SMT Online Web Exclusive

SafeGuarding our Security Officers

03 Mar 10

Brian Sims visits the Palace of Westminster where, on Monday afternoon, SMT Online joined forces with the GMB Trade Union to launch SafeGuard: a Campaign and Charter designed to improve the ‘lot’ of security officers.

By Brian Sims

Readers and industry practitioners who’ve grown to know me well over the past decade and more will have worked out that I see myself very much as both a security practitioner and professional journalist in equal measure.

Perhaps I should clarify that statement a tad further. In short, my Editorship of Security Management Today (SMT) in print – and now SMT Online in cyberspace – has never been ‘just a job’. Far from it. In truth, it’s a vocation.

My mission in life is to see security management and security provision recognised as professions in their own right, with security sitting at the top of the political, social and economic agendas. I’ll not rest until that’s the case.

On the road to my ‘security utopia’, I’m more than happy to support initiatives resulting in another tick in the box on the industry’s ‘To Do’ list. One such project is SafeGuard, launched on Monday afternoon in the House of Commons’ Committee Room 6 by the GMB Trade Union.

I’ve covered what SafeGuard is all about in my main report on the campaign’s ‘initiation ceremony’, entitled: ‘GMB launches SafeGuard Campaign and Charter for security officers’ (click the link on the right hand panel of this page to read all about it).

Security Officers ARE The Security Industry

Given that SMT Online was chosen by the GMB to be the Official Media Partner for the SafeGuard Campaign, the latter’s national officer Jude Brimble asked me to say a few words in front of the invited guests. Here’s a transcript of my speech, which I subtitled ‘Security Officers ARE The Security Industry’.

“I have served as the Editor of ‘Brand SMT’ for over a decade now and, during that passage of time, I’ve learned many essential truisms. One is that security officers ARE the security industry. Without them, we wouldn’t have effective protection regimes in place across UK plc, we wouldn’t have an industry and, put simply, we wouldn’t be here in The Pitt Room today.

“Every year, I champion time and again the sterling efforts of security officers. Why do I do that? Simple. I happen to think what they do for a living is vital to this nation of ours.

“Traditionally, SMT has been the only security trade press medium to devote page upon page, year after year to the BSIA’s Security Officer Awards. I also sit on the Judging Panel for said awards, and have done for many years now.

“I have to tell you that the acts of both heroism and skill outlined within the Entry Forms are a shining example to us all.

“Sadly, even with Security Industry Authority licensing and regulation now firmly entrenched, the overall ‘lot’ of the security officer doesn’t seem to have improved a great deal. Some solutions providers – and, it must be said, their clients – still think it’s acceptable in this supposedly enlightened day and age to make security personnel work 60 or 70 hours a week just to make a living wage. Let me tell them that is far from being acceptable.

“We also still find ourselves in an industry where, for many, sick pay when security officers are absent from duty – perhaps because they’re recovering from a good beating at the hands of some brainless ne’er-do-well – is absent.”

Dickensian practices remain at play

“In addition, we live in a security world were the officers are paid by the hour. This is Dickensian. As old as this building, in fact, and what’s all this about no sick pay? That’s nothing other than ridiculous and scandalous.

“In combination with the lack of a defined career path and – if anecdotal evidence is to be believed – poor or non-existent line management, is it any wonder that staff will (and do) vote with their feet and switch to a different career for their own individual betterment?

“Irrespective of the benchmark laid down by the Approved Contractor Scheme, it remains a fact that too many clients continue to nail registered contractors to the floor on the lowest common denominator – price – at tender stage, while the service providers are demonstrably not walking away from the bad contracts. Contracts wherein elements like training and basic welfare provision for the guys and girls on the ground are somewhat conspicuous by their continual absence.

“We can no longer bury our heads in the sand on these issues, and no longer should security officers have to run the gauntlet of serious injury or (God forbid) death during the course of a shift for which they are likely being paid not much beyond the National Minimum Wage.

“Even more so given the counter-terror agenda now at play, good security officers are worth their weight in gold. The industry’s moguls and their clients MUST recognise that fact.

“Following on from the highly successful ‘Four Issues One Voice’ Campaign focused on licensing and regulation – and launched by myself and inologue.com’s Editor Bobby Logue back in 2006 – I’m delighted that SMT Online is now the Official Media Partner for the GMB’s SafeGuard Campaign.

