Peter Webster, chief executive of Corps Security, a regular Infologue.com blogger, looks at business licensing. He writes: “My thoughts and opinions are intended to generate debate and whether you agree or disagree with them, you’re welcome to post your comments below.” "Around a year ago I wrote a blog outlining my concerns about the phased transition to a business-licensing regime that will run alongside a new individual licensing process. My view then was as it is now and I still believe that this will simply mean swapping a scheme that adds value for one that has none whatsoever...

Infologue.com Workplace contributor and labour lawyer of Beers Solicitors, Paul Housego discusses changes to Holiday Pay and Overtime as a result of an Employment Appeal Tribunal, in his latest article. Paul writes: "The Employment Appeal Tribunal has turned the world of holiday pay upside down in a case called Bear Scotland v Fulton (and others). It has though, not made everything clear. "In 2003 a Court of Appeal case called Bamsey decided that a week's holiday pay was to be worked out by using the statutory provision setting out what a week's pay was. That provision expressly exclud...

In his latest blog for Infologue.com, Chris Cully, Managing Director for Dilitas Ltd discusses policing targets. Chris writes: "If we travel back in time to the 1970’s and first half of the 1980’s The Met Police deployed officers in uniform onto the streets to patrol their beats and engage with their parishioners’. Their roles were wide and varied, but their primary role was the prevention of crime then next, the detection and arrest of offenders: a la Sir Richard Mayne 1829. "Officers were quite happy to report motorist for traffic offences and would arrest criminals without a seco...

Jason Towse recently visited New York to speak at the Terror Information New York Group conference on behalf of Mitie's Total Security Management business and has also spoken at the Group’s London conference held in Canary Wharf. In this blog he discusses the ISIL threat at street level, differences in the security sectors and the importance of learning from each other’s best practice. "September and October were extremely busy times for me given the growth and continued business changes. I was delighted to represent the business at the TINYg conference in New York, which is a terrori...

Doug Hewitson, the Managing Director of G4S Secure Solutions (UK) discusses first impressions and customer service. Doug writes: "It’s often said that you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Indeed, far too many companies discover this to their cost, when the wrong customer experience damages their reputation and their profits. In light of this, companies with front-line staff of some description will almost certainly be investing in customer service training to ensure they know exactly what is expected of them and can ensure customers are treated in the way they expect....

In his latest blog for Infologue.com, Stuart Lodge, Chief Executive of Lodge Service, discusses securing exports. Stuart writes: "The UK has gained a strong reputation internationally for our security expertise. The Government lists a number of reasons for this including: “our agencies and police are amongst the best in the world; our strategies for tackling terrorism and crime are well regarded.” "In February 2014 the Home Secretary launched the first Government  Security Exports Strategy. This latest initiative recognises that “achieving a significant increase in security exports...

In his latest blog for Infologue.com, Chris Cully, Managing Director for Dilitas Ltd discusses risk, trust and restraint. Chris writes: "During the last month, we have seen the police across the world engaged in a variety of extremes. In London, the Met has conducted the largest search since the atrocities of 7/7 for missing Alice Gross and sadly found her body. "At the other extreme, in the City of Fergusson, Missouri, police had to manage days of rioting, after a police officer fatally shot Michael Brown, an 18-year-old male. "Either way the police will always find themselves in the m...

With European Health and safety week taking place in October, Director of Manpower and Membership Services, Trevor Elliott, discusses the British Security Industry Association’s (BSIA) strong commitment to promoting the importance of health and safety, both relating to security personnel and to our industry’s valued customers. "Health and safety of front line workers has been thrown into the forefront of public discussion recently, with a report [1] from the Greater London Authority Conservatives (GLAC) indicating that a chilling sixty-six thousand frontline workers have been punched, ...

Doug Hewitson, the Managing Director of G4S Secure Solutions (UK) discusses incorporating technology. Doug writes: "With the number of recent advances in the field of security technology, it’s an incredibly exciting time for the industry as a whole. New platforms and tools are allowing security officers to operate in a more efficient manner, automating such routine duties as logging patrols, reporting incidents and collating data into an actionable form. By automating tasks of this nature, security officers will be able to broaden the range of services they can offer clients, delivering ...

Jason Towse, Managing Director, people services, Mitie’s total security management business discusses workplace violence. Jason writes: "Each year in the UK, an average of 323,000 workers experience work-related violence including threats and physical assault against them. This shocking figure represents 1.6% of the total UK workforce and has done so for the last four years. This is not pretty reading, especially when there have been 649,000 reported incidents, suggesting that some workers are the target of more than one incident. "Employees at most risk work are within the protective ser...