The image the public have of the security sector has frequently been seen as its Achilles Heel. Yet surveys of workers, at different levels, have referred to it as an exciting place to work. Why then, is there both so little coverage of security issues in the mainstream media, and why is it that what is covered is often negative? Meanwhile, the emergency services seem to receive more press and overall more positive coverage? Or are these perceptions myths? Or is it perhaps better that private and corporate security work is kept out of the public eye?

This webinar will discuss:

- How can and should the security sector influence the media image of itself?
- Does the security sector more favourable coverage?
- Are security sector publications sufficiently supportive/critical?

Panellists:
Mark Rowe - Editor, Professional Security Magazine
Claire Meyer - Managing Editor at Security Management, ASIS International
Andrea Berkoff - Editor and Web Content Manager, City Security Magazine

A video and summary of this session is available here: https://www.theospas.com/2021/12/03/security-and-journalism-is-the-industry-getting-the-reporting-that-it-deserves/

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Security has been in the news. Some say it takes a crisis for security to be seen as valuable. Covid 19 represented a worldwide crisis that globally appears to have put security centre stage. But when it is over, what then? What have we learnt and what should we be thinking about, the next pandemic perhaps, austerity in the wake of economic hardship that the post pandemic world may herald in? Or should we be thinking differently, about say new commercial opportunities, and/or new and improved commercial relationships?

In this webinar we will be debating:

- What are the big issues facing security now?
- What factors will determine how security is perceived by key stakeholders as it emerges form the pandemic?
- Where are the next big risks and the next major opportunities?

Chair: Dr. Janice Goldstraw-White

Panellists:
Rinske Geerlings, Managing Director, Business As Usual
Dennis Shepp, Security Management Learning & Professional Development Advisor
Michael White, Head of Risk, Compliance & Assurance (UK & Ireland), G4S

A video and summary of this session is available here: https://www.theospas.com/2021/11/26/the-big-issues-impacting-on-security-what-now-what-next/

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Ireland has long been recognised for being good at security. The traditional challenges of terrorism just across the border, the numbers of murders and drug offences over time have also had an impact in focussing the response of different groups responsible for public protection. The security sector has been subject to regulation as part of a commitment to raise standards. So how good is security in Ireland? What can we learn from the experiences of Irish security personnel?

This webinar will discuss:

- How has the Irish security sector fared in the pandemic?
- What are the main challenges now facing Ireland’s security personnel?
- What barriers need to be overcome to improve security in Ireland?

Panellists:
Garry Bergin - Commercial Manager & Security Consultant, Manguard Plus
Jennifer Ciolfi - Security Professional
Paul Scallan - Chief Executive, Private Security Authority

A video and summary of this session is available here: https://www.theospas.com/2021/11/19/thinking-about-security-in-ireland-what-have-been-the-enablers-of-good-security/

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We have tended to focus our attention on areas that have been worse affected by the pandemic. However, in a previous webinar on the impact of the pandemic on Scandinavia we heard that the impact had been modest, certainly much less than the worst affected nations. A main challenge was managing fears that the pandemic had generated, as much about safety as security. In this webinar we revisit a part of the world that has been widely heralded as coping well in the crisis. So how are things now? What have been the implications, if any, for the direction security is taking? Has the security sector come through unscathed?

This webinar will discuss:

- In what ways has security had to adapt in response to the recent crisis?
- What would have been done differently, if anything, knowing what we do now?
- What are the key priorities and challenges for the security sector as we move to a post pandemic world?

Panellists:
Jon Sigurd Jacobsen - Owner, SOS Security AS
Øyvind Halnes - Chairman, Norsk Sikkerhetsforening (NOSIF)
Knut Brox - Department Head - Project Security, Norwegian Defence Estates Agency

After this session, the 2021 Norway OSPAs took place.

A video and summary of this session is available here: https://www.theospas.com/2021/11/12/what-we-can-learn-about-security-from-areas-that-have-been-less-affected-by-the-pandemic-the-case-of-scandinavia/

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Following the publication of the IFPO report, ‘The Competence of Frontline Security Professionals and What They Say About Their Work’, this webinar will evaluate the process for improving the role of the frontline worker (and the perception if it by others). The webinar will discuss the implications of the findings about the sorts of roles they find difficult; their comments on their training, its shortcomings and findings about the factors that make it effective; their attitudes to work and careers; and their perspectives on management. Crucially the purpose of this webinar will be to discuss what we do now.

Specifically, the webinar will discuss:

- How can we best respond to the roles frontline security personnel find difficult?
- How can we build on the good and bad points about training?
- What needs to happen next to improve the working conditions of frontline workers?

Panellists:
Glen Kitteringham - President of Kitteringham Security Group Inc.
Joe McDonald - CPP PSP CMAS, IFPO Board of Directors, Research Committee Chair
Mario J. Doyle - Chief Operating Officer of Doyle Security Services, Inc.

A video and summary of this session is available here: https://www.theospas.com/2021/11/05/assessing-the-competence-of-security-officers-what-needs-to-change/

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It is becoming more widely recognised that fraud is now recognised as the most common offence type in many countries (including the UK) but is not seen as a priority by governments or law enforcement agencies. It is often still seen as victimless, and yet the available research evidence paints a depressingly serious picture about the consequences. It is far from obvious that the consequences of fraud, which can include financial ruin and often financial hardship are widely understood. Yet for criminals it offers an easy opportunity, often they don’t confront their victims who may not find out about the offence until much after it was committed.

