A COUPLE from Rhyl are celebrating winning a prize at the 2024 Security Institute Awards.

Daniel and Jacqueline Pike won the “security innovation or product of the year award” for their training programme, Dynamic Threat, Risk Assessment and Security (DTRAS): Early Years Education.

Daniel worked for Merseyside Police for a couple of years, but after moving to Rhyl, decided to start a career in the security industry in 2011.

He was also a nominee in this year’s “outstanding contribution to security” category.

He said: “What has made this recognition even more special is the fact that it stemmed from something deeply personal to us; our daughter's serious accident at a nursery.

“That incident set us on a journey of research into child injuries and fatalities within early years settings, which eventually led us to look into security practices in these environments.

“We identified some concerning gaps that clearly needed addressing, and DTRAS was born as a result. We are thrilled that DTRAS has garnered such attention.

“Currently, one of the UKs largest early years education providers is considering rolling the training out which is a fantastic opportunity to expand its impact.

“The purpose of DTRAS is to raise awareness among early years professionals about how to assess and mitigate threats and risks within their settings, focusing on health, safety, and security.

“While serious incidents in early years settings are rare, Jacqueline and I believe that there should always be a culture of preparedness, with robust policies and procedures in place to respond effectively when necessary.”

Daniel, who has won multiple previous awards in his field of expertise, branched out with the release of his debut novel, The Cannibal Brothers, earlier this year.

In the past 13 years, he has worked in many sectors within the industry including close protection, risk and consultancy, and eventually worked his way up to regional manager, overseeing 70 staff and working with 45 customers.

He is also currently pursuing a research proposal towards a PhD in international relations, focusing on security within early years settings.

Daniel added: “Jacqueline, with her extensive background in early years education, has been instrumental in DTRAS.

“She has over a decade of experience working with international chains and managing multiple settings, often turning around underperforming ones.

“Her passion for child education, safety and security has laid the foundation for DTRAS, and her knowledge has been invaluable in shaping its roll out.

“Both Jacqueline and I believe that awards are not just personal accolades, but a recognition of the dedication and hard work that so many  professionals put into improving standards within their industries.”