Leadership has always been an important part of tackling police corruption and the service has worked hard to identify threats and put preventive measures in place ACPO lead on professional standards Chief Constable Mike Cunningham said: “The police service is a highly accountable organisation which must be responsive and trusted by the public. With a dedicated team to investigate allegations of corruption in each force, we have one of the least corrupt police services in the world. This review bears out research from other bodies such as Transparency International who found no evidence of...

Twenty two areas in London, Liverpool, Manchester and the West Midlands are to receive funding and support to tackle gang and youth violence, the Home Secretary announced today. The Ending Gang and Youth Violence Report, published on 1 November 2011, set out how £10 million of Home Office funding would be used to support up to 30 areas. Money is being targeted at an initial twenty-two specific areas which, as well as cash injections, will receive support and advice from the newly established Ending Gang and Youth Violence Team. Team of experts The team, consisting of expert advisers f...

A major study of the UK security sector has been announced today. It is supported by the UK’s leading security associations and is being undertaken by researchers at Perpetuity. Those working in the security sector are being invited to complete an on-line questionnaire, that addresses the state of the security sector and specifically the potential impact of both changes to regulation and the recession. Three groups are being invited to compete the survey, they are: 1. Directors and Managers of a company providing security goods and/or services 2. Buyers of security goods and/or services ...

The Security Industry Authority is reducing its charges to individuals and businesses from next month as part of its commitment to driving down costs. From 1st January 2012 Individual licences for all sectors will be reduced from £245 to £220. The reduction applies to both new applicants and those renewing existing licences. Licence holders applying for a discounted second licence after this date will pay 50% of the new reduced fee. Annual charges to businesses for membership of the Approved Contractor Scheme will also be reduced from £17 to £15 per employee. Current fee levels have bee...

Closer Police and industry partnership to fight business crime and deliver effective Olympic security were some of the themes that delegates were treated to at the inaugural Business Crime Conference held in Surrey on the 30th of November. The event, organised by the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) in partnership with Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Kent and Thames Valley Police forces, and in conjunction with the Federation of Small Businesses, aimed at providing advice and guidance to key decision-makers from a range of industries and business sectors, including local authoritie...

Christmas shoppers looking for a bargain should be wary of counterfeit goods which flood the market in the run-up to the festive season, the UK Border Agency warned today. Fake UGG Boots, GHD hair straighteners, iPhones and iPads are among the tens of thousands of counterfeit items that have been seized by officers as they have been brought into the country in recent months. Grant Miller, UK Border Agency's Heathrow International Trade Division said: 'Buyers can be left with products which are at best, inferior to genuine ones and, at worst, harmful or unsafe. 'We are uncovering all sort...

More than 200 security staff, CCTV operatives and door supervisors were inspected during a large-scale operation across West Yorkshire on Thursday [01 Dec]. Operation Regent was conducted by Security Industry Authority investigators and saw teams deployed to 107 security sites in Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Huddersfield, Halifax, Pontefract and Castleford. The aim of the operation was to test compliance amongst those working in the private security industry. During daytime checks, investigators visited shopping centres, hospitals, museums, industrial parks, art galleries, supermarkets, co...

A cross government strategy to provide better protection and support for missing people and their families was unveiled by Crime and Security Minister James Brokenshire today. Every year an estimated 200,000 people go missing in the UK. The vast majority are vulnerable and need protection and support. As well as the children and adults who go missing, hundreds of thousands of relatives and families are affected and in the worst cases, families can be left for years wondering what has happened to loved ones. Today's missing children and adults strategy outlines the roles and responsibil...

More victims and witnesses are benefiting from swift and effective court hearings and valuable police hours are being saved thanks to the expansion of virtual courts and live links technology. Justice Ministers Nick Herbert and Jonathan Djanogly witnessed first hand, the video-technology in action when they visited a police station in North Kent and a virtual court in Chester today. Virtual courts allow a defendant, charged in a police station, to have their first hearing held over secure video link from the magistrates’ court. This can happen within hours of being charged and if the defen...

A new national metal theft taskforce is to be set up following a £5million boost from the Treasury. As part of our committment to tackle crime, the Home Office recognises metal theft as a serious problem, and is working with other departments and law enforcement on co-ordinated action to tackle it. The new multi-agency taskforce, led by the British Transport Police, will target both metal thieves and scrap metal dealers who trade in stolen goods and fuel the demand. Disrupt criminal networks The taskforce will develop intelligence, coordinate activity and target and disrupt criminal n...