SECURITY: MICHAEL McGRANAGHAN
The real question is how do we work together to make security effective and ensure that looking after the pennies doesn’t allow the loss of pounds. Engaging with an ACS security company at the earliest stage of planning can both reduce the risk AND reduce the cost.
ground, whereas technology can only deter, inform of a problem and/or aid a response. Also, there is no ‘one size fits all’ - each site, permanent or temporary, is different in use, location, risk or duration. It is vital that the procuring of security services encompasses a full understanding of the requirement and ‘real life’ experience of the circumstances and tasks faced by security in such hostile and challenging environments. Maybe it would be a good idea for the people involved in such decisions to have an induction course and experience ‘modern day’ security within the rail industry, so as to ensure these decisions are based on knowledge, rather than the position of a decimal point?
Even though these changes in the security industry (SIA and ACS) have been introduced, it is important to note that to operate any form of security you must hold an SIA licence by law. There remain organisations that repeatedly
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use and deploy non-SIA/ACS work or agency staff to fulfil security roles which, in the short term, seem cost affective but when something goes wrong – what then? Is this best practice?
If we put to one side the Network Rail Framework Agreement, the tender process within the rail industry does not have the flexibility and adaptability required to deliver a 21st Century security solution: not allowing for ‘thinking outside the box’. Security companies with the ACS qualification have the knowledge, experience and capability to supply technical, manned and PTS guarding that is cost effective, integrated and successful, but only when provided the opportunity to survey the project and collaborate in producing a workable security plan from which the tender document is then drawn. If this was the template then the client would then get an enhanced security operation at the optimum cost.
What needs to be considered:- Is the cheapest solution the best security solution? How can procurement work with ACS security providers to ensure the best security provision?
Security is a people and people management service, working in an ever changing environment with levels of risk and real risk of conflict. A report made by an ACS security officer at 0300 can have a direct effect on a court case or insurance claim six months down the line. Security services operate 24 hours per day, often in lone worker situations. What is the real cost factor versus safety, corporate responsibilities, accountabilities and/or liabilities?
The tool box of a security company working in the rail sector needs to have a good mixture of the old, the new and the different, with the ability and trust to deploy these ‘tools’ quickly, to be proactive and reactive to the ever changing security threat.
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