Peter Webster, chief executive of Corps Security, a regular Infologue.com blogger, looks at the living wage. He writes: "The level of wage rates in the Manned Guarding sector has been a significant cause of concern for many years. The advent of TUPE has prevented wages going backwards at a contract change but it has done nothing to help improve many wage rates. "It is not uncommon in the South East to see many examples of customers insisting on wage levels of £10.00 per hour plus. However we still see far more examples of security officers receiving the National Minimum Wage (NMW), espec...

Lynda Moore, a Partner in the Consultancy, FM Contract Watch writes for Infologue.com about improving the perception of security services. Lynda writes: "The role of the Regional Contract Manager is almost certainly the most difficult job in contract security and it is not surprising that the ‘burn out rate’ of Regional Contract Managers, most probably, has the worst record in the security industry. "We should really not be surprised at this statistic, because if we closely examine the role of the Regional Contract Manager for a security company then it is often quickly established th...

In his latest blog for Infologue.com, David Ward, Managing Director at Ward Security, discusses lone wolf attacks. David Writes: "Terrorism has always been with us and no doubt always will. Regardless of the specific motives, the act of creating carnage as a means of resistance, protest or purely for personal reasons is an evil we can never hope to eradicate. Our only option is to understand its evolution and to evolve our detection methods and defences accordingly. "The modern terrorist has evolved to take advantage of the modern world. They do their research online, pick their targets w...

Sarah Smith, ‎Head of Quality, Health, Safety and Environment at MITIE Total Security Management discusses what makes QHSE "good". Sarah writes: "QHSE (Quality, Health, Safety, and Environment) is a hot topic at Mitie; the safety and welfare of our people is paramount and it is an area where we believe in going above and beyond. As Total Security Management’s head of QHSE, I am passionate about how these areas can enable a business to operate with the right culture and the right processes. "I find health and safety to be a very emotive subject, with varying opinions around its busin...

In his latest blog for Infologue.com, Stuart Lodge, Chief Executive of Lodge Service, discusses standards and pricing. Stuart writes: "You get what you pay for – it is a truism that the suppliers and users in the security industry cannot get away from however much they try. "For as long as ‘price’ is regarded as the prime, or even the only criterion for assessing competing security service providers, overall standards will continue to flat line, certainly in the absence of any legislation or mandatory standards by the SIA. This seems as far away as ever. "Obsessive price-fixation ...

Peter Webster, chief executive of Corps Security, a regular Infologue.com blogger, looks at drones and their usage. He writes: "The must-have Christmas present last year – particularly for boys both big and small – was a drone or unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). While to the uninitiated they might just appear to be a variation on the traditional remote control helicopter, sales of recreational drones are going through the roof with the basic flying craft costing around £50, right up to the sophisticated long range HD video streaming ones costing several thousand pounds. These machines ca...

In his latest blog for Infologue.com, Chris Cully, Managing Director for Dilitas Ltd discusses the use of tasers. Chris writes: "The Taser now forms an almost standard part of equipment for firearms officers in UK Police forces/service. "The Taser is a CEW or Conducted Electrical Weapon, which fires two dart like electrodes into the target whilst remaining connected to the main unit by conductors. The operator holds the main unit. The Taser delivers an electric current, which causes “neuro muscular incapacitation” that means the body looses voluntary control of its muscles. "When a ...

David Dickinson, former British Security Industry Association Chief Executive, who led the security industry through the crucial regulatory transition phase from 2002 to 2006, writes his second column for Infologue.com and gives a personal view of the two annual reports and accounts from the SIA. David writes: "The headline begs the first (and only real) question about these reports – why two at once and why so late in the reporting cycle? The answer is clear from the joint statement by the Chair and the Chief Executive in the 2102/2013 Report. They say “We apologise for the late publi...

Lynda Moore, a Partner in the Consultancy, FM Contract Watch writes for Infologue.com on improving the perception of security services. Lynda writes: "Experience has shown us that the reasons for a performance failure on site lie somewhere between an overstretched contract management and a number of the team, being regularly transferred over by TUPE, not being up to the required standard. The problem regarding the ability or otherwise of the contract management team being able to successfully handle 20 or more contracts will be the subject of a separate article, but the punitive effects of ...

John Davies, Managing Director at TDSi discusses Exporting UK Technology to China. "In terms of the trade deficit, the UK will always struggle to tip the balance in its favour with China. With well over 1.3 Billion people (a staggering 19% of the world’s population) any nation would be hard pushed to successfully tap the full opportunities of such a vast potential market. However, the answer for many companies looking to export to China is to find the perfect niche and to build towards a commanding market share "China deservedly has a reputation for being one of the key manufacturing c...