The Security Institute, the UK's largest membership body for security professionals is pleased to report that following last year's sell out event at the House of Lords, The Register of Chartered Security Professionals once again gathered to celebrate the continuing growth and success of the organisation. This year's event, was held at the House of Commons on Tuesday 20th March 2014, with over 140 CSyP's and guests in attendance.

The Register of Chartered Security Professionals was created by The Security Institute on behalf of The Worshipful Company of Security Professionals (WCoSP) in 2011. Since then, WCoSP Past-Masters Peter French MBE and Don Randall MBE have worked closely with the Institute to support its ongoing development. They both attended the dinner, alongside the current Master of the Worshipful Company Group Captain Brian Hughes FSyI and Barrie Stewart FSyI, Middle Warden.

The Security Institute organised the event on behalf of the Register and it was well represented by Chairman Emma Shaw CSyP, Vice-Presidents Mike Bluestone CSyP and Bill Wyllie CSyP, Advisory Board member Baroness Ruth Henig DL, Institute Deputy Chairman Garry Evanson CSyP and the Registrar charged with admitting the successful Register applicants, David Gill CSyP.

The event is an opportunity to introduce the quality the Register represents to other organisations that are impacted by the security profession and will benefit from the gold standard that the Register stands for. Applicants have to go through a rigorous staged assessment process and prove they have reached a minimum competence level in each of five defined areas - knowledge, practice skills, leadership, communications and professional commitment. Once admitted they are permitted to use the prestigious CSyP post nominal.

Prior to dinner Certificates of Admittance were presented to nine new Chartered Security Professionals. Successful Registrants were: Stephen Ackroyd (Aviation Security Consultant), Grahame Bullock (Nexen Petroleum UK), Robb Cumming (Technip), Prof. Denis Fischbacher-Smith (Glasgow University), Peter Kaye (Pilgrims Group), Simon Pears (Sodexo), Simon Roberts (DHL), Peter Whettingsteel (MFD International) and Simon Whitehouse (SGW Safety & Security).

Lord Carlile CBE QC gave an update on the latest activity from the Register, acknowledging the appointment of ASIS UK as Licensees of the Register and announcing that the Register has doubled its application rate since last year; he also shared some of his personal knowledge and history of the House of Commons. Charles Farr OBE, Director of the Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism, was the guest speaker and shared his thoughts about the future of security and counter-terrorism in the UK.

Emma Shaw, Chairman of The Security Institute and herself a Registered Chartered Security Professional commented, ‘I am incredibly proud of what the Register has achieved in just three years and delighted that it continues to attract interest from across the world. It is a significant factor in our ongoing efforts to raise standards and enhance the perception of the security profession - something that benefits us all.'

‘The Chartered Security Professionals House of Commons Event is a great opportunity for the Register to celebrate its success and raise its profile even further within the wider business and governmental communities. The Register continues to play a vital role in the Security Institute's mission to make security a profession that is considered on a par with disciplines such as law, education, medicine, accountancy and engineering.'

The event was generously sponsored by Dallmeier and Pilgrims Group.