Time to define the role of the security consultant
• The Security Industry Authority – which has the experience of implementing current security legislation.
Administering the System
Having established the requirements for Security Managers and Security Consultants dealing with PALs, the next issue will be how to administer the system. Which body will manage the process?
The SIA currently is the Licensing Authority, but at the moment it does not have the organic expertise or capacity to assess the qualifications and experience of literally thousands of potential applicants. NaCTSO certainly has the required expertise, but probably not the capacity. Therefore, it may be appropriate perhaps to follow the example of SABRE, where the Security Institute will be responsible for dealing with applications for licensing and listing of companies and individual Assessors / Professionals, whilst BRE remains the scheme’s certification body.
Under my proposal, the Security Institute would assume the responsibility for assessing the qualifications and experience of candidates for their suitability as Security Managers or Consultants for PALs, under the guidance and auspices of NaCTSO, while NaCTSO itself retains certification and licensing authority, possibly in conjunction with SIA.
Proposed requirements for Managers of PALs Type of PAL
Manager Requirement
Small Venues Medium Venues
Large/Multi-Site Venues
Entry Level Qualification + min. 2 years’ experience
Intermediate Level Qualification + min. 5 years’ experience
Advanced Level
Qualification/Chartership + more than 5 years’ experience
Proposed requirements for Consultants of PALs Type of PAL
Manager Requirement
Small Venues
Medium Venues
Entry Level Qualification + min. 2 years’ experience. Work overseen / approved by Intermediate or Advanced Level Consultant
Intermediate Level Qualification + min. 5 years’ experience. Work approved by Advanced Level Consultant
Large/Multi-Site Venues
Advanced Level Qualification / Chartership + more than 5 years’ experience
© CITY SECURITY MAGAZINE – SUMMER 2022
I also propose that all qualification requirements from entry level through to advanced level should be determined by NaCTSO in consultation with other agencies.
This is very broad brush and requires much refinement, but as they say ‘the longest journey starts with the first step’, and I believe this could be a viable first step.
Agencies to consult
On the consultation front, with NaCTSO in the driving seat, the most appropriate bodies to be included in the consultation process are:
• The Security Institute – as the principal professional body in the UK. Its recent move to administer the SABRE programme reinforces its importance.
• The Register of Security Engineers and Specialists – from which in-depth technical counterterrorism expertise is provided.
• ASIS UK • The Association of Security Consultants
www.citysecuritymagazine.com > 5
The scale of this undertaking cannot be overestimated. The requirement to categorise individual PALs, set the relevant standards and process the large numbers of applicants will be both resource and time-consuming. But it must be done. Otherwise, the efforts of Figen Murray and all the others who pushed for so long to get Martyn’s Law introduced as the Protect Duty, will have been in vain. Without properly qualified and experienced individuals in these key roles, the Duty may become another box-ticking exercise, with another Manchester Arena as a result. This cannot be allowed to happen.
Bill Nelson CSyP MSyI Managing partner Rose Associates International Ltd
www.roseassociates.co.uk
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