One size doesn’t fit all, as our staff levels and responsibilities grow, says a guarding company chief.
As our world becomes more complex and vulnerable, the demand for private security staff is at a high. As of March 2024, there were towards half a million (432,282) SIA license holders; put another way, well over double the number of full-time equivalent police officers in England and Wales (147,746).
Consequently, security staff are increasingly on the front-line of some of the UK’s most high-risk scenarios. But how do we ensure the right security personnel are trained for the environment in which they operate? The key, argues Simon Alderson, CEO of First Response Group, is to move away from the one-size-fits-all approach, and instead assess the needs of each scenario and ensure the appropriately trained staff are assigned to the role.
While it might seem easy to assign any SIA-trained team member without assessing the unique risks of the situation, this can lead to ineffective management and a compromise in safety. Some situations, for instance, like high-risk threats or VIP protection demand highly skilled close protection officers. On the other hand, managing crowds or operating CCTV requires different competencies. Furthermore, there are different skill sets for different industries, and the SIA offers various licenses for different roles, such as door supervision, close protection, public space surveillance and security guarding. Each of these roles require distinct training, skills and knowledge, and we must lean into this for the ultimate security of our communities.
Regulatory and legal implications
SIA licenses are tied to specific roles, and assigning staff outside of their area can breach regulatory requirements. Worryingly, it also means that if an incident is poorly handled by untrained staff, the employer could be held accountable for negligence or improper management. Crucially, the inappropriate deployment of staff may lead to a failure to follow safety protocols, putting both security personnel and the public at risk.
With violent crimes and retail thefts rising, and global threats from issues like terrorism ever-present, we must ensure we are deploying the right staff for the unique job at hand. By not doing this, incidents can be mismanaged – from staff without the proper training missing opportunities to escalate a threat, to the delaying of conflict resolution. In security operations, there is no one-size-fits-all approach and each incident needs to be assessed based on its specific characteristics, with the appropriate personnel deployed.
At First Response Group, we always ensure we have taken the time to identify the unique needs of a potential job. In many cases, that could mean providing additional training that goes well beyond the SIA level required for a license, such as First Response Emergency Care level 3 (FREC 3), advanced physical intervention training or advanced CCTV training. Not every personnel will require this level of training, and we should consider carefully the members of staff we award it to.
Critically, we should keep in mind that SIA-accredited personnel are not likely to be warranted officers and according to law, are civilians. This means while they have some basic powers and the option to seek the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme (CSAS), boundaries must be tread extremely carefully – both in a metaphorical and physical sense. It is important to note that becoming a private security officer is by no means the easy option for someone who might otherwise consider the police force. SIA refused 149 applications in April alone this year, ensuring only those who meet all necessary criteria can operate. And at First Response Group, we go above and beyond to ensure strict assessments add an extra layer of security and protection for our clients. That’s because where safety is concerned, there is no room for a second chance.
About First Response Group
First Response Group offers security and facilities services, permanent and temporary, to public and private sector clients across the UK. It’s a member of the ACS Pacesetters group of highest-scoring Security Industry Authority (SIA) approved contractors. It offers security personnel, CCTV and access control and vacant property protection. From its Head Office in Leeds and across eight UK regional offices, it employs more than 1200.
