PRIMER / KNOW HOW THE LATEST LEARNING AND BEST PRACTICE
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asan Afzal is a security officer at a West London Retail Park, which like all sites of its kind can suffer from issues associated with antisocial behaviour and elements of criminality. It is a single-person site, where Hasan has created an exemplary environment of retail security operations that recently earned him the title of Outstanding Security Officer at the 2022 UK Outstanding Security Performance Awards (OSPAs). Here, Afzal shares a key component of his award-winning security strategy: creating and maintaining a secure library of information.
PHOTOGRAPHY: ISTOCK
What is your library of information and what is included in it?
Hasan Afzal: It’s a secure record of known offenders, as well as targeted locations, dates and times of criminal incidents, and CCTV footage of any suspicious behaviour. The library helps me in my role to be more effective at monitoring and preventing any crime across the park. I work closely with the local police and I understand the importance and value of data, which is why I ensure that I keep a good record of everything that is happening at Kew and that can later support the store’s safety or prove useful to the police. I always store important data within a secure area and keep it locked in my security office. Anything held electronically is on the company device and is password protected on the internal cloud system to ensure that only
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in and out of the retail park during patrols and via CCTV. Whenever I spot a familiar face known for criminal and/or antisocial behaviour, I inform the store managers to warn them about the potential threats. If I spot any acts of criminality, I immediately contact the police directly. Over the years I have assisted the police with hundreds of incidents, many leading to convictions and, in the process, I have helped to recover thousands of pounds’ worth of goods for the targeted stores.
SECU RI T Y P ERS ON N EL
Brought to book By creating and maintaining a library of information, security officers can be far more effective in their roles, says Hasan Afzal in this security best-practice primer article people with approved access can see it. I am the only person with access because of data protection and only share incident footage upon request from the police.
HASAN AFZAL is a security officer at Atlas Security
How have you used the library to support your clients and authorities to solve crimes and convict criminals? HA: I keep a close eye on people
A note from Facilitate: Over the past four years, Afzal has recorded more than £130,000 across 565 separate incidents at the retail park – that’s an average tackling and solving 12 incidents a month.
What do you consider the three most important characteristics to be an outstanding security officer? HA: That’s simple: 1 Be honest and trustworthy; 2 Be fair and impartial; and 3 Think outside of the box.
A message from Afzal’s employer Gary Stanton, managing director of Atlas Security: “Hasan is a shining example of what can be achieved with focus, drive and a desire to consistently operate at the top of one’s abilities. His enthusiasm for the job is contagious and his commitment to the safety and security of those who visit the retail park is second to none, making all of us at Atlas Security feel incredibly proud and lucky to work with him.”
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