Q&A With John Fletcher, Site Security Officer

Now in its third year, Thank Your Security Officer Day is Corps Security’s annual celebration of front-line security professionals.

As part of a day of celebration, we spent five minutes talking to John Fletcher, a security officer at a Jewish community centre in Manchester about what being a security professional means for him.

When did you join Corps and what does your current role involve? I joined Corps in June 2005, as a security officer. I now work at a Jewish Community Centre in Manchester where I’m responsible for keeping people safe and secure. Our visitors vary from mother and baby groups and children and teenagers doing football training to adults practising krav maga, an Israeli self-defence system, and celebratory events such as Bar mitzvahs. I knew nothing about the Jewish faith when I started so it’s been fascinating.

Can you tell us a little about your career background / what was your first job? After school I became a YTS trainee in painting and decorating. I then moved into factory work before becoming a security officer, which I really enjoy.

What’s been your most memorable moment in security? When I was working at the Labour Party conference, I shook hands with Bill Clinton. He was a guest of Tony Blair and I bumped in to him when I was going on my break. He asked me all about my role and was a really friendly guy.

If you weren’t in security, what would you be doing as a career? I’d probably go back to painting and decorating.

What’s your favourite thing about your job? No two days at the community centre are the same. I  really like meeting lots of different people. I know most people who come into the centre by now. If I don’t know their face, I know their name. And if I don’t know their face or their name, I definitely know their car!

What are the main challenges you face in your daily role? Ours is a public site and because we often have children here, we need to make sure people are kept safe and protected.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why? Thailand and the Philippines. I was booked to go before Covid but had to cancel. I’d love to experience the culture and the beautiful beaches.