If you’re in the market for Security Consultants it can be difficult to ascertain who has the expertise to provide you with the service you need. When you speak to security consultants everyone will tell you they are the best or they have the most experience, but what should you really be looking for.
The Right Experience
To be a licensed as a security consultant there are basic criteria a person has to meet. In New South Wales this includes five years’ experience in the security industry or a related profession as well as completion of the appropriate education. What is concerning is this means in effect anyone who was a security guard for five years could then apply to be a consultant. As you can imagine there is a vast difference in experience between someone who was a security guard at a retail store in comparison to a police officer (policing being considered a related profession). Now many security guards will suggest they have experience in management and have run operations for all manner of objectives but this is difficult to verify. Alternatively Police officers from their first day in the position are face to face with criminal methodology, develop a clear understanding of human behaviour, make time critical decisions. They begin to see the flaws in plans and weakness that have been exploited by malice and misadventure alike. In fact Police officers get continuous government funded training and with technical surveillance and interviews, perhaps the best insight into the minds of criminals. No amount of education or other experience can account for this. The truth is Police respond when Security officers don’t get it right, their job is predicting, preventing, reacting to and understanding what went wrong, how it went wrong and how it can be done better in the future.
Independence
Independence is a key quality you should also be looking for in a consultant. If a consultant is affiliated with a company that provides manpower or electronic security services then you have to question are they really looking after your interest or are they suggesting you need to spend more than you do to increase profit margins. Further if your security consultant has been an employee or even a manager with such company previously how can you be certain who is really being looked after?
Alternatively those consultants with a background in Policing understand the appropriate legislation around security operations and have experience in the regulation and compliance of security companies and operatives. If you want to be certain you are getting what you paid for and back room deals aren’t being made, you need to ensure find a truly independent consultant.
If you are choosing a consultant ensure you ask them to provide you a background of their experience and who they are affiliated with. This will go some way to ensuring you get the right consultant for your needs, and not the right consultant for their needs.