Episode 52: Personal Security for Wealthy Families, Bob Morrison: SecTech
In Episode 52, Caroline Garnham talks to Bob Morrison, Managing Director of SecTech, which he founded in 2006. Bob's business provides personal security for wealthy families. His vision is that rich families need to put as much thought into protecting the safety of their homes and families as they do into protecting their wealth.
Episode Transcript
00:00.00
carolinesclub
This is episode 52 of how to keep your money I'm Caroline Garnham a private client lawyer specializing in international trusts and succession planning a pioneer of family governance and a psychologist I set up Caroline's club an interdisciplinary club of private client professionals. Where networking works although private client professionals have impressive networks 88% say their networks produce a poor rate of return my program of excellence explains why and provides tips and techniques to dramatically improve results through videos. Case studies and podcasts I received great company's international women entrepreneurs award 2024 for this training I'm joined remotely by Bob Morrison the managing director of sec tech which he founded in 2006 Bob's business provides personal security for wealthy families. His vision is that wealthy families need to put as much thought into protecting the safety of their homes and families as they do into protecting their wealth. Bob welcome.
01:14.46
Bob Morrison
Caroline. Thank you and thank you for inviting me.
01:15.75
carolinesclub
It's a real pleasure. Bob Sec tech was founded by you in 2006 to provide a 5 ive-star personal security service. You paint a chilling picture of professional burglars targeting Mayfair Holland Park and Knightsbridge because that is where the money is. You are frequently brought in to provide protection when the family is in residence and it necessary to accompany them out shopping or meeting friends tell me a little bit about this service and how you keep watch while remaining discreet Bob.
01:49.19
Bob Morrison
Um, okay, thank you? Um may fair Holland Park lights bridge or when a criminal sees a house and a nice house a house with 20000000 plus house. They know that there are things inside that house worth stealing. Might just be opportunists. It might be a drum user looking for his next fix. It might be a team of professionals. So a large part of our business is residential security now this is where we are in other people's houses 24 hours a day seven days a week Three hundred and sixty five days a year we protect the house. Not only do protect the contents but primarily to protect the residents our principals now because we're mixing with the family members. We can't just use an ordinary run at the mill security guard. Um, the people we use need to be topraw the need to be socially rounded operatives so we use close protection operatives otherwise not as bodyguards this accounts for about 4% of license holders within the Uk security industry. So. Our guys sit in a small command center with cctv they watch the cdctv they control all the access to the property. The staff, the contractors the family the visitors. It's a balancing act and and we need to be discrete I mean almost invisible.
03:18.30
Bob Morrison
The client they don't want to live in a prison. They do not want to be a prisoner of their wealth. So it's got to be as light touch as possible but effective and they need to know that we are there and then I mentioned we've got Cctv to protect the grounds and the perimeters. Um, so for example on on the Cctv we we we watch around the perimeters if we see his suspicious caribine. Just imagine you've got someone there. He's stood looking at the house chatting away with his earbuds in on his telephone and he's got a newspay. But he hasn't turned a page for 20 minutes so that would tell me the house is being surveilled and he's a wrongdoer so we will actually organize someone to go and challenge that person with a question good morning. Sir do you have business in this area today. Don't one of 2 reactions and and that'll be well who are you mind you're on business and that probably tells me they're probably legitimate. But if someone says oh yes, sorry and moves on well. Why would you do that if you were minding your're own business. But by that time we've sent a message for that person. There is a very alert. Security team in that house find another target because we've got you and I think I mentioned you before when we talk Caroline Dog walkers we love walking dogs for clients because you pick up so much intelligence on what is happening in the in the neighborhood people always speak to the dog first.
04:48.76
Bob Morrison
And then they speak to the dog walk up hello. What's his name. How old is he what kind does he get it and and then you find old about intended to break in at number 2 or someone trying to steal a b and w off the drive at number 11 so dog walking it is great. Um.
