Policing with a Brain: the 2009 ASC Annual Luncheon

30 Jun 09

You remember when I said it was pretty much touch and go whether or not I made the recent Sony Professional trip to Portugal? Well, the same thing happened last Thursday when it was time to don the ‘medals and decorations’ and pitch up at the Association of Security Consultants’ Annual Luncheon.

As has been the case these past couple of years, the event was being held at the plush Royal Air Force Club where London’s Piccadilly meets Park Lane. It’s an opulent setting, and one steeped in history. Given that my father William used to be a navigator in Lancaster and Wellington bombers, there’s something of a family affinity with the place, I guess.

Anyway, I caught my usual United Cabs taxi from Rutherglen to Glasgow Airport in good time for the 10.00 am flight down to Luton. The taxi arrived, the roads had cleared from the early morning rush hour (thus allowing my driver to regale me with stories of how he buys and sells antique china on eBay from his converted loft) and I checked in with enough change to spare for a quick glug of orange juice and a sausage roll from Greggs The Bakers. Boy are those Greggs savouries the best in the known universe!

Everything was going fine. The plane was early, too, which is no mean achievement given that we’re talking about easyJet here (they’re very good, really), so it looked as though I’d have plenty of time to stop by the office at Blackfriars and pick up the old Flip video camera before heading to the West End. Then it happened…

Concern for a fellow passenger

While reading the – sometimes good, sometimes average – easyJet magazine, I noticed a slight commotion to my left. All of us had just buckled up on the captain’s instructions, but one couple sitting one row in front and to the left of my own was having some problems. The middle-aged man was experiencing a seizure, and obviously gasping for breath.

Within seconds, three stewardesses were on hand with defibrillation equipment, water, radios, the works. There was an announcement over the PA to see if a doctor happened to be on board. The response was negative. The poor chap passed out, but the oxygen then revived him. Gradually, he began to recover (to the extent that, thankfully, he walked off unaided once the captain had decided he wouldn’t be fit to fly).

I sat there thinking how we’re all mere mortals. We’re only one incident away from meeting our Maker, and that’s why we should enjoy The Now part of our lives rather than spending every day regretting what’s happened in times gone by or fretting over the future. Thank God the chap was OK. Everyone on board was so relieved. The fact that I was going to be late was little other than an irrelevance.

On emerging from Green Park London Underground station I was knocked sideways by a wall of heat. It was a beautiful, sunny June day but almost hot enough in town for you to be able to fry an egg on the pavement outside Starbucks. I neglected to partake of such culinary activities – although I bet Heston Blumenthal would try it one day to see if the end result would blend with his infamous snail porridge – and headed straight for the top of Piccadilly and the huge insignia that adorns building number 128, the home of the Royal Air Force Club.

Greetings from a fellow scribe

No sooner was I on the first floor via the magnificent staircase and in front of the seating plan than up pops an industry colleague of mine. Andy Clutton is the Editor of Risk (UK). Not only is he a thoroughly decent bloke who produces a fine journal, but he’s also into heavy metal and rock music… Dream Theater and Iron Maiden are but two of the bands we both like. More of this later…

I noticed consultant Simon Lambert – principal consultant at Lambert and Associates – snapping away with what looked like (and, indeed, was) a professional camera. Turns out he had been appointed official photographer for the day, so I arranged to nick some of his pictures to accompany this report (you can see the results on the right hand panel of this page, Ladies and Gentlemen, and extremely good they are too).

Still stood rooted to the spot by the table plan, I was then greeted by ASC chairman Roy Sutherland and his business partner Chris Roberts, both of whom participated in a fascinating debate I chaired at IFSEC examining the future role of security consultants in the UK. I know that not everyone – Roy and Chris included – agreed with what I said in my recent SMT Online Editor’s View, but I seem to have moved the debate on which cannot be a bad thing.

A quick word with ASC stalwart Janet Smytherman was followed by a Call to Luncheon, and we all moved swiftly into the dining room. I hadn’t even had a chance to bag a drink and, by now, was so thirsty I would have taken a glass of carrot juice – no offence, all you vegetarians out there – just to keep the old body temperature at bay.

Feast that was fit for a King

Following a few introductory words from Roy, it was time for luncheon. The opening course of smoked salmon with freshly-cut lemon and some brown bread to the side is right up there with Parma ham and melon for me. It was made all the more charming by the wee Irish woman who served us.