In this webinar we will discuss
• The reason why financial crimes remain a low priority
• The potential ways in which financial crimes can be pushed up the priority agenda of governments and law enforcement
• The barriers to recognising the true impacts of financial crimes

Panellists:
Tim Harvey – Global Head of Chapter Development, ACFE UK Chapter
David Clarke – Chair of the Fraud Advisory Panel
Dr Janice Goldstraw-White – Researcher at Perpetuity Research

A video and summary of this session is available here: https://www.theospas.com/2021/10/22/why-are-financial-crimes-such-a-low-priority-and-what-should-we-do/

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The security sector is at the forefront on interactions with the public, and at a time when there is international anxiety, there are risks that need to be managed. We have heard in previous webinars about how the pandemic has seen abuse against frontline workers rise in some areas and take different forms, from coughing over security people to blatant attacks. What have been the lessons learnt, and what do we expect now? When the economy becomes fully operational are there things that need to change and if so what and how? What can learn from broader trends about aggression, both in the changing work environment from insiders and also from the public?

In this webinar we will discuss:

- What are the main causes and triggers of aggression, and what has been the pandemic experience?
- What are the main lessons learnt and how can they be acted upon?
- What might we expect in the future and where do we look for solutions?

Chair:
Dr Janice Goldstraw-White – Perpetuity Research

Panellists:
Chidi Osuji – Criminology, security, peace and conflict resolution expert (Nigeria)
Asher Nardone - Campaigner/Expert in Anti Social Behaviour (UK)
Bill Fox – Chairman at Maybo Ltd (UK)

A video and summary of this session is available here: https://www.theospas.com/2021/10/15/responding-to-aggressive-people-the-implications-for-the-security-sector/

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Any dictionary will help determine the difference between ‘data’, ‘information’ and ‘intelligence’, and there are many different types of each. They can all contribute to what is defined as an ‘incident’ so often the starting point for generating the attention of security personnel. So how well do we understand the importance of ‘incident reporting’? What constitutes a good incident report, and what complicates it? We know that sometimes language is an issue, and sometimes resources, sometimes it relates to a lack of skill sets, and others inadequate technology each often a reflection of a lack of resources or investment. Yet if knowledge of the incident is compromised then the knock-on effects, at least for good security, can be serious. It means losses may not be able to be quantified, assessments of seriousness and impact can only be partial, and subsequent decisions about what to do are likely to be imperfect.

This webinar will discuss:
What makes a good incident report? How important is it?
What are the barriers to effective reporting?
Where can we look for good practice?

Panellists:
Jason O'Neill - Chief Executive Officer at Sirta Solutions (US)
Darren Carter - Group Director Security, Safety & Sustainability at Edwardian Hotels London (UK)

A video and summary of this session is available here: https://www.theospas.com/2021/10/08/effective-incident-reporting-the-missing-gem-in-the-good-security-toolbox/

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At all levels and in all areas, personnel working in the security sector are outstanding performers, they are expert in what they do, professional in their approach, and appreciated and valued by their stakeholders. They provide a reference point and the BeNeLux is widely heralded as being at the forefront, a locale that others in the world look up to. The issue and the challenge then is how does the BeNeLux respond to its weaker areas, the ones that are not professional, not competent and do not excel? The issue is an important one, solve this and we have a route to a better security sector, indeed, until we do, it cannot happen.

This webinar will discuss:
- What are the security sector’s key strategic weaknesses? How can they be overcome?
- What are the barriers to all security personnel being viewed as professional?
- What are the strategic goals that can guide a route to better security?

Panellists:
Nele Eykens – Corporate Security Manager at Umicore
Filip Smeets – Division Manager SERIS Academy at SERIS Belgium
Pieter Leloup – Postdoctoral Researcher at Ghent University, Faculty of Law and Criminology

After this session, the 2021 Benelux OSPAs took place.

A video and summary of this session is available here: https://www.theospas.com/2021/09/16/benelux-ospas-and-thought-leadership-webinar/

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Recent decades have witnessed a growing recognition of the importance of giving victims a voice in the criminal justice process generally and in bringing their plight to the awareness of offenders specifically. Forms of achieving this vary, but one central tenant is enabling victims to meet those who offenders against them. Such meetings have the potential to enable victims to make offenders aware of their suffering -physical, emotional and financial forms – and to understand from offenders why they were targeted. And offenders can potentially gain from this process too. But do the schemes work, for who, and how can the benefits be enhanced? This webinar will discuss:

The different forms of reparation currently practised
The benefits and drawbacks for victims and offenders
The potential to improve provision and the barriers to doing so

Panellists:
Janine Carroll – Director at Restorative Now (UK)
Deirdre Leask – Youth Offending Service Team Manager(UK)
Bie Vanseveren – European Forum for Restorative Justice (Belgium)

A video and summary of this session is available here: https://www.theospas.com/2021/09/03/giving-victims-the-right-to-meet-those-who-offended-against-them-reparation-schemes-a-good-idea-or-a-flawed-concept/

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