ASIS International and The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children Pilot New Program
Alexandria, Va. (PRWEB) November 06, 2014 -- ASIS International (ASIS) and The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) are collaborating on the development of an online training module focusing on what private security professionals need to know about child victimization.
The training is currently being piloted in both face-to-face and online formats in preparation for a January 2015 launch. ASIS is the leading organization for security professionals worldwide. NCMEC is the leading 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization working with law enforcement, families and the professionals who serve them on issues relating to missing and sexually exploited children.
“Many of our 25,000+ U.S.-based members are in positions to observe, identify, and assist children who may be victims in their places of business. This training is critical to ensure that members, as well as their staff, have the knowledge to take the appropriate action and to support local law enforcement in keeping our children safe and secure,” stated ASIS President Richard E. Widup, Jr., CPP.
Kristen Anderson, NCMEC Executive Director of Training, sees it as a win-win venture. “This is a force multiplier for law enforcement. Providing training and building awareness for private security professionals means there are thousands more eyes and ears across the country who may observe, report and potentially intervene on behalf of a child.”
The one hour, self-paced module will discuss the nature and scope of missing and exploited children in the United States, what the private security officer needs to know in order to assist law enforcement, aspects of victim behavior and how to access additional resources. Covenant Aviation Security, LLC and G4S Secure Solutions (USA) Inc. have hosted face-to-face pilots of the developing program to assist ASIS and NCMEC in finalizing content.
"By completing this training, security personnel and law enforcement personnel can quickly move on a coordinated response, saving valuable time, when minutes really matter," said Drew Levine, president, G4S North America. "It is a privilege to be a part of this public-private partnership to help find missing and exploited children."
Chief Frank Kitzerow, president, The Florida Police Chief Association, who has made strengthening the relationship between law enforcement and private security one of his top priorities commented, “It is my hope that through this collaboration we are able to build stronger working relationships between the private and public sectors so that we can enhance our future services to all of our communities.”
This initiative follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between ASIS and NCMEC in January 2013.
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About ASIS International
ASIS International is the leading organization for security professionals, with more than 38,000 members worldwide. Founded in 1955, ASIS is dedicated to increasing the effectiveness and productivity of security professionals by developing educational programs and materials that address broad security interests, such as the ASIS Annual Seminar and Exhibits, as well as specific security topics. ASIS also advocates the role and value of the security management profession to business, the media, government entities and the public. By providing members and the security community with access to a full range of programs and services, and by publishing the industry’s No. 1 magazine—Security Management—ASIS leads the way for advanced and improved security performance.
About the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is the leading 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization working with law enforcement, families and the professionals who serve them on issues relating to missing and sexually exploited children. Authorized by Congress to serve as the nation’s clearinghouse on these issues, NCMEC operates a hotline, 1-800-THE-LOST® (1-800-843-5678), and has assisted law enforcement in the recovery of more than 196,000 children. NCMEC also operates the CyberTipline, a mechanism for reporting child pornography, child sex trafficking and other forms of child sexual exploitation. Since it was created in 1998, more than 2.9 million reports of suspected child sexual exploitation have been received, and more than 124 million suspected child pornography images have been reviewed. NCMEC works in partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. To learn more about NCMEC, visit http://www.missingkids.com. Follow NCMEC on Twitter and like NCMEC on Facebook.
Leigh A. McGuire, ASIS International, https://www.asisonline.org, +1 (703) 518-1465, [email protected]
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