Home Secretary Theresa May has confirmed this afternoon that following allegations over the weekend there will be an immediate and thorough investigation into the UK Border Force. In an oral statement to Parliament, she said: 'Border security is fundamental to our national security and to our policy of reducing and controlling immigration. ‘The pilots run by the UK Border Force this summer were designed to improve border security, by focusing resources at passengers and journeys that intelligence led officers to believe posed the greatest risk. ‘The vast majority of those offic...

The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has now arrested more than 3,000 people in connection with the disorder across London in August. Three months on, a total of 3003 people have been arrested of which 1931 have resulted in charges or cautions. As officers from Operation Withern, the investigation into the crimes during disorder, continue to arrest people every day cases are going through the courts and offenders are being convicted. Today, Monday 7 November the MPS has released a further 71 pictures of those jailed for crimes during the disorder that took place in August, with sentences t...

With less than nine months to go until the UK celebrates several high-profile events including the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, time is fast running out for visiting VIPs and visiting dignitaries to secure Close Protection for their visit to the UK. As many thousands of individuals prepare for their arrival in London, the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) is expecting significant demand for close protection services, and has launched a campaign to advise VIPs to act now to secure a reputable service provider. Mike O’Neill, newly-e...

The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has just launched a free guide to assist the utilities sector in the use of access control systems. The guide explains how access control systems can better improve the protection of sites such as water, oil and nuclear plants as well as administrative or production offices within the sector. It also provides case studies to exemplify the work of BSIA members with utilities companies, and brings attention to any legislation that should be considered when employing the technology. Mike Sussman, Chairman of the BSIA’s Access Control Sec...

Today the government sets out the start of crucial work to tackle gang and youth violence through prevention and tough punishment. Young people at risk of being drawn into gangs and violence will be targeted at every stage of their lives – from toddlers to teenagers – in a comprehensive approach aimed at preventing the next generation of gang members. Those who refuse help will be met by the full force of strengthened laws to protect local communities from crime and disorder. The five key principles underpinning the cross-government strategy are: Prevention; Pathways out of crim...

Ten thousand wanted criminals have been arrested at the border as a result of e-Borders, an advance passenger screening programme. e-Borders is a system by which air carriers and operators of vessels submit passenger and crew details electronically prior to travel from and to the UK. There are now an average of 52 arrests per week at ports and airports across the country for a range of crimes, immigration and customs offences as a result of the screening system which was introduced in 2005. 381 million passengers have been processed through the system since 2005, which has resulted in over ...

The clocks going back on Sunday marked the start of the burglar’s favourite time of the year - the winter season. Prolonged hours of darkness provide the perfect conditions for opportunistic crime. The British Security Industry Association (BSIA), the trade association for the professional security industry in the UK, therefore urges homeowners and businesses to stay safe this winter, by adopting simple and easy to implement precautions. “Throughout the years we have definitely seen an increase in opportunistic crime during the winter season, largely due to the darker nights and propertie...

The director and operations manager of a Luton-based security firm have been ordered to pay more than £8400 after pleading guilty to supplying an unlicensed security guard, providing false information and failing to provide information to the SIA. Ahmad Jaber was the director of AJ Security Consultancy Limited and Charles White was its operations manager. The company, based in Old Bedford Road, Luton, supplied guards to sites in the Luton area and in London. Both men were investigated by the Security Industry Authority following an operation in December 2010, during which a man was detected...

Forces across Britain will be coming together on Friday 28 October to crack down on the increasing problem of thieves targeting metal and cable as part of a co-ordinated operation by the Association of Chief Police Officers Police are targeting metal thieves as part of an operation co-ordinated by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Forces across Britain will be coming together on Friday 28 October to crack down on the increasing problem of thieves targeting metal and cable. Metal thieves have caused misery for countless thousands of people across the country, whether through st...

More than 380,000 athletes, officials, workers and media who require access to Olympic and Paralympic venues in the summer of 2012 will be accredited. As part of this process they will undergo immigration, criminal record and security checks to help ensure the safety and the security of the Games. The Home Office is carrying out these checks on behalf of The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG). Once the background checks have been carried out the Home Office will recommend to LOCOG that an accreditation should be refused to any individual it believes may p...