It seems that the Olympic security committee seem willing to relax the rules for this one event – the largest and most threatened event that the UK is likely to see in many years. Surely this is the time to be ensuring more safety, not less. So what is the problem?

Not enough trained security guards in the UK who are willing to take on Olympic Games work. This has to be the one abiding factor which is forcing Games organisers to take this step. The next question has to be what is holding people back from what is a great start to an amazing career? Lets look at the pros of being a security guard:

• A comprehensive security training course
• Able to work in any security field once security training is complete
• A SIA licence which will allow you to work after the Games in the same field
• Possible CCTV training
• Door supervisor training
• A well paid position almost guaranteed for the duration of the Games

If you have a SIA licence in London, you are very unlikely to be out of work for long. With the Olympics and the Jubilee celebrations, London is a hot spot of security work. So now is definitely the time to enrol in SIA Licence training, door supervisor training or a CCTV course.

While people from the European Union may be good security guards in their own country, they can’t possibly be expected to know the laws of the UK as well as someone who has been trained and certified by the SIA. So for the safety of the Olympic Games it is imperative that we get as many local people into security roles as soon as possible.

While there is no doubt that being a door supervisor is a challenging role, the security training you receive will help you to deal with whatever comes your way regardless of the situation. Part of the SIA Licence training you will receive will teach you to be more tolerant of people and to accept that some people will think differently to you. You will learn to put aside any prejudices you might have and treat everyone in the same way – unless they prove to you that they need special treatment.

As a requirement of your SIA licence you will need to demonstrate that you know how to deal with drunk people. This is probably the most important thing about door supervisor training. The chances are that most people you come across will have been drinking, will already be drunk or will be exuberant and looking for a good night out. Being assertive is the best approach to a drunk person and the techniques which are best to use will be taught in your security training course.

Emergency situations such as injuries and illness are also part of being a door supervisor. The chances are that you will be required to look after an injured person at some point in your career. Your security training will prepare you for this, but being the sort of person who can take charge of a situation is important. Your SIA licence will give you the skills to know when to call an ambulance, how to keep the injured person safe and secure and how to give them first aid or to ensure a first aider attends to them immediately.

Hopefully this TV show has given the general public an insight into what door supervisors have to put up with in their jobs, but also made it clear that the main role of a door supervisor is the ensure that everyone has a good time. Bouncers aren’t out to spoil the public’s fun, they just want the majority to enjoy themselves and the venue to remain safe.

To me, this seems like shutting the door after the horse has bolted. What drinking establishments need to do is hire more door supervisors with SIA security training to ensure that the patrons do not get out of hand in the first place. If licensees have to pay a levy for the police, they will have less money to invest in decent security measures such as guards, door supervisors and even more general staff.

As your SIA Licence training will have taught you, the security industry is seen as working in conjunction with the police. They share information and work together to keep venues and the streets safe. The responsibility of the SIA Licenced door supervisor is to keep people from entering premises if they are misbehaving, too drunk or violent. This prevents them from drinking more and hopefully means less anti-social behaviour on the streets for the police to deal with. The door supervisor is the first port of call and can diffuse situations before the police need to be called.

Any measure which makes it more difficult for a licensee to employ someone with door supervisor training needs rethinking. Late night venues certainly need to take responsibility for the people they allow onto their premises, the amount they allow them to drink and the hours they allow rowdy behaviour to happen outside. However, this should be done using their own staff with the right security training. Nobody is suggesting that there isn’t an element of responsibility for the extra policing required, but is a levy really the answer?

The first thing your SIA training will teach you is the difference between civil and criminal law. This is important because, as a security officer, you actually have the power of arrest. To be fair everyone can make a citizens arrest, but in your job you are more likely to be able to put that power to use. But you can’t just go round willy-nilly, arresting everyone who annoys you. You need to know when you can make an arrest. Criminal offences like burglary, drugs and assaults are examples of these. But you can’t arrest someone for a civil matter such as an argument between a couple – even if you think one of the people involved is out of order. Even your SIA licence doesn’t allow that!

So then, we move on to the Human Rights Act. Every person in this country has the right to life, freedom of thought and expression and the right to a fair trial. Basically this Act covers the rights all of us expect in a democracy. Applying this in your job is incredibly important. You need to treat all people fairly and with respect and you can expect to be treated the same in return. Because as a security guard, you have the Human Rights Act on your side too.

Finally, the Equality Act which prevents unfair treatment on the basis of age, disability, race religion and more. Security guards, need to be impartial and not to have prejudices or biases regarding other types of people. It is all too common to develop a feeling about people based on their age or the way they dress and this can be considered to be discriminatory. You need to treat all people the same and your SIA Licence training will help you to identify the ways in which you could stereotype people – even without realising you are doing it.

So, the law when it comes to getting your SIA licence is important. It certainly isn’t a section of your door supervisor training you can skim over. You need to know how to protect yourself from prosecution while at the same time, allow other people the rights all of us have. It is a fine line, but one all security guards should be able to handle.

From this month, individuals and businesses will be paying less for their SIA licence and membership of the Approved Contractor Scheme will also be reduced. Individual licences will now cost £220, rather than £245 and those people who are applying for a discounted second licence will get a 50% reduction on the fee. Business membership of the Approved Contractor Scheme will also now be dropped to £15 per employee rather than £17.

The SIA have said that they have been able to reduce the fees due to improved working practices. They have also been set a task by the government to show that they are offering good value for money and that they are as efficient as possible. As part of this a new online system is to be introduced and more changes are in the pipeline.

It is true that becoming a security worker is an investment. You need to pay for your training (in most cases) and for your SIA licence, but it seems as though this is being made as easy as possible. It is not very often that an institution actually reduces their fees and this seems to show a real commitment to getting security personnel licensed and keeping them that way. They should be applauded for it.

As a security trained worker, all you need to do is make sure that you renew your licence as it is required. You cannot work unless you have a valid licence and all your SIA training could become worthless if you fail to meet the standards and regulations as set out by the SIA. That would be a waste of your time and money. So take advantage of the new lower fees and get yourself on a CCTV training course or do some door supervisor training. You won’t regret it.