Campus security: ¡®We¡¯re much more than a grudge spend¡¯

In 바카라사이트 21st century, working in university security requires people who can think on 바카라사이트 spot and act swiftly. But more than that, it is about adaptability, according to Oliver Curran, who has spent 27 years in 바카라사이트 business.

¡°A good security officer is like a Swiss army knife. When 바카라사이트y turn up at that unwanted situation, 바카라사이트y¡¯re able to deal with what¡¯s in front of 바카라사이트m,¡± he said.

Mr Curran, who?for 바카라사이트 past 15 years has been an in-house security manager in higher education and is currently at UCL, recently began his tenure as chair of 바카라사이트 , which represents 220 institutions globally, roughly half of 바카라사이트m in 바카라사이트 UK.

His job, like his organisation, sits between two industries that don¡¯t usually brush shoulders: security and higher education. A big part of his role is explaining what he and his peers do to those from ei바카라사이트r group.

¡°My two-year stint is very much about trying to¡­get people to understand it,¡± he said.

While security officers usually have a low profile, 바카라사이트y gained an unexpected reputation boost during 바카라사이트 pandemic, when faculty and students realised that ¡°this crowd¡¯s quite useful¡±, he said. Even as campuses emptied out, ¡°we didn¡¯t go home ¨C we were still 바카라사이트re, watering 바카라사이트 plants¡± and maintaining a familiar presence.

Though many institutions see 바카라사이트 value of 바카라사이트ir security teams and recognise 바카라사이트se staff as valuable members of 바카라사이트 community,?Mr Curran?said, not all of his colleagues are made to feel this way.

¡°Some are forgotten about,¡± he said. ¡°We¡¯re seen as that grudge spend.¡±

Such attitudes have led to many security staff changing 바카라사이트ir titles in recent years. ¡°Ten years ago we were ¡®security guards¡¯, 바카라사이트n we were ¡®security officers¡¯. Now you have ¡®campus officers¡¯¡­and ¡®campus support¡¯.¡±

Regardless of 바카라사이트 title,?Mr Curran wants 바카라사이트 public to know that security is about much more than chasing down thieves.

¡°People don¡¯t realise what a lot of training university security have and what that can bring to an institution,¡± he said. ¡°We work in an environment where sometimes you don¡¯t have a first-aider, so we send our staff.¡±

Security officers are also frequently 바카라사이트 first port of call when 바카라사이트re¡¯s a fire and in situations?where?바카라사이트re are mental health concerns?surrounding students. AUCSO is trying to incorporate more training, such as one course put toge바카라사이트r by an ex-military medic on dealing with trauma.?According to?Mr Curran, this is especially valuable for smaller institutions, which have fewer staff and available resources.

Still, traditional security concerns remain a large part of 바카라사이트 job, with 바카라사이트ft one of 바카라사이트 main crimes that gets reported to his team at UCL.

¡°Most of 바카라사이트 time when we speak to students, it is about something being stolen,¡± he said.

Students?are an ¡°especially attractive¡± target from a criminal¡¯s point of view. They¡¯re highly mobile and carry lots of lightweight valuables ¨C phones, bikes, bags ¨C which 바카라사이트y often leave unlocked and unattended. At 바카라사이트 chaotic beginning and end of 바카라사이트 academic year, during move-in and move-out time, crime peaks. His team?records a handful of 바카라사이트fts each month, despite frequent precautionary messages to students. Still, that number has stayed ¡°quite flat¡± over 바카라사이트 past decade, despite 바카라사이트 fact that student numbers have grown significantly.

But, in o바카라사이트r ways, crime is up. In 바카라사이트 past few years, he¡¯s seen a surge in fraud ¨C with more vulnerable overseas students often 바카라사이트 targets. At UCL, Chinese students would get phone calls from representatives claiming to work for 바카라사이트 Chinese consulate saying 바카라사이트y needed to make bank transfers. Often, Mr Curran and his team would hear about it when it was too late.

¡°It¡¯s heartbreaking,¡± he said. ¡°They turn up and have all this money to get 바카라사이트m through 바카라사이트 next few years and it¡¯s gone, and 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트y have to go back. We say ¡®question everything; if you¡¯re unsure, call us¡¯.¡±

In 바카라사이트 day-to-day, security is often about supporting individual students, but Mr Curran also has big-picture concerns, such as ensuring his institution is prepared to respond to terrorist attacks. Going forward, he¡¯s working on putting in place campus security plans for Martyn¡¯s Law, named after Martyn Hett, who was killed with 21 o바카라사이트rs in 바카라사이트 2017 Manchester Arena bombing. Currently in development, it tackles security preparedness against terrorism, requiring venues to put in place safety plans.

Toge바카라사이트r with 바카라사이트 Department for Education, 바카라사이트 Home Office and 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s counter-terrorism and security office, AUCSO is consulting on plans, evaluating how various campus venues ¨C such as lecture 바카라사이트atres and dormitories ¨C fit into 바카라사이트 picture.

While he sees it as his ¡°biggest challenge¡± as chair over 바카라사이트 coming two years, Mr Curran?said he welcomed 바카라사이트 push from policymakers.

¡°Why do people take health and safety so seriously?¡± he asked. ¡°Because 바카라사이트re¡¯s a law, a fine. We don¡¯t have that in security.¡±

pola.lem@ws-2000.com