Working in the Private Security Industry Training

The course gives a full module on communication skills. Anyone working with the public are advised to cultivate good interpersonal skills. This is especially true for those who work in security, who can find themselves quickly thrown into a volatile confrontation.

Security operatives should be able to assess and understand people’s values and take these into account when choosing the most appropriate effective way of approaching and dealing with them. The ability to do this requires a strong communication style. In an extreme example, a lost child would need a different approach to an aggressive drunk outside a pub. Both are customers but both would need to be dealt with differently because of the situation they were in and their different values, needs and expectations.

Our training examines the laws that govern the private security sector are covered in both civil and criminal law under The Private Security Act, 2001. The act established the SIA (Security Industry Authority), which became responsible for setting standards across the industry and oversee the licensing of security personnel.

The health and safety at Work Act 1974 and the Health and Safety at Work Northern Ireland Order 1978 define the fundamental structure and authority for the encouragement, regulation and enforcement of workplace health, safety and welfare within the UK. These acts apply to employers, employees, the self employed, suppliers and people who control premises along with visitors and customers who visit the site.

Legislation breaches can be dealt with by either the Health and Safety Executive HSE, or the local environmental health practitioner EHP, from the local authority. Breaches can result in improvement notices, prohibition notices or criminal proceedings. And if the breach is serious, the business can be closed down

An emergency is defined as a serious, unplanned incident that must be dealt with immediately. It’s important that security operatives know how to deal with emergencies promptly, efficiently and safely.

The course takes the learner through typical procedures to follow in the event of a fire, what to familiarise yourself with before a first aid emergencies or fire, and reporting after the event. Many people at the venue or event will look to the security operatives for leadership. In the case of fire, this could include an evaluation plan which is also covered in this training.

Security operatives need to be aware of vulnerable people, that is people who may be at risk from harm. It is also important to know when it is safe to intervene and when a supervisor, the police or other authorities should be alerted. Types of vulnerable people the course looks at, and discusses how their situations should be handled are

• If a person is intoxicated,or has taken drugs. They may display uncoordinated movements such as staggering in a way that they could risk hurting themselves
• Someone is alone or receiving unwanted attention. These vulnerable people could be separated from friends and looking distressed. Alternatively, they could be receiving unwanted attention from others, or being followed or threatened
• All security operatives should be aware of the needs of vulnerable young adults and children who are either passing, using or leaving venues or sites. It might be a vulnerable young person you are rejecting from a venue or refusing entry to

Security operatives should always immediately report suspicious behaviour in or around the site to their supervisor or manager.  Being able to recognise the potential for crime often comes with experience. However, there are signs that should give rise to suspicion and warrants attention.  The course gives scenarios that should be considered to be cause for concern in this area. In terms of terrorist threats, security operatives need to be aware of

• news about what’s happening around the world and in their local area.
• any recent terrorist attacks or threats,
• the location of their own site in relation to other potential local terrorist targets
• if their site is famous or important, and how vulnerable it would be to a terrorist attack
• any government specific terrorist warnings or statements about the national level of terrorist threat.