Betty was so disturbed to find that I had no side plate for my bread rolls that she went on a mission and, a few minutes later, came back with a shiny white plate complete with RAF crest and two granary rolls that must have just emerged from the oven. Now that’s what I call service (and I made a point of telling her manager all about that before I left).

The main course was delicious, and so quintessentially English that it could only be admired. Tender roast beef with excellent Yorkshire pudding, roasted new potatoes and a selection of seasonal vegetables. Oh yes. I mustn’t forget the red wine jus. Never forget the red wine jus.

The final course was a very light chocolate cake complete with cherries and fresh cream. An extremely pleasant ensemble it was, too.

Mr Clutton (who was sitting to my right) is nothing if not an observant journalist – as well as being a damn fine musician – and had noticed that, all the way through the meal, my portions had been distinctly larger than every other diner on Table 6. “Betty obviously noticed that I’m a growing lad and need my sustenance, mate” I offered in reply.

Like I said, Andy’s great company and we talked about all sorts. The move from print to digital publishing, the Download Festival – a freak show held every year at Castle Donington motor racing circuit in honour of heavy metal (the musical variety, not racing cars) – a series of gigs he’s doing with his band, fretless bass and our favourite episode of Fawlty Towers. Turns out mine is The Wedding Party and Andy’s is The Builders.

Television malfunction at Mr Amura’s house

The funniest story of the day fed on from this, when Andy told me all about his colleague Paul Amura’s TV problems. For those of you that don’t know him, Paul is the affable and highly professional sales guru at Pro-Active publications, the company that produces not only Andy’s journal but also Professional Security Installer (edited by the famed, well-travelled and all-round good guy that is Pete Conway).

Paul has just taken the plunge and bought himself (and I quote Andy here, in his soft Merseyside accent) “one of those new-fangled digital tellys” in readiness for next summer’s football World Cup.

Only one problem. It transpires that two trees belonging to next door have served to block the signal, thus reducing the Amura household to the delights of Freeview and not much else! Death by TV, folks! I suspect Paul – who’s a big Black Sabbath fan, by the way – is now spending his evenings busily scouring eBay for a cheap mechanical saw… Hope he’s told the neighbours!

To my left sat the aforementioned Mr Lambert (who also voted for The Builders). Simon and I have already linked-in on LinkedIn, but he too seemed intent on referring to the huge portions of beef and veg Betty had doled out to yours truly. “Moderation in all things except moderation, Brian. I reckon that’s Betty’s motto.” One suspects he could well have a point.

Like my beautiful wife Annora, Simon is a keen collector of Daffy Duck memorabilia. This emerged during a conversation between us as to which is our favourite cartoon character (mine being Snoopy from Charles Schulz's classic Peanuts).

A Who’s Who? of the industry

I completed a brief scan of the room to see who else I could see in attendance. Jon Laws (also on our table, and principal consultant at the Lyndhurst Consultancy), Yash Patel from JVC (and a staunch supporter of the ASC) was there, so too Azeem Aleem (of the Institute of Criminal Justice Studies at the University of Portsmouth).

Also there was Nigel Flower – as always proudly sporting his ASC tie, and described by The Security Institute’s chairman Mike Bluestone on the day as “the complete Gentleman” – and John Davies, the former head of security for British Nuclear Fuels at the Sellafield plant.

Aside from the top table, arguably the most distinguished gathering was to be found to our left on Table 7. There sat the aforementioned Mr Bluestone, Di Thomas (the Institute’s general manager, all neatly wrapped up in a summery black and white number), Patrick Somerville (international chairman of IPSA), IPSA’s chief executive Justin Bentley (who must have had half a mind on his own organisation’s AGM the following day), the incomparable Wilson James director Stuart Lowden and Mike Cahalane, the well-regarded ASC stalwart.

I couldn’t help but point out to Di that she was bereft of medals. “Where’s your Institute badge, my dear? I’m wearing mine” (as I always do). “It’s on my jacket!” screamed Di by way of immediate retort. I wasn’t about to argue given the amount of replacement Institute ties this charming woman has sent to me for free following various dinner malfunctions with those that I’ve paid for!

Step forward Dr Timothy Brain, if you please

The guest speaker for the day was introduced by Roy Sutherland. “It’s not often we can persuade a current chief of police to speak at the Annual Luncheon, but we’ve managed to do so today,” he said before reading the CV of Tim Brain (chief constable of Gloucestershire Police).

