[ QUALS ]

Qualifications, Skills & Experience.

There are various types of security consultant recognised in New Zealand under the PSP&PI Act.
It is important that a consultant contracted to provide guidance on Crowded Places meets the following definition:

  • A professional who provides impartial security advice to clients

  • Typically charges a fee for that advice

  • Does not sell security equipment, products or guard services

  • Has proven and relevant experience in the security sector, police or military

  • Often holds professional qualifications (may be from prior service)

  • Is a member of a recognised professional association or body

  • Bound by a code of ethics within that professional body

All Security Consultants should hold a Company Security Licence under the Security Consultant category and similarly all individuals providing guidance should hold an Individual Security Certificate (known as a CoA or Certificate of Approval) under the Security Consultant category. Practitioners should provide a copy of their licence or certificate on request and details can also be checked on the Public Register on the PSPLA website (Private Security Personnel Licensing Authority).

Security Consultants should be able to demonstrate they have relevant qualifications, skills and experience.
Qualifications include:

  • Diploma or Degree

  • SCCC Security Consultant Certificate of Competence

  • Coordinated Incident Management Systems (SIMS) Level 4

  • Emergency Management Level 6

  • ASIS – CPP, PSP and APP

  • International Diplomas and Degrees

Skills include:

  • Conducting Security Reviews

  • Operational and Physical Audits

  • Knowledge of Protective Security Requirements

  • Knowledge of CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design)

Experience includes:

  • Minimum 3 years’ policing or military level at NCO level, or equivalent commercial experience

  • Conducted previous Security Reviews (including for Crowded Places)

  • Conducted previous Operational Audits and Physical Audits (including for Crowded Places)

  • Supplementary information that can be requested includes:

  • Referee reports

  • Details of Professional association and affiliations

  • Previous experience conducting security reviews

  • Ability to effectively undertake a security review (subject matter knowledge)

  • Impartiality of advice (do they have commercial affiliations)

  • Published professional work

  • Security clearance (where required)

Note: Where the crowded place is of significant scale or deemed to be of high risk (48 or above on Self-Assessment Tool) then local police should be advised. They may recommend that the owner/operator seek guidance from a security consultant with special expertise in Counter Terrorism. In addition to meeting the criteria above, such consultants must be able to demonstrate international expertise in counter terrorism, including:

  • Hostile vehicle movement

  • Active shooter

  • Sniper

  • IED

  • Bomb threat

  • Drone drops

  • Lock in/lock out/lock down/shelter in place