Pictured, from left to right: John Cox – Corps Regional Manager, Matthew Aston – Tata Steel, Anthony Jones – Security Officer, Lisa Posser – MCC Officer, Donna Cable – Team Leader, Tracey Pearce – Medic, Nick Light – Corps Contract Manager, Anthony Taylor – National Account Manager
Today marks International Security Officers’ Day, where the world comes together to celebrate and pay our thanks to the incredible work security officers do. At Corps, all our officers are dedicated to the safety of our clients and the public every single day.
What makes an excellent security officer? That was the question we asked at our sites across the country, and we received some great responses. Watch the video below to see what qualities our officers bring to the table.
Today, the City Security Council will celebrate International Security Officer Day in Manchester and London. All SIA Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) companies were invited to join the council, and we are delighted to be in attendance with some of our security personnel. All officers will receive a certificate for their efforts, a small token to thank them for the important work they do every day.
We wanted to take this opportunity to highlight the work of a few of our exceptional officers who have gone above and beyond, to not just protect people, but to de-escalate difficult situations and save lives. These officers show the best of the best when it comes to officer support and safety, and we are honoured that they are part of our Corps team.
Angela Traykovska
On the 7th of February 2023, security patrol officer Angela Traykovska was on duty at the Royal Opera House. She greeted visitors, carrying out necessary bag checks and carefully monitoring the area for any threats.
In the evening, she observed a man who appeared distressed, agitated, and possibly intoxicated, coming closer to the Royal Opera House entrance. Angela approached him and noticed that he was holding a broken bottle and expressing suicidal intents in Bulgarian.
Angela is fluent in Bulgarian, and not only immediately called for help, but carefully attempted to disarm the man. She engaged him in calming conversation, with a thoughtful empathetic approach that calmed the man and allowed her to take the weapon, removing the immediate threat he posed to himself and others.
Once help arrived, Angela was able to take further control with the help of fellow officers. She proved her professionalism and altruism in a dangerous situation, using her conflict resolution and communication skills in a crucial moment. These incidents are not new territory for Angela, who has been able to spot sensitive situations even in busy environments, demonstrating heightened observation, good judgement, compassion, and courageousness all at the same time.
Angela’s incredible work also breaks social stereotypes surrounding female security officers – qualities like sensitivity, empathy and people-focused skills are just as important as the physical attributes typically associated with male guards in navigating difficult situations.
Angela’s bravery was celebrated by the wider industry too. In May, Angela was honoured with the 2024 SIA Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) Pacesetters Security Officer of Distinction Award. Her decisive action, calmness and empathetic approach saved lives, and we are proud to have Angela work for us.
Tata Steel team
In February, four officers on the Tata Steel team at the Port Talbot steelwork location came across a life-threatening scenario and sprang into action. Donna Cable, Anthony Jones, Lisa Prosser and Tracey Pearce were on their way to work when they came across five people surrounding a motorcyclist on the ground, a few feet away from his bike, bag and helmet.
The individual had been thrown off his motorbike at a roundabout near the site and appeared to be seriously injured. All officers were First Person on Scene trained and were able to start treating him before medics reached the site.
Police attended the site and helped to shut down the road while everyone on the ground worked on the casualty. The team also managed the traffic on the dual carriageway and treated the patient, who, as it turned out, had sustained multiple fractures and other injuries.
The team were informed that the ambulance arrival time was three to five hours, with the heavy downfall and cold temperatures impacting the severity of the situation. So our officers decided to act. They arranged for a Tata Steel site ambulance to transport the patient to a hospital nearby.
Later that day, the team were informed by the mother of the person that he was in surgery, where he received treatment for his fractures and internal injuries. Since the accident, the individual has received multiple surgeries.
The team have been thanked by the manager, the mother, and the wife of the individual, and they have been given vouchers as a thank you.
Another two officers also did an incredible job – Scott Matthews and Marc Jenkins stayed on site until a handover could be carried out with Donna and Lisa once they stood down from the scene. All six officers represent the best of those on the frontline, coming together to support an injured civilian and provide support to the police.
Celebrating today
The officers mentioned in this blog have done exceptionally well in emergency situations to ensure that civilians are safe, but every single day, our officers are vigilant, aware, and ready to take action. That alone is worthy of being honoured. Day and night, officers throughout the UK tirelessly work to keep people safe.
To all our officers, thank you.
Security excellence
We also wanted to showcase our excellent officers up and down the country, so we spoke with many Corps team members to answer the question, what makes an excellent security officer?
Watch the video below to see what everyone had to say:
