This new collaboration is part of The Security Institute’s on-going commitment to developing and promoting the highest standards of training, education and best practice throughout the global security sector. As a result, it has seen significant interest in its activities throughout the countries that comprise the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which as well as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) incudes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia.

‘GCC countries have well established and highly professional security sectors and we have a growing membership in this region as well as many Syl members who regularly travel to the EMEA region on business. Therefore, forging closer ties with the Dubai Police makes perfect sense,’ stated Emma Shaw CSyP, Chairman of The Security Institute. ‘This is the first MoU that we have undertaken and the response so far has been overwhelmingly positive. We hope to use it as a platform to work with other organisations in order to promote the art of security management and the benefits of the Register of Chartered Security Professionals.’

Launched in 2011 by The Security Institute and the Worshipful Company of Security Professionals (WCoSP), the Register of Chartered Security Professionals acts as a means of recognising and maintaining high standards and proficiency of individuals operating in the industry. The Security Institute is responsible for managing and operating the scheme and there are currently 45 Chartered Security Professionals (CSyP), who have to comply with a Code of Conduct, a professional disciplinary code, and undertake continuous professional development (CPD) each year.

Stuart Williams is a recently qualified CSyP, employed by the Abu Dhabi Planning Department. He said: ‘I believe the hard work is worth it – I now have professional standing within my industry. As a government employee in Abu Dhabi, accreditation is important (in fact an employment requirement). I now sit equally alongside my peer group of chartered planners, architects and engineers. I can now proudly and officially state that I am a chartered security professional. Not only does it feel good to say, it means something to others, something tangible that they can understand and appreciate.’

To celebrate the MoU, a co-hosted networking event took place earlier this year at the Dubai Police Academy, where members of The Security Institute and the Dubai Police were joined by a number of the region’s security professionals and other invited guests.

Major General Dr Mohammed Ahmed bin Fahad, director general of the Dubai Police HQ, commented, ‘The event was a huge success and provided a welcome opportunity to network and exchange information about how to deal with the threats and risks that we encounter in this part of the world. I’m delighted that our esteemed organisations will be working together more closely in the future.’

As well as further networking events, plans are underway for a series of training and skills development focused seminars, which will demonstrate how The Security Institute is committed to raising standards via education. Emma Shaw concluded, ‘This MoU provides us with an excellent framework on which to communicate what we do, while promoting our respected and sought after range of qualifications and on-going vocational learning programmes.’