“Violent attacks on security officers are NOT abating. Jude [Brimble] has recounted to me several horrific stories of what has happened to some of her Union’s members in recent times, and these are by no means isolated occurrences.

“Just because they happen to be on the front line does not mean that physical and verbal abuse against security staff should be viewed by anyone as ‘part of the territory’.

“Quite simply, we do need a zero tolerance approach to combat the pernicious creep of violence that now pervades our society as if it were a virulent and malignant cancer.”

Buy-in from the industry and the politicians

“The security industry MUST buy into SafeGuard. So must the clients, the Trade Associations, the police service, the politicians and, indeed, the judiciary (where the ‘sentencing light’ policy judges seem to have adopted even for the most evil of acts has to brought to a halt).

“I would urge all relevant Stakeholders to sign up to this new campaign, and the SafeGuard Charter that lies at its core.

“If we truly want a professional security service then let’s put in place the basic foundations needed to make that happen.

“In short, let’s start walking the talk.”

Prominent MPs make their views known

Present at the launch to hear what I said were plenty of politicians, among them Home Office minister Alan Campbell – the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Crime Reduction – as well as Alan Keen, Stephen Pound and Labour stalwart and long-time front bencher Gerald Kaufman, who has been the Labour MP in Manchester’s Gorton ward since 1983.

Kaufman made his feelings known immediately after GMB general secretary Paul Kenny had finished his electrifying address.

“I’ve been a member of the GMB for more years than some of you have been alive,” suggested the bespectacled Kaufman to howls of laughter. “In all seriousness, though, I welcome SafeGuard for a number of reasons.”

The MP continued: “Security officers are at the sharp end of service delivery, and they shouldn’t expect to have to look after themselves in the aftermath of an attack. We have a good Labour Government in place and, if we’re re-elected, I’ll do my level best to ensure that we help the SafeGuard cause in any way and as best we can. We should view today as the start of a process.”

Labour MP for Ealing North, Stephen Pound – who unashamedly admitted to being a Season Ticket Holder at Craven Cottage – was next to the podium, and began by listing four elements “of which we can be certain”.

An impassioned Pound said: “In the future, there will be a greater need for static officers. Sadly, there will be more attacks on them. Thirdly, if the GMB isn’t looking after security officers’ welfare then no-one is. Last but not least, when organised labour needs their help then all Labour Party MPs need to stand up and be counted.”

Looking back on ‘The Good Old Days’

The word ‘comrade’ emerged on more than one occasion, and there was even an assertion – much to the chagrin of many of today’s Labour hierarchy, I’m sure – that the red section of Westminster ought to return to the days when it was genuinely the “voice of the Trade Unions in Parliament”.

Fundamentally, you cannot move a left wing political party so far towards the centre – as Blair did – and yet still retain a core focus on the Union movement and the average working man, but that’s for another day.

What I would say is that virtually every politician speaking in Committee Room 6 on Monday managed to weave in a ‘soft focus’ party political broadcast for Brown’s Boys ahead of the General Election.

Electioneering, spin, vote-grabbing. Call it what you will. In my view it had no place at this event irrespective of which side of the House happened to be airing their views. SafeGuard is about the welfare of security officers. It’s most certainly not an opportunity for political point-scoring.

Back on message, Pound continued: “I’m fed up of hearing about youths in Converse trainers attacking security staff. These people see the uniform, but they don’t see the man and woman wearing it. They ignore the human being behind it. They don’t think about the consequences of their actions.”

Pound is also a firm believer that the judiciary must take the matter of assaults on security personnel far more seriously. “In British law, we absolutely need to extend the crime of assaulting a police officer such that it also covers security officers. As things stand, the situation for static officers is awful.”

At present, the subject of violent assaults on security personnel is one that Pound believes “doesn’t have enough oxygen” but, like the rest of us, he sincerely hopes and trusts SafeGuard will change all that. “First, we need to make sure that all security officers are members of the GMB. If you’re not in the Trade Union then you really are out on a limb.”

According to Pound, “the situation will inevitably get worse before it gets better”. For the sake of those security officers clocking on for their shift as of now, let’s make sure it improves sooner rather than later.

