Meet Rollo Davies – Security Industry Expert

Rollo Davies  F.ISRM  MSyI

Rollo is a respected security industry professional who has achieved international recognition for his work to improve the security industry and the lives of the front-line men and women working within it.

Background. 

Leaving the Metropolitan Police Service in 1992 with his desire to protect people & property still intact, Rollo naturally gravitated towards the private security industry.

Gaining experience in a number of roles, including hotel security management, contract management, door supervision and more, he was struck by the general lack of appreciation and respect received by security officers, given the sometimes jaw-dropping amount of responsibility placed on their shoulders.

He was determined to do something about it, and in 2011 he founded the now sadly dissolved National Security Workers Union (UK). The NSWU was a Government Certified trade union for front-line security professionals. It was established with the aim of challenging rogue employers, ensuring fair treatment of security officers, campaigning for better pay and conditions across the board, and providing a representative voice for the unheard legions of UK security officers, SIA licensed or in-house. Frustratingly, the union never gained the critical mass or funding required to be self-sustaining and Rollo nearly bankrupted himself, subsidising the operation out of his own pocket.

Undeterred, in 2018 he partnered with an old colleague, and former French Foreign Legionnaire, Michael O’Sullivan, to establish a new free online magazine aimed at front-line security officers. The Professional Security Officer magazine or “TPSO” (https://TheProfessionalSecurityOfficer.com ) With huge support from industry leaders and international security experts alike, the magazine rapidly became one of the premier, and most highly regarded, global security publications.

The magazine also set up the International Security Industry Champions list. A directory of the most active industry improvement campaigners, highly regarded professionals, and celebrated experts. This attracted hundreds of nominations and applications from around the world, as the kudos of being named on this list was greatly coveted.

Around this time Rollo started to become heavily involved in the security industry, gaining a lot of support and making a lot of influential friends along the way. 

He joined the Security Institute, becoming a member of their Membership Management Advisory Group, and was appointed Co-Chair of the Front-Line Operations Special Interest Group, which he had fought hard to have formed.

Wanting to create an inclusive organisation for UK-based, engaged and career minded front line security professionals, he joined forces again with the irrepressible Mike O’Sullivan, and founded the Guild of Security Industry Professionals. GSIP ( https://GSIP.co.uk ) provides a peer support network, and negotiates discounted training and offers for members, whilst again, refusing to charge any membership fee!

Mike and Rollo also established a resource database providing data on the unacceptable levels of violence against security industry workers. This blog is now maintained and updated by Mike and posts updates via Twitter.( https://violenceagainstsecurity.info )  

Rollo subsequently found himself consulting with the Security Industry Authority on the wording for the security officer’s Code of Conduct, which became part of the licensing process, and providing insight to the senior leadership team, regarding the perception of the industry from the eyes of a licence holder over the last 30 years.

An American organisation, highly respected for supporting and assisting security officers in the U.S., the International Foundation for Protection Officers, (IFPO) came across the pond and Rollo was happy to help, taking a seat on the founding advisory board.

At about this time, he was appointed as a Fellow of the Institute of Strategic Risk Management.  

Along with publishing security related magazine articles in several publications, taking part in numerous webinars, and attending a raft of events and conferences, he currently holds down a “day job” as part of the management team with the Essex based, Bold Security Group.

Recognition.

Much to his surprise and delight, industry recognition came his way when in 2019 the Security Institute awarded him the coveted “George Van Schalkwyk” trophy for outstanding contribution to the security industry.

This was followed shortly after by an international panel of judges, appointed by the IFSEC Global organisation, ranking Rollo as the 2^nd most influential security industry “Thought Leader” in the world. 

He has also been shortlisted for both annual OSPAs and Security & Fire Excellence awards.

Public Profile.

During Covid, Rollo was massively angry by the Government’s failure to immediately class security officers as key or essential workers. His campaigning to right this wrong, included a government petition, and rallying support from numerous security industry organisations. He liaised with the then CEO of the SIA. Ian Todd, who subsequently called him to share the news that the Government had relented, and security officers were finally given the status needed.

He has also acquired a substantial social media following across LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram, and uses this platform to highlight the excellent work of security officers, promote industry improving causes and share news and views.

This has led to him being interviewed for BBC documentaries, and providing comment to several news and media outlets.

Get Licensed

Rollo joined Get Licensed as a consultant in 2022, sharing his knowledge and expertise of the private security industry.  Working on industry-improving initiatives, Rollo also helps to ensure that Get Licensed approved trainers continue to produce professional, knowledgeable, and confident security officers for the UK.