Worshipful Company of Security Professionals


The Worshipful Company of Security Professionals is the 108th Livery Company of the City of London. It is a non profit making organisation providing education and health services to members of the security profession.
Formed in 1999 when Steve Neville, OBE, and John Purnell, GM, QPM, DL, registered the Guild of Security Professionals with the City of London Chamberlain's Office. On 18 November 1999, 12 principal founder members met to plan the creation of a working guild. The first meeting with 62 founder members took place on 27 March 2000, with Sir Neil Macfarlane being elected Founder Master and with Sir David Brewer, KG, CMG, CVO, JP, and Deputy Philip Willoughby as Sponsors. Progression to a Company without Livery occurred on 6 January 2004 when the petition for recognition as a City Company without Livery was recognised by the Court of Aldermen. On 15 January 2008 the Court of Alderman was petitioned and it declared that the Company became the 108th Livery Company from 19 February 2008. The ranking is by order of precedence, under which guidelines the Company is also classified as a Modern Livery Company.
In 2009 the Security Professionals' Company petitioned the privy council for a royal charter and Queen Elizabeth II approved an Order instructing the Lord Chancellor to affix the great seal to the Worshipful Company's charter, which was granted on 15 February 2010.
More recent developments include the development of an Apprentices scheme which now has around 30 Apprentices and has already had Apprentices successfully graduate and become Freemen of the Company and then Freeman of the City of London. The launch of a Young Members section, with special Membership rates for Members below the ages of 41 and 31,to encourage younger Security Professionals to join a London Livery Company. Such has been the success of the development of the Young Members Group that it progressed to become a full standing committee of the Court at the May 2019 Court meeting and is now the Young Members Committee.
Membership of the Company is drawn from the security industry in its widest sense and includes leading security professionals from the industrial and retail sectors, serving and retired members of the police and armed services, security consultants, academics, heads of security for corporate businesses, investigators, and electronic surveillance companies.
Some of the activities the Company is involved in are listed below. It supports the Worshipful Company of Hackney Carriage Drivers' 'Magical Taxi Run' to Disneyland Paris each year for children with life-threatening illnesses.

The Sheriffs' Award

The Sheriffs' Award is a national award for bravery, celebrating heroes or organisations who have contributed to safeguarding our "people, property or our liberty." The award was instituted in 2006 by the Worshipful Company of Security Professionals and is awarded annually by the Sheriffs of the City of London. In 2009 there were 30 nominees to the award from the emergency services, armed forces and members of the public from across the United Kingdom. https://wcosp.org.uk/the-sheriffs-award/. Since the initial award nominations have been received from throughout the United Kingdom. Award recipients have been come from Northern Ireland, Scotland Wales and England reflecting the acts of bravery occurring throughout the United Kingdom.
YearBravery awardCommunity award
2006Muhammad Arshad Khalil
2007Susan Porter
2008Eileen Watts
2009Christopher RothwellWalter Roberts
2010PC Colin SwanYesim Deveci
2011Mark PeskettLondon Fire Brigade 'LIFE' course
2012Rhys Llywelyn Evans
2013Tom Temple
2014John Wayre
2015Zoe Brown
2016Matthew Smith
2017PC Wayne Marques
2018David Burgess
2019Joby Reeve

The Whittington Course

The Whittington Course is a unique partnership that was originally developed with the Business Academy Bexley,now known as the Harris Garrard Academy part of the Harris Federation sponsored by Sir David Brewer, KG, CMG, CVO, JP to introduce business management students to the City of London and to encourage them to achieve their school motto that "No goal is beyond our reach". https://wcosp.org.uk/the-whittington-course/.

Register of Chartered Security Professionals

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The Worshipful Company of Security Professionals was awarded the exclusive right to establish a Register of Chartered Security Professionals when they were given a Royal Charter by the Privy Council in March 2010. https://www.charteredsecurityprofessional.org/ The Company started work to establish a Chartered Security Professionals scheme in June 2010, and the first ten Chartered Security Professionals were admitted in June 2011. The scheme is established as part of the company's own royal charter but managed by The Security Institute. https://wcosp.org.uk/chartered-security-professionals/. The Register of Chartered Security Professionals won the 2012 "Contribution to Standards in the Security Sector" at the annual Security Excellence Awards in 2012.

Security Benevolent Fund

One of the Company's major projects, and part of the Charitable Trust, the Security Benevolent Fund, provides assistance, such as counselling, to security professionals in order to ensure their ability to return to work after a mental or physical injury.
Details of the application procedure for members of the Security Profession who are in need of such assistance can be obtained from the Clerk. or from the web site https://wcosp.org.uk/charitable-trust/

Past Masters

The Master of the Company serves for one year. The Master's year starts at the Installation Court in June.
Year Master
2000–02Sir Neil Macfarlane
2002–03Steve Neville
2003–04Una Riley
2004–05Mike Welply
2005–06Trevor Gray
2006–07John Purnell
2007–08Peter French
2008–09Simon Imbert
2009–10Stephen Parsons
2010–11Don Randall
2011–12Nigel Churton
2012–13Gerald Moor
2013–14Brian Hughes
2014–15Barrie Stewart
2015–16Stuart Seymour
2016–17Ian Mayes
2017–18Stephen Anderton
2018–19Phillip Hagon
2019–20Michael Barley

Company Chaplain and Church

MBE
St Peter ad Vincula

RMP Provost Marshal (Army) Sword

The RMP Provost Marshal Sword is presented annually at the Annual Dinner in October to the individual who, in the eyes of the Master, has done most to promote and support the work of the Company.
2011–12Mr Roy Penrose OBE QPM
2012–13Mr Andrew Knights
2013–14Mr Steve Neville OBE
2014–15Mr Richard Monk CMG OBE QPM
2015–16Mr Trevor Vaughan MBE OStJ
2016–17Mr Peter French MBE
2017–18Mr Neill Catton
2018–19Gp Cpt Brian Hughes
2019–20Mr Ray Williams

The Worshipful Company of Security Professionals Charitable Trust

The Worshipful Company of Security Professionals Charitable Trust was formed as a Charity on 21 March 2001 and is registered with the Charity Commission under number 1088658. It is a charitable organisation providing education and health services to members of the security profession. It is managed by a board of twelve trustees all of whom are members of the Company.
Details of the application procedure for members of the Security Profession who are in need of such assistance can be obtained from the Clerk.
The first Chair of the Board of Trustees was Richard Monk. The current Chair of the Board of Trustees is Claire Palmer.

Chairs of the Charitable Trust

YearChair Person
Richard Monk
Steve Neville
Richard Monk
Stephen Parsons
Simon Imbert
to 22 January 2020Jeremy Batchelor
From 22 January 2020Claire Palmer

Coat of arms