A year on from 7/7 counter terrorism is still high up the security agenda but Paul Keeling, Chief Executive of Senate Training, has doubts about whether company directors are doing enough to ensure that their security teams are conversant with the latest counter terrorism techniques, and whether they’re satisfying the requirements of corporate governance. Here Paul voices his concerns and explains why he’s urging organisations to take a fresh look at their security team’s training programme.

The role of the security team has undoubtedly changed. Security is now top of the agenda and there can be little doubt that counter terrorism is a key concern but what have UK organisations done to ensure their security teams are better equipped to prevent an attack?
 
Recent research conducted with FTSE 100 companies shows there are some real concerns when it comes to counter terrorism. Sixty per cent of these organisations have made no changes at all to their security provision since 7/7.

Sixty per cent also said their security teams have little or no experience of counter terrorism, while a third don’t know what experience or qualifications their team has. Only 20 per cent are aware that vigilance for suspicious behaviour is a vital part of the counter terrorism process.

Sadly my own experience when working as a counter terrorism advisor to the authorities supports these research findings. I’m still coming across many examples of inadequate security measures being put in place by security companies for their customers or by an organisation’s own in-house security team.