Page 4 - the SyI Quarterly 11

Know your Institute
Know your Institute
Chair’s Update:
Peter Lavery FSyI
Without a doubt having Her Royal Highness,
The Princess Royal as our Royal patron attend
two Security Institute events in a month is a
real privilege for us. We first saw The Princess
Royal attend our Next Generation event with the
Voluntary Police & Emergency Cadets hosted
by the Lord Lieutenant of Northamptonshire in
Kettering, to see the cadets being put through
their paces with ‘Hostile environmental training’
scenarios. Then we saw Her Royal Highness attend
our AGM at the Victory Services Club where we had
the opportunity to present some members of the
Board and our head office team, before we then
heard The Princess Royal directly speaking on the
need for the Security Institute and the work, we
are doing to progress standards in security and
highlight the opportunities a security career can
provide. Full details on both visits can be found on
page 8-9.
In May the Security Institute as part of 22
organisations joined as founding members of the
Security Consortium for the Prevention of Suicide
(SCPS), an initiative started by the Worshipful
Company of Security Professionals (WCoSP)
and led by Ms Vicki Vidler, who together with a
committee of volunteers launched the Consortium
at Goldsmiths Hall, in the City of London on 30th
May 2022
As Chair of the Board of Directors, I recently
represented the Security Institute speaking
alongside several guest speakers, where I gave the
following statement:
The Consortium’s Mission:
Our mission is to save lives by pooling together security resources, skills, and
technology in order to prevent suicides.
To achieve the mission, we’ve set out the following objectives:
• Increase capacity and capability dedicated to suicide prevention.
• Learn from other Consortium members by sharing skills and expertise.
• Improve suicide prevention activities through the developments of standards and
best practice.
• Develop new and innovative ways of tackling suicide prevention services through the
creative interaction of ideas.
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“The Security Institute looks to improve standards in our industry
through our 4500 members, working with many partners to do just
that, many are in the room today including the Police.
One of the big appeals of the CONSORTIUM is that partnership
approach to the challenges of suicide in our society and working with
security industry partners in a ‘WHOLE’ of industry approach which I
believe is unique.
Security Professionals work 24/7 365 across most sectors of society
and play a crucial role in protecting businesses, communities, and
wider society. SECURITY PROFESSIONALS
DEDICATED TO PREVENTING
Usually, Security are tasked with creating safe places for all, whether SUICIDE
that’s at work, whilst shopping, travelling or at events.
We are a network of security
Sadly, suicide is an issue, which touches a huge number of people,
and all too frequently, incidents of this nature occur in public places. organisations in the public and
private sector working as a
In my day job with Cushman & Wakefield as lead for security and consortium to prevent suicide.
operational resilience, I am pleased to see colleagues from other
commercial real estate businesses involved in the Consortium. Consortium membership is
As a Security & Safety committee member of ‘REVO’ which represents based on shared values and
UK Shopping Centres we use the “Vulnerable people suicide each member signs up to the
awareness and prevention guidance” which blends protective Consortium Covenant.
security measures with human factors from the likes of the
Samaritans, as an example highlighting CCTV as an extension of our This facilitates a strong bond of
Eyes and Ears.
trust which is vital to information
As such, we collectively carry a duty of care to the vulnerable people sharing and making a lasting
in our communities – and to the people who work in security who impact in suicide prevention.
can be called on to intervene and respond when tragic incidents
occur. The Consortium is marshalled
The effect on employees working within this environment who are by a central hub and led by the
affected by suicide incidents, either directly or indirectly, can be strategic committee made up
impactful and long lasting. of senior security professionals,
each of whom have had direct
An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) can play a vital role in experience with suicide either
ensuring that staff have access to the right support quickly.
personally or professionally.
Protecting people at risk is a multi-faceted, multi-agency issue and
we have to work closely in partnership with those experts to ensure We are guided by experts in
we utilise best practice and guidance across our industry, such as the suicide prevention and our expert
power of HELLO! panel consists of representatives
The security Industry has a very large network, both public and from the National Police Chiefs
Council Suicide Prevention
private where we can have that ‘WHOLE’ industry approach for our Group, The Samaritans, The Royal
people and society. We need to ensure that security professionals
are armed with the knowledge and understanding to help vulnerable Foundation, Middlesex University
people, identify physical solutions that work and what steps to take
and the OLLIE Foundation.
when an incident happens.
I believe the Consortium with its Founding Members will continue
to grow and pull together the security industry including Regulators
as we all want to see a reduction in suicide in our society and only
working together will we make a difference.
The Security Institute and its members will play their part to spread
the work and get Involved.”