05:05.37
Bob Morrison
So residential security. It really is a very specialist subject and as we say one size fits one one size does not fit all everyone is different. 1 size fits 1 then when our principals leave the house. Um, well you see on the news all the time there's in London. Still 1 of the safest cities to live in in the world but it's not as safe as it was 105 years all but it's still very safe but we see in the news all the time about the rolex Ripperss or the gadget gramers. Um, so my advice to people is if you've got a nice expensive watch put it in your pocket. When you're outside roll your sleeves up and let people see you're not wearing a watch you just removed. People aren't interested in you anymore you you're not drawing attention to yourself, put your watch on when you get Themi. We've got some clients who are high profile um such well not only high profile but some. Perhapss politically exposed persons for those people we will need visible security to send a message um to the criminal elements 95% of percent of what we do is low profile. We need to be invisible discreet. We need the standard distance away give them the privacy. Not a craft attention. We need to watch from a distance and and part of that law profile which I'll touch on later on is good. A good digital deception plan and good social media discipline to stop giving people the opportunity to work out your pattern of life.
06:38.42
carolinesclub
Um, me.
06:39.18
Bob Morrison
So yeah, in the Nutshell residential security and um Cp on the street. That's that's how we work and we walk dogs as well. Yes, yes.
06:42.52
carolinesclub
And you are also a professional dog walker as well would as as ah as ah, wealthy families also have the threat of kidnap generally speaking the head of the household is not the target. Because they need to remain on the outside to secure the ransom payment I accompanied a client's family on their private yacht in the south of France and witnessed a fierce row between the head of the household and his 19 year old daughter who wanted to be trusted to go out with friends without close protection. You say that your services are never a cold intrusion but that is not always how a teenager views. It tells me more about this experience and your experience.
07:27.75
Bob Morrison
Okay I agree 100% with what you've said when you're a teenager. It is not cool to have a bodyguard. In fact, it's very very uncool. It's a stingma um I do know cases whereby there's been several young people out each with their own bodygu and they'll play a game. Let's shake off your body god and then we'll meet doma there when and see who's first then who's last then shake off the body god which is not good. Ah I'll give you a story we it's four or 5 six years ago. La well before lockog we. 1 of our girls was looking after a middle eastern vbi ip a young girl who was studying here in London so our girl was the pp or the personal protection officer who was also the driver so there was our girl and the land brought sorry rain robber under principle now. 1 year she wanted to go to with the wonderundland with three of her cousins who were also vbips with their own ppos and range robbers. So the 4 red robbs pull up park up and the four young girls go to with the wonderland on their own which was deemed safe. After a couple of hours no sign of that cry that called them no answers on the telephone and after about 3 hours of panicked phone call. They'd been invitedd to a party in Brixton and the 4 of them were in Brixton. So our girl got from wind wonderland to Brixton probably brought the land speed record.
08:58.43
Bob Morrison
And got the 4 4 girls into the vehicle I believe there was a full and fra exchange of words and something had happened at the party where suddenly the girls became very uncomfortable and realized there were possibly endangered. Um no harm. At the end of the day. There was nothing malicious by the girls. It was just a little bit naive on their part. But after that the girls were very compliant but but we need to have a hard and minds exercise with anyone not just teenagers before we start a task I'll give you another? um. Example we it's a few years ago now though it's um, a girl with 5 of her friends going to greece on holiday for a week and they didn't want to take security but mom and dad said well you are taking security so we got 2 of our girls to look after them. Um. 1 ex-millary one x-blue light. Um and they sat with the girls and they said look first of all girls we are not here to spy on you for your parents because that's a big concert. We're not going to spy on you what happens in Greece stays in Greece. Which just want to make sure you get home safe will be near high by will not be in your head but there's a few rules we need to get together to stick together. So everybody comes home safe and has a great holiday and the girls poured into the idea and it worked to run like a swiss watch now at the end of it.
10:34.88
Bob Morrison
Girls actually said our 2 female Cpos A thank you card and then Mom who was our client sent us a message and I've actually got that message out so I can read it now I've I've deleted the names just for privacy a quick word to say the grease trip was a huge success and the girls had a wonderful time. 2 female cpos were so helpful and fun as the girls put it and at the same time they gave them plenty of space to explore and enjoy my daughter told me she slept much better knowing they were there and they were effective in keeping away all the crippy old men. So.
11:11.55
carolinesclub
Um, that's that's that's terrific story trick.
11:13.89
Bob Morrison
So when sorry and that's great. So when we started with an arms folded tight mouth. My mom says I have to be here and we finish up with that That was a result and sorry where you going. But.
