Focus on a Security Officer: Nitu Kashap Account Manager
In each issue of City Security magazine, we profile a security officer and who is demonstrating exemplary commitment and customer service for the role.
I met Nitu Kashap, account manager at FGH Security, responsible for the New West End Company contract at their London office, a stone’s throw from Regent Street. From this central base, Nitu and her team look after their client’s portfolio of 600+ international and UK retailers, restaurants, hotels, galleries and property owners, which encompass the area around Oxford St, Bond St and Regent St, across 80 streets, with more than 150k client employees. Oxford Street alone sees a footfall of 500,000 people each day!
Q: How did you initially get into the security profession and when?
A: I joined the security industry in 2008 via a recommendation from a friend, starting as a security officer at Heathrow airport. It was meant to be a pit stop until I had decided what I wanted to do after college. I knew I didn’t want to go to university, but I wanted to get qualifications and develop my skill set through my career. I just didn’t know what at the time. I have progressed through positions during my 14 years from security officer, training facilitator, security manager, compliance and audit manager before joining the private sector in 2021 and then FGH in 2022.
Q: What does your job entail and what is the best thing about your role?
A: My current role requires me to lead a team of duty managers, frontline security officers and K9 handlers to ensure all West End visitors, residents, workers and New West End Company members can experience a safe and welcoming district.
Our 24/7, high-visibility patrols deal with incidents of crime and anti-social behaviour, while also supporting visitors on incidents from phone theft to first aid and missing children.
The best thing about my role is that I work with a team who share the same mindset as me. I have been lucky enough to enjoy what I do, and I have always wanted to create the same for my team – we have a great working culture and my current team enjoys and appreciates this.
Q: What skills do you believe are important for the security role?
A: Adaptability, continuous learning, and self-development are skills I believe are really important and, with the threat constantly evolving, it is important to be able adapt to various situations and think outside of the box.
Communication is key – with your team, colleagues, partners, and intelligence providers.
Q: How does technology support the security role?
A: We use the latest technology in terms of communications and visual aids which enables us to prevent, detect, and respond to a variety of situations.
Q: How has your role changed time?
A: The security landscape and threat has changed over the years (as has technology) and there is a greater expectation of security and service delivery from the client than there used to be. So, you need to invest in training at the highest level and be more than competent at what you do.
Q: What has been the highlight of your security career?
A: Being able to create an amazing culture and industry-acknowledged award-winning team: we were the 2022 Security Team of the Year winner, 2023 Security Team of the Year finalist and in 2024, Kadar Hersi (team member) was Security Officer of the Year finalist. This year, I won Security Manager of the Year at the BSIA annual security awards.
Q: What advice would you give to someone wanting to get into security?
A: Look at security as a career not just a job, the industry is so big and has a lot to offer, you just have to find what positively impacts you. I would also suggest you take courses, listen, and learn from peers.
Q: How would you like to progress in your role?
A: That’s a tough question, maybe more of what I do. I thoroughly enjoy what I’m doing and have achieved, working with my team and client here in the West End.
Graham Bassett
Editorial team
