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ASC Information
The Association of Security Consultants is the UK’s professional association for independent security consultants. The ASC is managed by an annually elected Council of 10 members and sets out its principles in a published Code of Conduct.
The ASC seeks to:
- Maintain the highest professional and business standards amongst its members,
- Stay in the forefront or work on security methods, technology and applications,
- Contribute actively to the development and formulation of national and international standards, policy and practice in security.
Membership Criteria
The levels of membership, affiliation or association with the ASC are currently being reviewed. However the following sections are in being at present.
Full Membership (including Overseas Membership)
Full membership is only open to principals and employees of independent security consultancies. Membership is on an individual basis and does not apply to the business whether it is sole trader, partnership or limited company. Only one member of an organisation may serve at any one time on the ASC Council. All changes of employment are to be notified to Council, which will consider the continued membership status. Current fees are £100 (non-refundable) on application plus £200 subscription per annum, on acceptance.
Member consultants qualify for an entry in the Consultancy Resources Directory, which is available to potential clients as well as other organisations. Other benefits include the opportunity to attend all ASC functions, use of the Association logo, circulation of ASC publications, the availability of informal advice and assistance as well as the chance to network with other, like minded, individuals. The ASC Library is a valuable resource for Members.
Functions held throughout a year include Member’s Forums, Business Club meetings (also open to non members) – these meetings are recognised for CPD points, the keynote annual Lunch Club to which VIP’s and opinion formers are invited, and CONSEC, the annual conference of the association.
The ASC is a member of the British Standard Institute, the Joint Security Industry Council and the CCTV User Group. ASC members serve on all these bodies and have representatives on some 18 different committees writing British and European Standards.
Affiliation
Affiliation is open to those persons who would not qualify for membership but who are employed to provide independent security advice and may include, amongst others, insurance surveyors, crime prevention officers and corporate security advisors. All changes of employment are to be notified to Council, which will consider the continued membership status.
Current fees are £100 (non-refundable) on application and £75 subscription per annum. Benefits include access to all meetings and circulation of ASC publications but there will be no Directory entry or right to use the Association’s logo or name.
Overseas Affiliation
Similar to Affiliation above although the section encompasses self employed security consultants.
Fees are £100 (non-refundable) on application and £150 subscription per annum. Benefits include access to all meetings and circulation of ASC publications but there will be no Directory entry or right to use the Association’s logo or name.
About our Members
Membership stands at around 90, including patrons, members, associates and affiliates. All our full members are independent consultants, having no allegiance to specific suppliers of goods or services. They either head their own companies, or else are senior partners in other consultancy practices. They are all leading experts in their fields, whether skilled in a detailed specialisation or able to handle a broad range of strategic issues. Collectively their expertise and experience covers every facet of corporate security and all sectors of commerce and industry: a unique resource.
Code of Conduct
Members agree to abide by the following obligations and conditions:
- To maintain a high standard of work and to act with integrity and impartiality solely in the interests of the client.
- To maintain confidentiality of information specific to the business of the client.
- To accept only those assignments, which we consider ourselves competent to carry out personally and/or with the assistance of others, who in our judgement are similarly competent and who comply with the requirements of this Code of Conduct.
- To disclose to the client any personal or financial interest, or any other significant circumstances which might involve a conflict of interest.
- To agree with the client in advance the objectives and scope of the assignment and the fees or fee basis and other terms and conditions. In the event of subsequent changes to the original brief, to submit a revised proposal to the client for his acceptance.
- To maintain effective communication with the client and to submit appropriate reports and documents.
PAS 49:2002
The Association has recently sponsored the production by the British Standards Institution of a Publicly Available Specification PAS 49:2002 Security Consultancy – Code of Practice. The document is intended as a guide for consultants and their clients as to the provision of security consultancy. Members are expected to operate to the standards and codes detailed therein.
A sample of the activities undertaken by the ASC:
- Work with Leicester University on their MSc courses in security.
- Represented at the British Standard Institute through 18 technical committees and panels publishing new British Standards and working towards harmonising European security systems and product standards. 11 different members sit on these committees and according to the discipline they serve those committees and panels involved.
- Represented on the British Standard OC/16 National Forum for Quality Assessment representing the UK interests in testing and quality management certification world-wide
- Represented on the British Standard OC/16/2 Committee for the European Organisation for Testing and Certification (EOTC).
- Contributors to some 37 new British and European Standards on security published since we were formed as an Association in 1991.
- Represented at the Security Industry Training Organisation (SITO).
- Members of the Joint Security Industry Council (JSIC).
- Observers at the Security Industry Board of the Electrical Contractors Association (SIB).
- Directors of the Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board (SSAIB).
- Observers at the Board of the Alarm Inspectorate & Security Council (AISC).
- Participants with the National Approval Council for Security Systems (NACOSS) in their "Green Paper" reviews for improvements in regulation of the security industry.
- Providers of evidence on the security industry to the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee in their enquiry on the Security Industry.
- Providers of evidence on the security industry to the Department of Trade and Industry.
- On the editorial board of the International Journal of Risk, Security and Crime Prevention.
- ASC Business Club meetings are recognised for the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programmes of ASIS and the IEE and IMechE.
- ASC Lunch Club meetings have been addressed by Members of Parliament, Home Office, Universities, Institutes and Business Associations
- The ASC annual conference, CONSEC, held each hear since 1994, attracts an audience of 200 leading security managers, consultants, insurers, institutions, universities, associations, government etc.
The ASC is now well recognised and accepted by most specifiers as a source of availability and credibility in matters relating to security.
The ASC is the only UK association dedicated to independent security consultants and believe we have much to offer as we represent our members and customers in a very unique way. It is recognised and accepted without exception by all other associations and bodies in the security industry that the ASC is the representative association for professional independent security consultants.
The Range of Services Covered by Security Consultancy
Consultants can be found practising across a wide range of activities. The business of the security consultants is usually dedicated to risk, security, health and safety. Presently these are not seen as intrinsically linked although a plethora of consultant’s activities and specialities do confirm the segmented nature of the specialisations.
Straw polls and anecdotal evidence confirm that these specialisations cover a wide range of security services. What becomes apparent in meetings with the various types of consultant is the unique nature of many of these specialisations in that they are not ones that may always be easily or readily available, or duplicated.
The recent introduction of the Private Security Industry Act 2001 which has a requirement for security consultants to register will, more clearly, define the term ‘security consultant’ and should reduce the large numbers of ‘salesmen’ who claim to perform such a function. Undoubtedly membership of the ASC will be seen as being a professional standard that those who are required to register should attain.
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