Focus on a security professional Philip Grindell MSc CSyP CEO & Founder, Defuse

My career in security started way back in 1986 when I joined the Grenadier Guards. My first posting was to Northern Ireland as part of the security forces.

On reflection, I learnt a great deal about security from those days: from the role of static guards and patrols to searching and intelligence gathering.

I don’t think I consciously chose ‘security’. I chose careers where I could fulfil what I consider to be my purpose in life, which is to make a difference by helping people feel safer. That wasn’t always a conscious decision, but one that on reflection has been the common denominator.

I served for 30 years in the Metropolitan Police, most of which was spent as a detective in the specialist crime arena.

I had a memorable career with several highlights. I spent eight years on murder squads, which included being an original member of Operation Trident and part of the Damilola Taylor murder enquiry, and spent time on the Child Abuse Investigation teams.

Two specific highlights: firstly, being part of the counter terrorism command during the time of the London bombings in 2005. During this period, I was one of two detectives selected to serve on a joint MI5/MI6 team recruiting and running agents deployed in the UK and overseas gathering intelligence.

The second highlight was my final role, which involved setting up and then running a protective security and investigation team in Parliament following the murder of Jo Cox MP. It was during that time that I had the good fortune to be introduced to and mentored on protective intelligence and the indicators of an escalating threat by Dr Robert Fein, who was the originator of the methodology the US Secret Service developed. It was this methodology that enabled me to identify the next attack some months later, preventing the murder of Rosie Cooper MP.

My MSc dissertation in Security Management reviewed this methodology against the attacks on UK MPs since 2000, proving its validity to be used by security managers in the UK.

It is that methodology that forms the basis of the services my consultancy Defuse now delivers. The subject of protective intelligence is one which I am passionate about and want to use my time as a Chartered Security Professional to improve the knowledge and use of it in protective and intelligence services. The advance of its use will improve the quality and reputation of the industry and enhance the ability to protect clients.

One of the highlights of my time as a consultant is the opportunity to have interviewed some of the world’s experts for my podcast. These guests have invariably become both mentors and friends and I feel genuinely blessed to have them in my network.

My personal experience of being part of the commercial security industry is a lack of respect for the professionalism and its quality of expertise. I wanted to have my own credentials tested and challenged to ensure that I was delivering the highest levels of professionalism and to fulfil my desire to enhance the reputation and status of the industry.

I found the process appropriately challenging, although having a MSc in Security Management meant that I was able to complete the standard path. I enjoyed the support of colleagues and friends who had previously successfully completed the process.

The main benefit of being a Chartered Security Professional is the credibility that it provides, together with the support and encouragement of the Chartered community.

I believe that the security industry needs to continually strive to improve the standards, the expertise, and the value of the services that we deliver. I also believe that its diversity is its greatest attribute. That diversity must include younger members and those with more diverse career backgrounds. I’d highly recommend any security professionals that want to be part of a community of peers, striving to raise the standards and lead the industry forward, to to join the Register of Chartered Security Professionals.