11:27.00
carolinesclub
Yeah now I'm just going to move on. Um, having worked with many clients who have close protection I've noticed that there are extended periods when nothing happens 80% of your people are ex-military tell me a little bit about why you consider them such excellent.
11:41.90
Bob Morrison
But be.
11:44.22
carolinesclub
Excellent close protection operators and why doing nothing is a good thing.
11:50.73
Bob Morrison
Okay, the military personnel trend for war and there's a very old magic describing war um, adopted it slightly but the old luage Describes War as long periods of intense boredom punctuated by the occasional short burst of intense excitement.
12:07.98
Bob Morrison
And that is war and actually that is what cp is because you spend a lot of time sitting around and nothing happens I spent 22 years with the army reserve myself and I know how it is to spend days on end waiting for something to happen and then suddenly it all happens now without warning. So. There's a commonly. Used phrase in the military and it's called hurry of and wait and military ofre to hurry open wait which is why the great mc fee military trade personnel. they react quickly to emergencies and they react well they've been trained well to work on the pre. And they tend to be calm in a crisis and that's just what we're after now one of the first lessons that you learn when you join the military is the duties of a sentry and these skills are so important and security because when you start a shift you need to be briefed. It's the same as being on sentry duty in the army. What's happened in the last twelve hours what do you expect to happen in the next twelve hours I e the outline main events list. What are the perceived risks. Are there any visitors you who else is on duty where are they operating and how do I communicate with them so these are essential skills that military trained. People arrive with on day one and and it's these processes these procedures that make the security plan run smoothly. So from our point of view. It's great because someone else I e the armed forces have spent fortunes creating our stuff for us and the.
13:40.49
Bob Morrison
Are of course other factors many former military now got real war experience now you might have somebody who four or five years ago he was in Afghanistan in capacity and being moed by the taliban now he's walking the streets of London providing close protection that really is a walk in the park or um, he thinks he's won the lottery.
13:54.70
carolinesclub
Yeah, he's.
14:00.11
Bob Morrison
Um, you know we've got some great cpss who are not former military. We've got a japanese lady who we employed about eight years ago for a tasksk. She was the first non-military person because the brief was female japanese speaking now it's difficult to find one of those ex-military. So.
14:20.14
Bob Morrison
Got the girl. Um, she's absolutely magnificent So she's great. But as I say military people that tend to hit the ground running.
14:25.72
carolinesclub
Excellent. You've talked quite a bit about um the use of women in Coast protectors as close protection operators and you've mentioned a little bit about what they're good at maybe you can just give a short summary of of what else they they they do and why why you attract them.
14:44.93
Bob Morrison
Okay, there's lots of cultures that will not allow a man who isn't a family member close to a female family member. So female cpos are sometimes the only option for example with Middle Eastern female clients um
15:01.32
Bob Morrison
This actually turns their advantage because this is one of the few professions where women can actually earn more than men because of the supply and demand thing. There's some great girls on the surrogate who are in constant demand by by middle eastern impli and not one middle eastern family to visit London every year for Two weeks in June and then to go to parisrus for two more weeks and they normally employ a team of between 1420 girls to look after the family children. So the month of June is always a busy one for the girls and that particular family they look after the girls very well. So if you're a female force protection officer in London. Everybody wants that task. Um and and female clothes protection officers they are blending well when they're looking after the wives and the children of the businessman clients that can look like friends or families or nannies that don't look like cbos are bodyguards and.
15:38.31
carolinesclub
Um, ah, amazing.
15:55.57
Bob Morrison
And I know in this day and age yes men and women are supposed to be equal almost identical but in my opinion in my opinion I think women tend to be more caring and better with kids than men you you might need to put a disclaimer on that one. But.
16:06.26
carolinesclub
No I can't disagree with you all. However, moving on. We've all read stories about wealthy families with members addicted to alcohol or drugs. I know of families who despair about the addiction of their siblings parents or kids fearing that they'll get into bad company I was therefore interested to learn that your close protection offers often make excellent sober companions and you work with cognitive health companies. Help family members kick the habit tell me more about this very important service and how families deal with these concerns with your assistance Bob.
