It is clear that the current economic climate is a real challenge for the security industry, writes Security Industry Authority, Director of Compliance, Intelligence and Communication, Dave Humphries, exclusively for Infologue.com; that is why the SIA has been working hard to deliver a better service to customers and striving to drive down costs where possible. As part of this commitment, from 1 January 2012 individual licences for all sectors will be reduced from £245 to £220. Annual charges to businesses for membership of the Approved Contractor Scheme will also be reduced from £17 to ...

Not one to mince his words Infologue.com columnist Chris Cully provides his somewhat forthright views on the recent developments in Brussels for our readers: The splendid headline emblazoned on the front of my Saturday's Telegraph and an absolute statement of fact has fired me into action to write a quick political commentary. Whilst this is not high tone political commentary it is most definitely a bold and determined shout from the trenches. In reading the Telegraph's front page, I was immediately drawn back in history and saw the striking similarity between Mr. Cameron's position to ...

This month has included a ministerial visit, meetings around the country with ACS companies and licensed individuals, and celebrating significant anniversaries with two of our stakeholders. At the end of October our Minister, Lynne Featherstone, visited the SIA office for the first time. The Minister was given a whistle-stop tour of SIA operations as she spoke with representatives from the Customer Service, Licensing, Intelligence, Compliance and Investigation, and ACS teams. She then attended our Board's Performance and Finance Committee to discuss the SIA's current performance and futur...

Bill Freear, the MD for Pilgrims Group Ltd in his second column for Infologue.com, asks: “Manned Guarding Supplier or Risk Management Company for 2012?” Most clients are looking for innovative ways in which to reduce their manned guarding and security costs but at the same time avoid increasing the risks to their business. The choices of manned guarding providers are numerous - so how do you determine which are quality and which are not?After all even when you visit reference sites these are the best sites the providers have and perhaps not representative of their normal offering! W...

As incidents of violence continue against couriers of cash and valuables, the cash in transit (CIT) industry is moving towards the adoption of robust body armour to provide physical protection against violent attacks writes Kevin O’Connor, Risk Director of  G4S Cash Solutions exclusively for Infologue.com. G4S knows that the investment in this technology is proving its worth. Just this year we saw a case in London where the body armour worn by a crewman prevented a potentially fatal attack. Two individuals threatened the crew member with a gun and screwdriver before repeatedly attem...

Bob Forsyth, the Managing Director of MITIE Total Security Management (TSM) introduces his third blog on Infologue.com by asking if Cyber security – is out of sight really out of mind? Bob writes; Cyber security poses a growing and significant risk to the UK’s security and economy and its inclusion on the government’s national risk register highlights the significance. Generally cyber security budgets are increasing while physical security budgets are being reduced which suggests organisations face an emerging threat. The threat to the UK comes from other states, terrorists and crimin...

Thank you to Steve McCormick for providing the September blog whilst I was away on leave. I trust you found it useful to hear about the work Steve and his team have been doing in Licensing, Customer Services and the ACS.I have attended a number of meetings this month, mainly to talk about the proposed changes to the regime and how we can take account of the wide range of views from the industry and the many individuals that we license.I travelled to Rugby to talk with a group from the cash and valuables in transit group, organised by Skills for Security. The main topic was the prop...

Chris Cully, the Managing Director of risk & security management company, Dilitas gives his take on the Mets follow up action post the recent UK riots. Chris writes, “I bring your attention to Operation Withern, the operational name for the Met’s investigation of offences that occurred during and after the riots in August 2011. To paraphrase John 4:23, “Cometh the hour, cometh the man”. So, onto the stage of Operation Withern strides Detective Chief Superintendent (DCS) Chris Greany. (The Dilitas staff have suggested that from hereon the article should be read to the strains ...

Bob Forsyth, the Managing Director of MITIE Total Security Management (TSM) introduces his second blog on Infologue.com by looking at the much maligned phrase “adding value” Bob asks; “Adding value is phrase that we hear, and use so often these days, but what does it really mean?” “For me adding value is a way of bringing something to clients that is meaningful to them as each client’s interpretation of value is different. Value is not only about cost savings but about increasing effectiveness of the services we provide and essentially doing more for the same. There are several ...

SMT Online – Infologue.com Web Exclusive Yesterday’s Security Industry Authority ‘Commitment To Regulation’ Conference was energised by a scene-setting Keynote Speech courtesy of the Regulator’s chairman, Baroness Ruth Henig. Brian Sims and Bobby Logue report. The Security Industry Authority’s (SIA) second Stakeholder Conference of 2011 – held at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel in Sheffield – was eagerly anticipated by the 150 delegates who’d arrived from all points of the compass to learn of the latest developments in the ‘transition to a new regulatory regime’. The m...