MAN Commercial Protection is proud to announce that Transport Safety Officer Mohammed Naqshbandi has been recognised as a winner at the prestigious ACS Pacesetters Security Officer of Distinction Awards 2026.
Mohammed, who works for our client Transport for West Midlands, received the award following an extraordinary off-duty incident in which he demonstrated exceptional courage, professionalism and instinctive judgement in the face of danger.
While arriving early for work, Mohammed witnessed a violent burglary taking place at a barber shop near Summer Lane. Despite being off duty and without personal protective equipment, he acted immediately to prevent further harm by pursuing and detaining one of the suspects before seeking assistance from on-duty security personnel.
During the confrontation, the suspect threatened Mohammed with what appeared to be a bladed weapon. Mohammed made the proportionate decision to release the individual, prioritising safety while maintaining remarkable composure under pressure.
Following the incident, Mohammed continued to support West Midlands Police by providing vital mobile phone footage, CCTV evidence and a full witness statement to assist the investigation.
His actions went far beyond what could ever be expected and are a true reflection of the values upheld across MAN Commercial Protection and the Transport Safety Officer partnership.
Laura McCarthy, People & Communications Director at MAN Commercial Protection, who submitted the award nomination, said:
“Mohammed demonstrated outstanding courage, restraint and professionalism in an incredibly dangerous situation. His actions reflected immense credit on himself, MAN Commercial Protection and the Transport Safety Officer service as a whole. We are incredibly proud to see him recognised with this award.”
Michael Sandland, Operations Manager – Transport Safety Officers at Transport for West Midlands, added:
“Mohammed Naqshbandi’s actions were brave, selfless and instinctively professional. At a moment when many would have chosen to walk away, he acted in the interests of public safety while exercising sound judgement when faced with a lethal threat. He is a truly deserving recipient of this recognition.”
Mohammed attended the awards ceremony in Windsor alongside MAN Commercial Protection CEO Iain McCallister, Contract Director Greg Smith and colleagues from across the business, where he received his trophy from Michelle Russell.
The event brought together security professionals from across the industry to celebrate outstanding service and achievements within the private security sector.
MAN Commercial Protection would also like to thank Lynda Moore MSyI RISC and the ACS Pacesetters team for hosting a fantastic event and recognising the exceptional work carried out every day by frontline security professionals.
