Training

Imbert Prize 2015

by Mark Rowe

Awards are very much a part of the Association of Security Consultants’ annual lunch, and one of them is the Imbert Prize. Named after Lord Imbert, the former Metropolitan Police Commissioner, he’s long taken an interest in judging it and speaking about it to the lunch. It’s for the best dissertation by a university student on a security issue of their own choosing. But rather than our words, here’s what Lord Imbert told the ASC lunch in a characteristically generous speech.

All the students are engaged at a university studying a security-related subject and the dissertation submitted as a part of their endeavours towards a BSc or MSc course in the security subject offered by that University. To decide the winner the five ASC adjudicators, having read all of the submissions, at the beginning of June met to discuss our opinions of the dissertations and finally agree on the 2015 winner who will receive that award with a cheque for £1000.

I generally give a brief synopsis of the papers for the interest of all colleagues but I know that some of you have matters to attend to this afternoon while in London, so I hope those who submitted their entries and those tutors and supervisors who are here will forgive the brevity which does not reflect sufficiently the high quality of those dissertations we received. I am heartened by the standard of the entries which indicates that the security industry with new recruits of such high quality will enhance the professional standing and therefore the reputation of the security industry. And I congratulate and thank not only the students themselves but their tutors and supervisors who by their hard work and the provision of such courses will also contribute to the raising of standards throughout the profession. And I say profession rather than industry because, for everyone’ benefit that’s what it must become.

The entry by Gian-Rico Luzzi of Loughborough University (pictured) was titled ‘Flying by the Seat of their Pants’ and I can do no better than quote from his very useful abstract when he says: “Business travel is a fact of life for almost every one of us,” and he in his thesis indicates clearly that international travel, whether for business or pleasure, is a fact of life now for all but a few of us business or pleasure travel is a fact of life for many organisations. The candidate’s research highlighted shortcomings in the duty of care, particularly with larger organisations and businesses and said that his research highlights the immediate market need for a Business Travel Security Standard to develop the generally informal, ad hoc and somewhat reactive practice many organisations are adopting, and developing this to being a more formal, structured, business travel security standard for more formal, structured and pro-active risk management practices.

Another university, this time Leicester, and from a very bright lady, Anette Marie Bower covered a similar theme of ‘Travel Related Risk’. And how refreshing it is to see a lady heading for a place in the wide field of security, which until now has seemed to be very much a male dominated occupation. Ms Bower’s thesis emphasises that the fundamental component of her research is risk; and she says: “Understanding the nature of risk and its management is critical to ensure efficacy of any related programmes or activities.” She also poses the question: who has primary responsibility for identifying risk and its management? Should it be HR? Security? Or senior management?”

Major Donald MacIntyre of Cranfield University’s MSc thesis was about ‘Developing a robust and timely incident response to cyber insider events’. I must admit that before reading his thesis, this was a subject about which I, and I suspect others knew little about, although we have all no doubt read reports of the damage done by people like Edward Snowdon who used his privileged access to highly classified intelligence to do great damage to the reputation of the USA and its Intelligence Services and exposing the way they operate. I am relieved that there are people like Major MacIntyre who can give such intelligent and useful research into ways of countering and responding to such incidents.

The final dissertation was in fact the first one we received from Buckinghamshire New University which was ‘An evaluation of the efficiency and effectiveness of Local Security Management Specialists in reducing violence in the NHS since 2003’, by Peter Finch. This was a well researched and lively account of the efforts made to reduce the violence against those working in the National Health Service, particularly in accident and emergency departments. The figures of reported cases of violence in the NHS are frankly disturbing and this dissertation brings a frankness to the causes which focuses one’s mind not only on the problem but how it might be reduced. It is a timely study and no doubt relevant to the work of a number of members of this association and the adjudicating panel agreed that this was a worthy winner. So congratulations to Peter Finch and to Buckinghamshire New University on this, the first time they have submitted an entry. Having now decided on the winner and congratulated him on a fine piece of research, I have to admit that it was a close run thing and each of the other entries missed out by a mere fraction. As I said earlier we have some very bright people entering the world of security and I wish them well in their future careers. And finally another thank you, to those tutors, supervisors and the universities themselves who, with their courses and personal expertise are brightening the future of the security profession.

Related News

  • Training

    Reskilling ex-military

    by Mark Rowe

    Cento Fire & Security Jobs reports a partnership with Linx International Group to reskill ex military personnel and help them find a…

  • Training

    Business crime date

    by Mark Rowe

    The free South East Business Crime Conference is running at Westminster’s Church House Conference Centre in central London on Thursday, November 27.…

  • Training

    Events guide

    by Mark Rowe

    A new guide has been published by the Events Industry Forum (EIF). Its aim is to help organisers of smaller events comply…

Newsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to stay on top of security news and events.

© 2024 Professional Security Magazine. All rights reserved.

Website by MSEC Marketing