Dr Timothy Brain OBE QPM BA PhD FRSA has served as the chief of police in Gloucestershire since 2001. Before joining the police service, Brain was a student at the University of Wales in Aberystwyth from 1972 to 1978 where he read history, duly obtaining a first class honours degree in 1975 and his PhD eight years later.

Brain joined the Avon and Somerset Constabulary in 1978 under the graduate entry ‘fast track’ scheme, rising from constable to chief inspector in that county before joining the Hampshire Constabulary on his promotion to superintendent.

He became assistant chief constable in the West Midlands Police in 1994, where he was responsible for community affairs and, later on, operations. Specific responsibilities included the policing of the Euro ’96 tournament, counter-terrorist operations and the extensive reorganisation of the force that took place in 1997.

Come 1998, Brain was promoted to become deputy chief constable of Gloucestershire, where his responsibilities included community relations and strategic planning.

On becoming chief constable of Gloucestershire, Brain embarked on a programme of significant strategic change. The Force’s bold plans, Vision5 and Vision 2010, have since been recognised as leading examples of strategic management, and with very good reason.

Brain’s achievements include completing the first tri-service (police, fire and ambulance) Emergency Control Centre, creating new specialist investigative units to combat serious and organised crime and receiving the Investors in People Award (thus rendering Gloucestershire one of the few police services to achieve the standard on a corporate-style basis).

Visiting professor in police studies

In January 2006, Gloucestershire Police completed a four-year project to build and occupy a new state-of-the-art headquarters. This was fashioned under the Public Finance Initiative, and concluded both on time and under budget.

Brain has been a member of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) since 1994, and rose to become one of the most senior chief constables in the country. Commendably, he led Gloucestershire’s brilliant response to the extensive flooding and water emergency of 2007.

Brain was appointed visiting professor in police studies within the Faculty of Arts and Human Studies at London South Bank University in 2006, and an Honorary Fellow of the University of Wales at Aberystwyth a year later. He actually announced his retirement as chief constable just prior to the ASC event (on 1 June 2009), and this will take effect from 1 January next year.

A quite brilliant speech from a brilliant policeman

Brain by name, Brain by nature. All I can say is that from the moment this man stood up to the juncture at which he sat down, he captivated the attention of this journalist – and everyone else in the room – with a quite brilliant speech. I’ve heard many after dinner/after luncheon polemics in my time, I can tell you, but this was the best of the lot, and by some considerable distance at that.

With his devoted wife Elizabeth by his side, Brain kicked off by addressing that most salient of issues – the relationship between the police service and the private security sector. “In the 1980s and 1990s, there was an unnecessary and growing divide between the two factions. Thankfully, we are now light years away from that situation,” said Brain. “The police service has recognised the valid roles to be played by the private sector.”

Interestingly, Brain talked of “customised policing” – in other words, policing that the public wants and is prepared to pay for out of its own pocket. “I must stress, though, that the private security sector must prove itself to be highly professional at all times. By definition, it must be publicly and politically accountable.”

When Brain retires his uniform to the wardrobe, he will have spent half of his time in the police service as a chief officer. “That’s how it should be,” he commented. “It’s no good someone being an inspector for 16 years. It’s far better that individuals gain solid experience by working alongside chief officers. By doing so, they’ll genuinely be ready to step up to the plate when the time comes.” This Editor endorses those comments 100%.

For Brain, the police service has been far too slow to select people for rapid promotion. “The current system cannot work out whether it wishes to be egalitarian or elitist,” suggested Brain. “We’ve waited too long to introduce some form of higher ranking officer entry scheme. We need direct entry early for graduates and those who show promise such that they can attain a high rank pretty quickly and start to make an impact.”

The last three decades of UK policing

Looking back at the last 30 years of policing – as the ASC had asked him to do for this presentation – Brain started by focusing on 1978.

This was a time when the average house price stood at £13,000. The inflation rate levelled at 8%. The Bank of England base rate was 12.5%. We had three Popes in one year. The first mobile bricks (sorry, phones) appeared on the market. Grease and Saturday Night Fever were the two major hit films of the year, and Space Invaders made its first appearance in the arcades.

