INTERNATIONAL security expert Noel Whelan has seen some of the most dangerous places on Earth.

Now he has teamed up with a Huddersfield firm to offer training to businesses to help combat the threat of violent crime.

He has joined forces with Cam Security, of Meltham, to provide courses in keeping peace in pubs and preventing armed robberies.

He said: “Our job in the security industry is no longer about providing a thug to work on your door. It’s about educating people, about the psychology of crime.

“You have to learn to think like a criminal.

“I have been around the world and seen massive crime trends.

“Now we’re seeing the same thing filtering into Western Europe.

“Organised crime and armed robbery are on the increase.

“We provide training for businesses and individuals, looking at case histories and the key factors, such as who’s involved, where, when and how they work.’’

Mr Whelan, originally from Dublin, started a lifelong fascination with crime and security when he was pistol-whipped during an armed raid when he was only nine years old.

Since then he has devoted his life to understanding how criminals work and working out how to stop them.

“I spent the rest of my life studying crime and criminal behaviour,” he said.

“I have been all over the world, Russia, South America, the Baltic states, Asia and Africa.

“I have met some of the most dangerous people in the world.

“I started pulling various strands together and realising trends.

“The police do a fantastic job, but in the same way you don’t call the ambulance unless someone’s injured and you don’t call the fire brigade unless there’s a fire, you don’t call the police unless there’s already a problem.

“We are talking about prevention rather than cure.”

Mr Whelan, a former member of the Irish Defence forces, recently gave up a full-time post as lecturer in security management and risk management at Park Lane College in Leeds to launch his own company, The Whelan Corporation.

He has trained bodyguards for VIPs, Swat teams in the USA, armed forces, police and corporate security personnel.

He hopes to run a degree course in national security, possibly at Huddersfield University.

Cam Security, on Station Street, was founded in 2000.

It provides security staff for businesses and events.

The company, which has about 70 security staff on its books, was responsible for providing security at last month’s Afterparty event at Bates Mill Warehouse in Huddersfield, featuring Groove Armada.

Managing director Richard Camenzuli, who has been in the industry for the last 20 years, said: “The security business has changed a lot.

“There used to be so many criminals working in the industry, but now Government regulations and licensing are a lot tighter.

“It’s a lot more sophisticated.”

Mr Whelan said businesses would have to ‘wise up’ because of current economic conditions.

He added: “With the economic downturn you can guarantee that the crime rate will go through the roof.

“As the credit crunch tightens people still have to feed their families and there are some very desperate people out there.

“Security is everyone’s business.”

For more information visit www.whelancorp.org