| It is very disappointing to see that such outdated views of security personnel are still alive and well in modern society |
The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has hit back at claims made by Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson that security officers are "pretty much useless."
Writing in his recent Sunday Times column, Clarkson asserted that security officers are a "waste of time" whose main function in life is "making the lives of normal people a little bit more difficult."
James Kelly, Chief Executive of the BSIA, takes a strong view of such claims and comments: "It is very disappointing to see that such outdated views of security personnel are still alive and well in modern society. Security officers perform an essential public service to help safeguard buildings, business assets and provide everyday protection to the general public."
"Only last month did I travel across the country to recognise the sheer dedication that is so prevalent within our industry by presenting the regional winners of the BSIA's Security Personnel Awards 2010. These awards recognise both individuals and teams for the real achievements they have made, from capturing armed intruders to saving lives, often endangering their own health and safety and risking serious injury in the process."
"The industry has certainly changed for the better in recent years, and thanks to the introduction of licensing, improved training and higher standards of working practices, Mr Clarkson's old-fashioned image of the lazy security guard is now well and truly redundant."
To find out more about the BSIA, click here.