I think we’d all have to agree that 2020 has drastically changed our perspective on security operations and how we operate around our client’s needs and expectations. 

I’ve always approached CP tasks with the mindset that my actions and procedures must facilitate the client being able to conduct their activity in a safe and secure environment but what does that mean to us and the industry moving into 2021?

Our sector has always been excellent at recognising and mitigating physical threat but 2020 has given us a different and more elusive threat to deal with and provide advice to our clients. Bio-security and providing infection mitigation within our services will be the next challenge for our sector. By the very nature of our work we can’t go ‘remote’ we are a close up personal service that must have at its core interaction between humans. We have to recognise that in the post lockdown environment our clients will want to return to their previous routines and activity as soon as possible and in many cases will want and accept 3rd party attention. Our role is not only to provide solutions against physical risks but to provide reassurance from stress of the environment for our clients are in.

So how do we operate and provide the quality service our clients demand whilst defending against these new threats? Never before has there been the need for a layered approach to security operations and the requirements for suitable qualifications & training, continuous professional development and excellence in delivery amongst our ranks. We will need to develop protocols that ensure:

• Our operatives will need to have a wider understanding of bio risks and cross contamination
• Build and be prepared to live in ‘Bubbles’ with clients whilst ensuring the client can still carry out their objectives
• Have the integrity to say ‘no’ to a task if they believe they may be infected or have been outside the bubble
• Preparation and briefing of a wider set of actions on to include the avoidance of potentially infectious situations
• Increased medical training to include use of oxygen especially when clients are travelling ‘at reach’ from medical facilities
• Correct and consistent use of personal protective equipment whilst on task and not just when in the presence of the client
• Recognising the need for self-isolation between tasks and not Lilly padding 

Our clients will look to us to provide advice and protocols to keep them safe; it’s our role! we must assume that the last year has not been an isolated event but a look at the future, we’ve had the warnings in our recent past with Chicken Flu and Norovirus where we’ve had the luxury of continuing operations with little to no change in our conduct as there hasn’t been the mass infections that we are seeing now but our clients will and should expect change from us now.

As with all challenges there are opportunities and I believe this is true for our sector now. With the correct advice, planning and protocols provided by professional security companies / operators our services will become the essential element for our clients to achieve their goals and objectives. 

‘Knowledge dispels fear’ is the motto of the RAF Parachute training school and I think it’s exactly appropriate for this next phase in the security sector. A wider understanding of the threat to ensure our protocols and procedures are correct and up to date in order to provide re-assurance and safety to our clients.

 

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2021 A new beginning…
By: Guy Batchelor

Guy is the managing director of Minerva Elite Performance Ltd, a UK based company providing a range of risk mitigation solutions to corporate clients & private clients.