“Everything was pretty drab back then,” suggested Brain with little fondness for the era. “Take Bristol Police Station at Bridewell, for example. We didn’t mind the old-style building. We accepted it as the norm. We also accepted the fact that the Police National Computer had not yet gone live across all 43 forces. Now, it has become one of the major spines of policing. Today, we take computers for granted.” Indeed we do, Tim.

As for the police cars of the era? “They were gas-guzzling, ugly giants of vehicles!” said Brain. “And those single-channel radios we used to use… They were better at picking up conversations between North Sea trawler men than they were your colleagues.”

Fast-forwarding to today, and Brain is clearly pleased to see that the police service has moved towards a 50/50 split between male and female officers, while at the same time “better representing the communities it serves”. Apparently, today’s radios are “world-beating devices”.

Looking back on landmark events

The landmark events that have shaped the police service over the last three decades? Obviously, the riots of the early 1980s were a pivotal moment. “I missed the St Pauls riots in Bristol on 2 April 1980,” commented Brain. “I wasn’t on duty. I woke up and it had all happened. We must never forget the trauma that event wrought, nor the killing of PC Keith Blakelock or the terrible tragedy that engulfed Hillsborough.”

In Brain’s view, the latter event made the police service “look long and hard at itself in the mirror”. The conclusion reached was that there had to be change. “We had to propel ourselves forward”.

A convenient juncture for Brain to pay tribute to his top table companion Lord Imbert, for it was he who started the ball rolling on widespread reform with the Plus Programme. “That initiative realised change from the inside out, and change that was much for the better.”

Brain is of the belief that the police will always fall foul of the critics no matter what they do. “Normally, the police service is good at taking the blame. We are task-focused, which is a positive. Once we know what the task is, we’re good at getting on with it,” he explained.

Where does that leave policing today?

Where does the police service stand today? Brain pointed out that, since 1993, crime has been falling and, in the 2000s, that drop has been “rapid”. Those of you who’ve read my SMT Online Editor’s Views will know that I’m not overly convinced about the Government’s figures. The national media tells a very different story on gun and knife crime in particular. I would be inclined to believe what this man says, though.

“There have been big reductions in areas like car crime, burglary and criminal damage,” added Brain. “That means a great deal to local people. The innocent folk who suffer the fall-out from acts of criminality. There has also been social change and social improvement – most definitely that helps us in our quest for law and order.”

One of the biggest positives for Brain is that the police service now enjoys “true partnerships” (and he cited the ASC Annual Luncheon’s diverse clientele as a good example of this in practice). “It’s now axiomatic that there’s partnership working between the police and elements of the private sector,” opined Brain.

On a very positive note, the retiring Gloucestershire chief made sure of telling us all that there are now 40,0000 more sworn officers than when he started, not to mention a swathe of PCSOs to support them (although whether or not the latter are of any real worth is a matter for debate).

“We can now investigate every type of crime there is in the local community, and respond to a vast array of incidents,” urged Brain. “If you want a police response it’s going to be clear, clean and of good quality.”

Threats that must be faced and tackled

It’s not all sweetness and light, though. Brain pointed to a number of threats facing his colleagues in the years ahead, among them bureaucracy, the recession and, of course, the ongoing terrorism situation.

“There are heavy demands placed upon the forensic criminal justice system,” he explained. “We have to comply with too much Government legislation. Very often, that leaves us in a painting-by-numbers situation.”

The recession poses a two-pronged threat. In the next two years, the unemployment figures will rise. “Once it hits three million, and there’s every likelihood that it will, we’ll begin to feel the pulse of social tension once more. There’s also the fiscal problem that will hit home in 2011. It will hit Joe Public in his wallet, and will also see some of our 140,000 police officers under threat when the public purse has to be trimmed.”

Brain knows what he’s talking about where money’s concerned, as he’s the ACPO lead on financing issues. “There’s not enough finance there to bridge the gap that will need to be bridged,” he said. There were more than a few concerned faces when I looked around the room at this point, and it’s no wonder. Nothing we didn’t already know – or at least suspect – to be the case, but nonetheless shocking when it’s confirmed.

Terrorism also presents a two-pronged problem. There’s the basic physical threat it poses, but also the threat of over-reaction hangs heavy in the air.

Avoiding politicisation at all costs

For Brain, however, the greatest threat to the police service is politicisation. How right he is. “The police service must remain completely independent. I’m not talking here about the influence of politics on policing. It’s perfectly fair that the Home Secretary and the Home Office has a say on matters. What I’m talking about is the policing process as we know it being subverted by politics. That cannot be allowed to happen.”

