-optimized.jpg){kind=avatar}
The Association of Security Consultants (ASC) is marking its 30th year at its annual conference, Consec, in London next week. Simon Crane is the ASC director whoโs tasked with growing the overseas membership; he spoke with Mark Rowe.
We spoke to him appropriately at the International Security Expo at London Olympia, pictured, where the ASC stand staffed by volunteers led by chair Gary Thomas had a steady stream of people drop by, asking about how to become a member, or just for a chat. Simon told Professional Security Magazine: โOur main goal is to showcase the UK security brand around the world, because it is still quite a strong brand.โ To leave Simon for a moment, UK Government has long prized the strong exports by UK private security, on the same spectrum with defence. The market applies equally for trainers and consultants, as physical products and services.
In a speech to the Expo, the junior Home Office minister Dan Jarvis, introducing himself to the audience, enthused that โyour sector achieved a ยฃ23.4 billion turnover and contributed ยฃ12.2 billion in value added to the UK economy. And, the most recent statistics show ยฃ9.8 billion in export sales โ it is an absolutely fantastic achievement and one that I am very proud to champion as Security Minister. But letโs not stop there. I believe we are still in the foothills of what the security sector can achieve, and that the skyโs the limit for further growth, and the opportunity to cement our position as global leaders.โ
Previous ministers have said much the same; indeed, called in 2012 for the London Olympics to further boost UK exports. A minister is hardly going to not talk up exports. However, Jarvisโ talk was remarkable for how he positioned himself as a โchampionโ of exporters in the โworld leadingโ security industry, making no secret of how that would suit Labourโs โeconomic growth and prosperity mission that sits at the heart of this government, and which will inform every major policy and investment decision we take over the course of this parliamentโ.
Simon (like numerous other present and past directors of the ASC) sees for himself the work overseas by UK security people. That may be the specifying of security equipment, or working with architects or others on the security design of projects, such as critical infrastructure or โsmart citiesโ, or UK embassies abroad. TheUK is still very well respected in the security field, Simon says.
Hence Simon is trying to expand the ASCโs profile, and build an international membership. The ASC has spoken to a professional security association in Dubai; in the United States, the IAPSC (International Association of Professional Security Consultants). Gary Thomas is now a lifetime member of the IAPSC, in a reciprocal arrangement. To leave the ASC for a moment, campus security managers have shown for some years that itโs possible for associations to avoid rivalry and to have friendly relations for the good of both (and members), such as the UK-based Aucso and US-based IACLEA. But; such relations donโt just happen; they need people to put in the work to set up and then maintain relations. Hence Simonโs task. The ASC is also putting feelers out in Saudi Arabia; and when the Olympia Expo organisers Nineteen Group put on their announced equivalent event in Singapore in November 2025, the ASC hope to be there. Simonโs also seeking to identify what other industry bodies are overseas that mirror what the ASC does in the UK, and foster relationships. The prospect is of the ASC growing overseas members who might set up a local group. The ASC holds four gatherings, โcalled โbusiness groupsโ a year besides Consec and a black-tie dinner, all usually in London. While that may suit many members, who are either London-based or find it straightforward to fly in, the May quarterly event was live-streamed; and the business groups have a YouTube channel.
To leave Simon, another development in UK private security that (as Dan Jarvis mentioned in his Olympia speech) other countries are looking upon with interest is Martynโs Law, introduced to Parliament in September, a proposed legal requirement upon โpremisesโ of capacity of 200 or more to take steps to counter terrorism. Taking part on the ASC stand at shows this year has been Janice McMahon of the first aid materials supplier Steroplast, demonstrating the firmโs PAcT (public access trauma kit) including tourniquet.
