Police Crime Prevention Academy develops new qualification for officers deployed by ISS

‘The Prevention of Extremism and Terrorism’ is in fact a Level 3 OFQUAL-endorsed qualification delivered by the PCPA. For its part, ISS will put over 120 staff through the qualification.

David Beveridge, security manager at ISS, informed Security Matters: “We see this qualification as another step towards the creation of a professional and highly-qualified security guarding service. My team members will now have a greater knowledge of the potential threats we face, early identification of those threats and what they need to do in order to mitigate them while also assisting the police service.”

The announcement coincides with James Brokenshire, the Minister of State for Security at the Home Office, announcing plans to introduce a ‘Protect duty’ law that will require owners and operators of public spaces and venues to put measures in place designed to keep the public safe from terrorist activity. This is part of the Government’s overall commitment to improve the safety and security of public spaces.

The proposed legislation will place the onus squarely on venues to consider the risk of a terrorist attack and take “proportionate and reasonable measures to prepare for and protect the public from such an attack”, with these measures including increased physical security, training and conducting exercises for members of staff on what to do during an incident.

Guy Collyer, head of the PCPA, observed: “I see this as a valuable collaboration between the police service and the private security sector. We all share common goals and should be working far more closely together so that each party clearly understands the other’s role and where boundaries can be set.”

Engaging with industry bodies

The Government has said that it will continue to engage with industry bodies in encouraging them to adopt Best Practice, as well as working with the Counter Terrorism Police and the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure to extend the reach of advice, guidance and training across all sectors.

‘The Prevention of Extremism and Terrorism’ course is delivered by qualified and experienced experts and covers hostile reconnaissance, the use of open source material, communications, response and actions that can be taken that will assist the police in their investigations.

The PCPA is itself part of Police Crime Prevention Initiatives (PCPI), the police-owned organisation that works on behalf of the police service throughout the UK to deliver a wide range of crime prevention and policing demand reduction initiatives.

The Academy’s qualifications have been developed as a result of an agreement between the PCPI and the College of Policing, with the Academy assuming responsibility from the College of Policing for the running of crime prevention and designing out crime courses on behalf of the police service.

The Academy maintains close working links with the National Police Chiefs’ Council as well as senior police officers from across the UK, and is the recognised and established supplier to the police service for crime prevention learning and development. As part of PCPI, the Academy is affiliated with the Secured by Design initiative so is the leading expert when it comes to delivering Secured by Design-focused standards and guidance.

The PCPA has been delivering the nationally-recognised generation of ProQual (ie the awarding body)-approved and OFQUAL-accredited qualifications in crime prevention and designing out crime since September 2018, with its links to the police service ensuring that the qualifications are constantly adapted in order that they keep pace with ever-changing patterns of criminal behaviour.

*Further information about the range of accredited qualifications offered by the Police Crime Prevention Academy can be obtained by visiting https://www.crimepreventionacademy.com or sending an e-mail to info@crimepreventionacademy.com