16:50.83
Bob Morrison
Um, okay, right? We we really areructuuring on a taboo subject here because this is a very real thing that and it is a taboo subject people don't like to talk about this but look people from all walks of life occasionally make bad lifestyle decisions. I suppose when you've got access to very large sums of money and you're not under pre to carve yourself a a career. It's potentially easier for these people to make a bad lifestyle decisions than other people. So we've worked with a small number of specialist cognitive health companies for around 7 eight years now helping them and helping their clients. Get back to this rate and narrow now. Whatever course of treatment the medical professionals prescribe exercise always features in there some way this might simply be walking or going to the gym or depending upon the client's needs. Could mean a whole lot more in the past we've taken people parachuting skiing swimming scuba diving. Whatever the doctor's order to help keep the client occupied and to help distract them from their addictions. So the companies we work for They don't want their clients sitting in a clinic. Staring at 4 bare walls doing cold turkey. That's not what they want now you'll get anyone who served in the military and they tend to keep themselves fit and they tend to do a lot of scortch anyway. So they make great sober companions because as well as being the the principal's gym buddy.
18:21.76
Bob Morrison
Can also share their experience in knowledge and Health decline encourage them in the sport and help them on the road to recovery. It keeps them motivated. It keeps the will and desire to succeed high because without the will and the desire to succeed these things don't work now.
18:38.51
carolinesclub
Ah.
18:41.32
Bob Morrison
Believe me if if you ask a former soldier to go walking with someone take them to the gym or occasionally do more exciting things such as skydiving that soldier that Cp or that they think they've won the lottery because they're getting paid to do things they normally do in the free time anyway and.
18:56.13
carolinesclub
And.
19:00.20
Bob Morrison
And the cognitive Health care companies. They tend to like it too because our our people are happy to use their initiative should the need Arise they or their clients are in a safe pair of hands with our guides.
19:09.16
carolinesclub
I must say Bob that if my doctor told me to jump out of a fully functioning plane I think I would I would resist that form of form of therapy or.
19:19.91
Bob Morrison
Possibly You need new doctor.
19:26.32
carolinesclub
Back a bit on your past you were commissioned at royal military academy sandhurst in 1985 and rose to major you served with both the parachute regiment which is why you like jumping out of planes and logistics. You've been trained in all security and defense matters including surveillance counter surveillance and night observation tell me Bob what attracted you to a military career and personal security.
19:55.26
Bob Morrison
Okay, just to clarify I served 22 years with the army reserve that was then known as the territorial army as opposed to the regular army. So I joined when I was 80 at that time I was ah I was actually in a presence with the national gold board. Working in the coal mines in Northumberland yes, really? so a'm modern sho I entirely sure why you're joined up to be honest, a thought mores an opportunity to do adventurous things such as parachuting rock climbing ups sailing shooting playing in helicopters and getting prayed at the same time.
20:11.64
carolinesclub
Um, dolly.
20:28.47
Bob Morrison
So I joined up I thought I'll give it a year or two I joined up in 77 and came on twenty two years later in 9099 and I did some great courses. 1 course was the stanno course which is surveillance target acquisition night observation and calva surveillance. Also did an Nbc training officers course at windborn gunner that is Nbc is nuclear biologic and unchemical because bear in mind during the seventy s eighty s and the early 90 s the perceived threat was the former Soviet Union where certainly nuclear and chemical warfare were real possibilities. Was also lucky enough to do a lot of the fun causes as well. Canoe in skiing mountain leader so to some extent it was almost like an adventurous traininging club for all the boys and girls that you got paid to attend um and then you mentioned sandto as well.
21:22.80
Bob Morrison
That's a funny old place because as leadership schools go Sandhurst is Ivy Believe no doubt you know when you're making plans decisions you're leading a team in adversity you're Cold. You're Wet. You're Tired. You're hungry and you're a bit fed up. It prepares your well for life and business. Did get a good graded scientist. But I don't think I really enjoyed it. Um, it did equip me lots of Priceless skill sets that served me well through my life. But as I say I was glad to leave I didn't hang about for a drink afterwards I just got in the car and left. Um I Remember one of my friends suggesting that if.
21:56.44
carolinesclub
There's.
22:00.90
Bob Morrison
Prisons were run along the same lines as samhurst. There would probably be a lot less reoffending and I tend to agree with that.
