Becoming a Close Protection SIA Operative and Furthering Your Skill-set with Additional Training Courses
Posted on 01. Apr, 2014 by Author037 in Education
If you are looking at getting into the security industry, then you will need to ensure that you have the right training and qualifications for the position that you are looking for. For a security role in the UK, an SIA license in the relevant sector is essential, and so you will need to make sure that you attend a course run by an authorised training provider.
Working as a Close Protection Security Officer involves many different areas, and the course that you take may cover all or some of these. You should think carefully about where you want your career to take you in order to make sure that you have the right level of qualification. If you have worked previously for the police or military, you may find that your experience and skills get you credit towards an initial Close Protection qualification, however you should also look at what additional qualifications you can gain to help you advance further. Here are some of the other qualifications that you can get as well as or as part of your Close Protection training.
FPOS – First Person on Scene
This qualification gives you a license for three years, which can be refreshed after this period through a further short course. When working as a Close Protection Officer, you may find yourself in the unfortunate situation where the person you are protecting, or another member of the team, becomes injured or attacked and you need to be able to react quickly and appropriately. On this course, you will learn how to establish scene safety, how to prepare for medical treatment and triage through patient assessment, and how to reduce the risk of infection.
Advanced Driver Training Including RoSPA
We’ve all seen thrilling high-speed car chases in blockbuster films, but one day you may be required to carry one out for real as part of your Close Protection role. An Advanced Driver Training course including RoSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) will give you a Level 3 qualification that significantly increases your driving skill-set and ability to manage risk on the road. As well as being able to drive at high speed and under threat, you will also learn to assess the road and traffic conditions for potential threats, and be able to react quickly to changes in situation.
Another important aspect of this course will be learning how to detect surveillance equipment on and around vehicles, and establishing whether the vehicle is secure for you and your passenger, as well as understanding the impact of different kinds of vehicles, such as armoured vehicles.
Hostile Environments
Being able to work in a hostile environment is an important part of Close Protection work, and a major element of this is threat and risk assessment, as planning carefully so as to avoid threat is essential for all Close Protection Operatives. Part of this course includes learning about route selection, venue security and dealing with incidents as they arise, whether expected or unexpected.
About the Author – Sarah Makinson is a professional trainer and regular blogger who uses sites like Wilplan Training to keep abreast of the latest developments in the security training industry.