The police’s tradition of independence affords the service both a constitutional independence and an organisational independence. The latter means that professionals are allowed to “run the business of policing”, as Brain neatly puts it. “There has been 30 years of sustained progress. What we must do now is build for the future.”

Cue a huge round of applause and, in some quarters, a standing ovation. Like I said, a brilliant speech.

The Imbert Prize for 2009

One of the main reasons this annual event is held is, of course, to offer a backdrop to the ceremony that sees the winners of the Imbert Prize and associated awards take a bow. First bestowed in 2005, the Imbert Prize is named after one of the ASC’s esteemed Patrons, the aforementioned Lord Peter Imbert of New Romney QPM JP, himself a former Metropolitan Police Commissioner.

Lord Imbert served as Commissioner of the Met from 1987 to 1993, during that time instituting a wide-ranging survey and research into its corporate identity, management and operational style. As stated, this resulted in an extensive change programme, and saw the Met renamed from the Metropolitan Police Force to the Metropolitan Police Service we know today.

The Council of the ASC encourages the development of ideas for the advancement of risk and security management in the United Kingdom through the award of this annual prize.

Although not in the rudest of health these days, Lord Imbert commendably plays an active part in the adjudication process. He reads all of the dissertations submitted before meeting with the Judging Panel to decide on the winner of the University Dissertation Award.

The judges had an extremely difficult choice to make from several excellent submissions. “We were privileged to receive some marvellous, detailed and thought-provoking essays,” explained Lord Imbert, who set aside the recent May Bank Holiday to complete his reading and marking. “The tutors have guided some top class study and research effort, they really have.”

Lord Imbert feels that security now qualifies to be called a profession. I feel that some elements, among them compulsory CPD, are still missing. “These dissertations are now part of truly professional qualifications.” No doubt about that last statement, though.

Groenli takes the winner’s plaudits

This year’s submissions came from the University of Portsmouth (represented by Simon Zammit), Cranfield University (Anders Groenli), the University of Leicester (Alison Patient) and Loughborough University (Gordon Keay).

The winner’s prize – a “unanimous decision”, by all accounts – was bestowed upon Anders Groenli for his research at Cranfield University, in which he suggests new methods for co-operation between Government and business in connection with risk analysis and crisis management abroad.

In his research, Groenli interviewed 40 key players in the British and Norwegian Governments and business sectors. He found that co-operation between the Government and businesses – and to some degree within Government – was largely based on informal relations dependent on specific individuals.

Based on his research, Groenli has made recommendations as to how Governments and businesses can use new technology and a better organisational set-up to create co-operation and information sharing, and thus improve analysis of risks abroad. In turn, he believes this will provide a better foundation for joint use of Government and business resources in crisis management.

32-year-old Groenli spent the year 2007 to 2008 at Cranfield University within the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom. For those of you that don’t know, this is a joint Cranfield University-UK Armed Forces institution located at Shrivenham in Oxfordshire.

Groenli completed the Cranfield MSc in Global Security, during which time he participated in a rigorous academic programme including study visits to Normandy, Belfast and Londonderry, and conducted his research as a part of this degree.

Congratulations, Anders, from everyone at SMT Online and info4security.com!

Lord Imbert honours industry practitioners

Lord Imbert also awards a prize to the “person making the most notable contribution to the security industry” in the preceding year. Finalists are nominated by ASIS International, the BSIA, IPSA and The Security Institute.

Nominees this year included Patrick Somerville, former BSIA leader David Dickinson and privacy laws specialist Chris Brogan. David won out, and his trophy was collected by Stuart Lowden as Mr Dickinson is now happily ensconced in Italy with his wife Maria.

Graham Seaby was then afforded a Special Award for the most significant contribution to independent security consulting, while Terry Hack received an honorary membership of the Association. Well done indeed, Gentlemen!

A few more photos later and, as if by magic – as the narrator of children's classic Mr Benn used to say – I found myself back on Piccadilly and heading for Green Park tube station and a whistle-stop visit to the office.

Many, many thanks to all those at the ASC who organised the event, and for inviting me along as always. Great food, top company and a brilliant, brilliant speech. It doesn’t get any better than that, really.

Get the latest stories first with info4security's newsletters: Click to signup

Post and bookmark this story at the following sites:

What is this?

del.icio.us	Digg	Reddit	Google	Newsvine