practitioners in management positions need their abilities to be understood clearly by employers, who have inevitably been confused by the mix of qualifications, experience and professional affiliations available. For this reason, the Security Institute (SyI) has developed a programme to assess security management experience, academic qualifications, vocational qualifications and contributions to the security profession through an independent professional validation board, which can award three grades of membership (Associate, Member and Fellow). The criteria considered are:

work experience, including roles and areas of responsibility
qualifications, including academic security-related and non security-related
training, including non-examination vocational and non-vocational courses
other contributions, such as publications written, and participation in projects and work outside direct employment.

Rates of pay

Because of the wide range of job opportunities available in this industry it is difficult to offer specific information about rates of pay, although larger organisations tend to offer broader benefits but with lower basic remuneration, while smaller firms compete by offering higher pay but fewer benefits. Starting salaries may be comparatively low, but increase with training and experience, and there are opportunities to earn considerably more for operating advanced equipment and working in high-risk situations. Overtime is likely to increase the overall worth of any package.

KEY CONTACTS

Security Industry Authority, PO Box 1293, Liverpool L69 1AX Tel: 0844 892 1025 Website: www.the-sia.org.uk

British Security Industry Association, Kirkham House, John Comyn Drive, Worcester WR3 7NS Tel: 0845 389 3889 Website: www.bsia.co.uk

Skills for Security, Security House, Barbourne Road, Worcester WR1 1RS Tel: 0845 0750 111 Website: www.skillsforsecurity.org.uk

Security Institute, 1 The Courtyard, Caldecote, Warwickshire CV10 0AS Tel: 0845 370 7717 Website: www.security-institute.org

Master Locksmiths Association, 5d Great Central Way, Woodford Halse, Daventry, Northants NN11 3PZ Tel: 01327 262 255 Website: www.locksmiths.co.uk