Page 33 - the SyI Quarterly 8

Karol Doherty MSyI

‘When I came over to the UK, London to be precise from a small
town in Ireland, I could only spell my name. I had a spelling age of 7
and a reading age of 12. I was diagnosed with dyslexia at the age of
13, and at that time it was classified as being ‘stupid’.

When I got my first job as a security officer it was fine, there was
no writing and we only communicated by radio and telephone,
but then they put a computer into the office and my work life was
turned upside down. By this time, I had taught myself how to read
but I could not write emails. This was the first time in my work life
that I felt stupid.

I was then promoted to Security Manager. At this point, incident
reports got more complicated, as did the roster and many other responsibilities, but somehow I
find a way of doing it. It is easier for me to be a Security Officer as I did not have to write as much
or challenge myself, all I needed to do was get up in the morning, look smart and be on time. This
is when I found myself becoming a Security Officer again because I did not have to write, and it was
easy. As I said, I have been in the security industry, mainly on the frontline, for 18 years.

The most worrying role that I had was as a Security Street Patrol, this will was taking the role of the
police officer patrolling Oxford Street. In this role, we dealt with criminal and antisocial behaviour
and detained shoplifters. This role is where I picked up numerous awards, such as Metropolitan
Police Commendation for detaining a violent known wanted murderer and an all expenses paid trip
to California for administrating CPR on a man in cardiac arrest. To this day, this is the best thing I
have ever done.

But security is not just a job for me it’s my career and I want to progress in the industry. It is for
this reason that I decided to research training providers and security management courses.
I looked up a few training providers, and was even told by one that I couldn’t undertake the
qualification because I was dyslexic, which only made me even more determined. I then came
across PerpetuityARC, they recommended that I enrolled on the Security Institute’s Level 5 Diploma
in Security Management. This is where my career has taken off then I became an Associate member
of the Institute and then revalidated as a Member. But this is not where it’s going to stop for me!
At the end of August, I am enrolling in the Level 7 Advanced Diploma and hopefully, when this
is finished, I will cross over and embark on a Masters. My ambition is to be a Chartered Security
Professional.’

First Inclusive Security SIG

in-person meet

On July 23rd, the Inclusive Security SIG (ISSIG) hosted their first in-
person social meet. After launching in summer 2020, this had been
the group’s first opportunity to safely meet face-to-face.

Hosted in London’s Soho district, the meeting was organised by
Satia Rai MSyI (pictured to the right) and Mel Hipwood MSyI, who
have been key drivers behind the work of the ISSIG. Members of
the Institute’s HQ staff, Rick Mounfield CSyP FSyI and Ben Harding
(pictured to the right), also attended to get an update on the latest
ISSIG developments.

The next in-person ISSIG social meet is set to coincide with
Birmingham Pride on Friday 24th September. Details to follow.

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