Author: Dennis R Dalton
ISBN No:
Review date: 15/12/2025
No of pages: 0
Publisher: Butterworth Heinemann - Elsevier Science. Hardback, 331 pages. ISBN 0 7506 7614 0. www.bh.com
Year of publication: 11/09/2012
Brief:
A stimulating read providing many useful reminders for security managers. Ken Rogers praises a guide to corporate security as a publication he could not put down.
This publication is divided into three: defining an appropriate strategy and the providing the necessary resources; a strategic approach to protection of people and assets; and formulation and implementation of strategic plans and addressing the real and potential threats.
The author examines the steps to be taken in the level of risk facing organisations and determining the required action. He then deals with leadership ‘who should take the helm’ discussing the important areas of motivation and ability, quoting Peter Drucker as a writer on leadership. The California-based author Dr Dennis Dalton argues that public and private police are truly worlds apart. In part two Dalton defines ‘asset protection’ and speaks of ‘the corporate security manager as organisational strategic planner’. He argues that by and large the security industry has yet to incorporate strategic planning into its everyday business management. Finally, Dalton examines the art of management and the successful security manager including the issue of ‘managing from the middle’. I suggest the majority of security managers in the UK indeed operate in middle management. Dalton tackles how middle management can be effective from their organisational perch. Various styles of management are discussed, and recent changes in management attitudes. In practical terms the author discusses how he has grown tired of today’s latest fads as the basics have changed so little. He says: “The basics are the basics because they work.” This publication provides real-world cases and ways to effectively communicate the requirements of good security. In the preface he refers to the private security being booted out of airport screening following 9-11 and being replaced by double the numbers of federal employees who were also paid at a higher rate, with no notable measure of true passenger security – some would argue less security and more hassles resulted. I immediately thought: is the USA similar to the UK, where the private security industry is not fully appreciated by many?