22:07.56
carolinesclub
That's very interesting, um, wealthy families like to travel whether for business or philanthropic endeavors Some of the places they need to visit are not safe as you well know. Tell me a little bit about what your team of close protection officers can do to keep your clients safe when traveling.
22:26.58
Bob Morrison
Okay, quite often family officerss appoint next gen to head up their philanthropy project. It's it's the in production into the family business if you wish. The the philanthropy the project might be the Oland New school in Africa or a well or a water pipe in thepal or some equally interesting project in the remote part of the world now in my experience people tend to be very very trusting when visiting these projects and often leave themselves exposed a couple of examples. First aid you might be 2 or three days away from a doctor or a hospital so you need to have a well- qualifiealified first ar with you and a well-equipped fit for purpose medpaet first aid kit a lot of people don't even think of this Ford hygiene is another people often just eat whatever food that presented with. Um, and they'll not question it often to be polite. But if the food presented 2 you doesn't be your normal hygiene standards. Why would you eat it so you need to carry your own food supply to use in this event and you can always be polite by saying that someone's got allergies or a special diet. If you presented something in that you you really don't want to eat and you know if people eat eat eat this in their part of the world all the time but our stomach not used with it. It couldn't wreak havoc um, you needt need emergency ah evacuation planets. It's the old adage again plan for the worse and bu for the best.
23:58.41
Bob Morrison
Need to have a plan to exfilcrate everyone in that event that something goes horribly wrong communications. You need to speak me a party your support on the ground you need um satphones so that you can speak to people in the Uk if you need help.
24:15.31
Bob Morrison
Vehicles you need someone with a knowledge of vehicles to ensure that the vehicles you're using are safe and fit for purpose and and so they can do simple repays if it goes wrong and something I mentioned earlier and this is a big one social media discipline people often live their lives on social media. So. Tells people do everything right? respecttively tell them where you've been not where you're going to. Yeah if you give information where Willy Milly criminals can establish where you're going to be or develop a pattern of life plan for you and that's that's a big breach of your personal security. So. On on a light on a welcome room personal security awareness courses for next gen who were about to move to a new part of the world the study or to travel let the world and the air out and again these are great fun because they often start with the tight mouth and the arms folded I'm here because my mom said I have to be here. But the finish on a high note because students are delighted. We teach them how to identify possible threats. How to avoid those possible threats and if worst comes to worst and they do find themselves in a bit of a pickle. How to best behave. Make sure not to come out of there with 1 scratch without a scratch story and and probably a good example of that is heaven forbid if ever anyone was to be kidnapped then we teach them to listen for proof of life questions because the kidnappers will tell them.
25:41.79
Bob Morrison
Nobody wants about you Nobody speaking your wordless and just to take control of them. But then when you pick up a question um did you have any pets when you were what was the name of your first pet and what was it and what color was it. This is a proof of life question people undergo and you should take encouragement from that people are negotiating your release. Because they want proof of life because only you know your first pet. What color it was and what kind of dog It was so and we do that We've learned how to do that without scaring the living daylight. Ah it is quite important to feel.
26:14.98
carolinesclub
Yeah, it sounds to me Bob as if you have found the exactly the right career for you and you've thoroughly enjoyed it.
26:24.57
Bob Morrison
Um I do and I Absolutely love it. It's great, fun and I don't come to work I have fun every day.
26:29.28
carolinesclub
Yeah I can see that's I can hear it in your voice I'm really pleased that you you've able been able to join me on how to keep your money your side of the private client industry reminds us why wealthy families want a low profile to blend in with the crowd and avoid trackting thieves con men. And cooks. However not everyone can keep a low profile, especially if they are politically exposed have enemies or are celebrities Bob's sec tech business is now recognized as a 5 star security service for high net worth families. Well done Bob congratulations.
27:03.98
Bob Morrison
Thank you, Thank you? okay.
27:07.12
carolinesclub
If any of our listeners would like to know more about Caroline's club where networking works please visit our website or get in touch with us by email or phone also make sure you are registered for our weekly newsletter to hear more professional podcasts from other leading private client professionals. Thank you very much Bob for joining me today.
27:26.60
Bob Morrison
Thank you Caroline.