Case Studies of the worst kind

To ensure that everyone in the room was fully aware of what actually happens to officers who are verbally and physically abused, Angus Groat – a very well spoken, obviously intelligent chap who has been a security officer for the past 13 years and talks much sense – offered a series of harrowing Case Studies concerning GMB members who’ve been attacked, and what has happened to them (and their situations) in the meantime.

First up was ‘Tony’. A retail security officer working in the Northampton area, Tony was assaulted by a shoplifter last Spring. He sustained two fractures to his legs and, for good measure, his assailant beat him while he lay prone on the floor. He’s still not 100% fit to this day.

Tony was off work for five months. He didn’t receive any sick pay, nor any counselling and support. His tormentor was given the ‘onerous’ task of community service, and the security company for whom he works has done nothing to change its support structures. Yes, I know what you’re thinking.

Angus then told us the story of ‘Lee’. Here we have a security officer based in the North West who, last summer, was on an assignment at a dockyard. He was summarily attacked by a member of the public toting a hypodermic needle, in turn suffering serious stab wounds to the chest area.

Given the nature of the weapon, Lee had no option but to be tested for HIV infection. Angus commented: “This episode has totally and utterly shattered his life”. I can’t say I’m surprised. My heart goes out to him.

Lee was absent from duty for four months. Did he receive any sick pay? No. Did he receive Injury on Duty pay, then? No. Was Lee privy to any counselling? No. Has his employer or its client changed their working practices since the incident? Do I really need to tell you the answer?

Fractured eye socket, fractured cheek bone

Yet another harrowing tale concerned ‘Joseph’, who was set upon by a gang of youths last summer outside a supermarket in the South East of England.

As well as a fractured eye socket and fractured cheek bone, this officer suffered cuts and severe bruising, and has since required reconstructive surgery to (literally) piece his face back together again.

Hospitalised, Joseph was away from duty for four months. Again, there was no company sick pay and he incurred substantial financial losses as a result.

Then came a pivotal moment that moved me – and many other people in the room – to tears.

Colin Baker stood up, but only with the aid of crutches. He used to work in the CVIT sector for G4S, until one fateful night in September 2004.

Colin was servicing an ATM machine when confronted by four members of an armed gang. They wanted to force him back inside the nearby cash van and hold him hostage. Understandably scared witless, Colin ran. One of his assailants tracked him down and shot him through the right femur.

He’ll forever walk with a limp. He now has one leg that’s two inches shorter than the other, the affected limb held together by titanium rods.

Baker said: “The guy who shot me was potentially looking at 20-plus years for attempted murder. He could be out in ten years with the sentence that was handed down. He’s given me a life sentence. Enough is enough.”

Colin then sat down to a standing ovation from the entire room. Like I said, it was a very moving and emotional moment.

Not only that, it affirmed for me why I do what I do. SMT is dedicated to Colin and all of his colleagues. Always has been, always will be, and I make no apology for that. Security officers like him are the real heroes in our society, and have to be recognised as such.

Taking the SafeGuard Campaign forward

The GMB’s national officer for security, Jude Brimble, closed the event before the official signing of the SafeGuard Charter.

“We’re looking for serious engagement from all Stakeholders,” explained Brimble. “This situation is not anyone’s specific problem. It’s a problem that rests and belongs with us all, and all of us need to join forces to do something about it.”

Brimble feels the Regulator has raised the industry’s game by way of licensing and the ACS, but stressed that now is the time for the industry to play its part in actively raising standards for officers.

“To be frank, I would rather there were six good ACS guarding companies rather than 600-plus if most of them are just about making money and neglecting the welfare and rights of their employees.”

According to Brimble, the SafeGuard Campaign will be a theme at this year’s Trade Union Congress. “The first reaction is to be angry about what’s happening to our members when they’re at work. The second is for all of us to do something and prevent the unacceptable abuse that’s going on.”

Your support is vital

From my perspective, I’ll end by saying this. Whether you’re a security industry employer, a client, a Trade Association boss or simply an interested Stakeholder, your support for this GMB SafeGuard Campaign is vital.

Sign the Charter (as I have done). Make a firm commitment to actively engage with GMB members in the security sector. Promote and develop the principles and Best Practice the SafeGuard Charter is seeking to deliver.