The Association of University Chief Security Officers (AUCSO), the organisation for security professionals working in higher and further education around the world, has praised its members for ‘outstanding achievements across the year’ as it announced the winners of its Annual Awards 2023.
The winners were announced at a Gala Dinner on the final evening of the AUCSO Annual Conference, hosted at the iconic Signet Library in Edinburgh.
Awardees
Recognised for their exceptional work were:
- Mark Neary, Manchester Metropolitan University
Security Officer of the Year
The judges praised Mark for his immense bravery in tackling aggressive persons who were in the process of robbing a retail outlet on campus. Mark arrived at the scene alone and was confronted and assaulted by the alleged perpetrators while making their exit.
It was a serious and violent incident but Mark clung on and continued to try to prevent the individuals making a get-away, despite being ruthlessly assaulted and receiving injuries to both his face and body. Despite this, Mark refused to take any time off, he was back in his role the very next day.
- Adrian Dennehy, Cardiff Metropolitan University
Security Manager of the Year
He has promoted the importance and benefits of sharing information across South Wales-based Universities
Judges said that Adrian had worked tirelessly to introduce and embed innovative working practices into the Campus Protection Services team while raising the profile and importance of Security within the Higher Education sector.
As a highly active contributor and leader in his role as Chair of the Wales region within AUCSO, Adrian shares learnings from Police and National agencies around issues such as County Lines and the potential exploitation of Students.
He has promoted the importance and benefits of sharing information across South Wales-based Universities while ensuring South Wales Police and other agencies are engaged to better inform and enable the collective approach to countering such risks and threats upon the Higher Education community.
- D Team – Colchester, University of Essex
Security Team of the Year
Judges said the D Team was in this instance the ‘A’ team, citing the bravery that the officers in the team showed when dealing with a serious incident in a student accommodation block (which holds 200 students). When presented with a situation involving several students who had raised welfare concerns regarding a fellow student, who had become violent and had a bladed weapon, the D Team didn’t hesitate to take control of the situation, evacuating students and restraining the student in possession of the bladed weapon from injuring himself.
The team managed to get all the students, some of whom had sustained injuries, out of the flat and to safety, while they restrained the offender and kept them under control while they waited for further assistance from two other members of the team and emergency services. They managed to support the restraining of the student while other colleagues managed the situation on the ground, supporting the students involved and co-ordinating emergency services.
Professionalism, integrity
The entries demonstrate the range of risks and challenges that our Security teams face daily"
Commenting on the winners, says: AUCSO Chair, Oliver Curran said, “We had some truly inspirational nominations across a challenging year for University Security teams. The entries demonstrate the range of risks and challenges that our Security teams face daily, as well as the incredibly professional personnel that continually keep their communities safe with their innovative approaches."
Oliver Curran adds, “All of the shortlisted entries were very worthy winners showing consistently high levels of professionalism, integrity, dedication, and passion, and they are all a credit to their profession.”
Dedication, and passion
AUCSO Chief Operating Officer, Julie Barker, stated “It was a night where we were enormously proud of our members."
Julie Barker adds, “As Oliver said all of the entries were worthy of recognition, and we have enormous respect for the actions and outcomes of the winners who are truly exceptional in their dedication to the sector.”
From facial recognition to LiDAR, explore the innovations redefining gaming surveillance
- Network / IP
- Retail surveillance
- IP video surveillance
- Electronic security systems
- Retail security systems
- Shop security systems
- Library security systems
- Application security
- Physical security
- Industrial security
- Mall security
- Commercial security
- Perimeter security
- Shopping centre security
- Security management
- Security policy
- Security devices
- Security installation
- Security tagging
- Security monitoring system
- Security access systems
- Radio frequency Identification
- Facial recognition systems
- Network monitoring
- Asset tracking
- Video analytics
- Remote video monitoring
- Electronic access control
- Identity management
- Building security
- Facility security
- Store security
- Store surveillance
- Industrial security systems
- Retail security
- Wireless security
- Door access control
- Security service
- Industrial surveillance
- Physical Security Information Management (PSIM)
- IP security solutions
- Perimeter protection
- Crime prevention
- Crowd Management
- Corporate Security
- Fire Safety
- Outdoor Security
- Indoor Security
- Central Monitoring
- Warning Devices
- Incident Management
- Security Assessments
- Mobile access
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Touchless Security
