The security consultant in the design process: A risk-led approach

Any visitor to the Middle East will be familiar with the none-too-unattractive ad hoc security measures, usually imposed after a serious security incident; invariably these are incongruous mitigation and worryingly of doubtful efficacy. The current authors believe that in the Middle East there is a lack of knowledge of security risk management and what it offers the built environment. This is illustrated by the fact that security consultants are often appointed almost as an afterthought in many projects. Unfortunately security risk management planning and its associated design and engineering activities have never enjoyed the same obligatory status as those that surround the design of fire prevention and safety. This ignores the potential to develop a risk-led approach offering savings to clients in terms of proportionality, procurement phasing, operational efficacies and, importantly for many clients and their clients, pleasing aesthetics. This article (written by two experienced Arup security consultants) seeks to show what is on offer in the Middle East in terms of focused security risk consultancy and to champion the cause of security risk management in the region's built space.