Antonio Suárez (SEPROSE): Public-private collaboration will be crucial for physical and cyber-security

The Civil Guard’s Protection and Security Service (SEPROSE) is part of the Directorate of Weapons, Explosives and Security and is based at its official premises on Calle Batalla del Salado in Madrid. Its main purpose is to manage the Civil Guard’s cooperation with the private sector; to manage the administrative aspects of private security falling within the force’s remit; and to provide advice and technical oversight on security matters relating to critical infrastructure, barracks and buildings of interest under the force’s control. “Achieving these objectives requires ongoing communication with both the private security sector and the corporate security sector,” says Antonio Suárez Yáñez.

Suárez explains that one of SEPROSE’s main objectives is “the continuous improvement of the relationship between the Civil Guard and the private sector, ensuring that communication and the exchange of information are as seamless as possible and, most importantly, streamlining administrative procedures”. He therefore emphasises that “we are in the midst of a digital transformation process that will substantially improve these procedures, and we hope it will come to fruition very soon”.

Training and qualifications

The head of SEPROSE points out that “with regard to the training and qualifications of private security personnel under our administrative responsibility, we are constantly evolving, striving for quality in our services, promoting good training and ensuring staff keep their skills up to date; we seek to foster a sense of belonging and hope that, in the future, this will be part of the vocational ethos we require to achieve excellence”.

Apart from the close relationship with the Technical General Secretariat of the SES, which is the competent body for regulatory matters relating to private security, “it is essential to keep up to date with the latest developments in security technology, bearing in mind that, in this field, it is no longer enough simply to ensure physical security. For this reason, it is essential to foster relationships with the technology sector and the media”.

Staff shortages

Suárez points out that “the challenges posed by working conditions and staff shortages within the private security sector are an issue we are closely monitoring, and one in which we are always willing to collaborate or get involved to promote improvements”. “However, many of these improvements are very likely to have an impact on the cost of the service offered to the customer”.

Furthermore, he states that “at present, demand for private security services exceeds supply”. In addition, “staff at the base of this pyramid (security guards or rural wardens, for example) sometimes choose to take up other, less risky and better-paid jobs, with which it is very difficult to compete”.

In this expert’s view, “the scourge of unauthorised practice is yet another phenomenon risking substantial growth due to the high level of demand; we in the law enforcement agencies must therefore step up our checks to detect and combat it”.

New technologies and trends

The use of new technologies makes it possible to provide a higher standard of security and, in many cases, to optimise resources. “There are situations in which security can be provided centrally – and even simultaneously – for several clients, or at least part of that security which previously required a large number of staff on site”.

“Another major challenge,” he concludes, “will be to adapt in a timely manner to the new and changing reality, in which security now comprises two components: the physical and the virtual. In both environments, public-private collaboration will be crucial, and the potential for providing cyber-security services focused on the resilience of specific sectors is already a growing market.  It should not be forgotten that the European Union is already mandating the adoption of harmonised measures across the whole territory, which require very high quality standards and very strict certifications”.