The UK branch of the International Foundation for Protection Officers, led by Mike Hurst, has quickly established itself as a pillar in the security community. One of the many efforts spearheaded by Hurst is the recently-launched IFPO UK newsletter, a publication packed with useful, up-to-date security industry information, including membership offers, news and articles penned by industry experts.
Here is a sample from the second issue -- an article titled "In Plain Sight," by Ally Leonard, Director of Risk & Compliance Assist Services Group:
The nature of threats faced by organisations as we move into our new world are very different and the entire organisational culture and priorities of
businesses have changed. Understanding where the security industry fits into this new world will be imperative to our industry. With companies across various industries being hit financially we are seeing the provision of the traditional security officer role and the tiers above within the security framework either being reduced or removed entirely. However, has the risk profile organisation changed / reduced or has the security culture of the organisation changed / become less of a priority due to financial pressures within the business.
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It is understandable that due to these “unprecedented times” (how many times have you heard that over the past 6 months!), businesses are looking at the bottom line – but security is an essential service. Would a business turn off their company wide anti-virus / firewall to save some money? Absolutely not as their infosec vulnerabilities, culpability and accountability risks far outweigh the cost of infosec security. So why is not necessarily the same for the physical security presence? One could argue that the current status of the physical world is as evolving as the cyber one as we do not know what our “new normal” is.
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Managers of frontline officers need to look at current deployments as brand-new contracts. Operational risk register need to be reviewed and shared with clients and / or decision makers within the organisation. Review procedures and work instructions – do they still work? Are they still fit for
purpose? Staff training matrixes – are they still fit for purpose? What are the new organisational priorities and how does the security culture fit in –
or should the new organisational priorities fit into the current security culture? What is the risk vs reward for the change and what are the new
organisational security vulnerabilities? Whether or not the security culture has changed within the organisation, you must analyse your operation from
every angle.
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International Foundation for Protection Officers Mission Statement
Mission Statement Part I.
The International Foundation for Protection Officers provides professional learning opportunities for security practitioners, to impart the knowledge, skills, and competencies required to maximize job performance and enhance career potential.
Purpose: to make a positive difference in the quality of the participant’s job performance and elevate the professional status of students who partake of our learning opportunities.
Business: to supply committed security practitioners with a quality education to help achieve their highest potential and provide recognized accreditation for successful completion of educational goals.
Values: commitment, integrity, responsibility, and standards of excellence, provide the platform that supports our journey as we pursue our mission.
Vision Statement
Commitment to Excellence: To be the recognized center of excellence and primary provider of education and training products and services to the security industry.
Mission Statement Part II.
“The International Foundation for Protection Officers is committed to the support and professional development of protection officers and supervisors. Through advocacy, promoting training standards, and providing accessible training, education and certification opportunities, we seek to enhance their professional standing as well as increase and diversify the value of the vital services they provide.”
