With the most recent British Crime Survey suggesting a 14% increase in burglary at homes across England and Wales in 2010-11 , the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has issued its top tips for home security. With the summer holidays fast approaching, many people across the country will be looking forward to getting away from it all, leaving their everyday lives behind and escaping to sunnier climes for a couple of weeks. However, leaving a property empty for any length of time exposes property and possessions to risk from opportunistic burglary, a risk that can be effectively minim...

An east London training centre has had its approval to provide security qualifications withdrawn following a multi-agency investigation. Officers from the Metropolitan Police, the Security Industry Authority and awarding body Edexcel visited the head office of Hamptons Training Ltd in Forest Gate on Thursday [14 July] following allegations of malpractice. Operation Grampian was launched after the SIA received intelligence about widespread training malpractice at the centre. Edexcel carried out forensic analysis of test papers, which revealed evidence that papers were being fraudulently compl...

The Home Office and the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) are jointly advertising for a new commissioner of police of the Metropolis. The job advertisement can be viewed on the Police Professional website and has also been published on the Association of Chief Police Officers website and Metropolitan Police Authority website. The appointment will be made by Her Majesty the Queen following a recommendation by the Home Secretary. Before making this recommendation the Home Secretary will take into account any recommendation made to her by the MPA and any representations from the Mayor of Lon...

The crime and security minister James Brokenshire has today commented on a report which looks at how police forces are preparing to make financial savings. The report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) found that police authorities and forces have made a good start in developing plans for the next four years. You can read the findings on the HMIC website. Resources not numbers 'Every force should be driving through efficiencies, rooting out wasteful spending and cutting crime,' said Mr Brokenshire 'The effectiveness of a police force depends not on its total numbers,...

Engineers at the University of Leicester have for the first time created a way of measuring how much force is used during a stabbing using a broken bottle. The advance is expected to have significant implications for legal forensics. A team from the University has conducted a systematic study of the force applied during a stabbing and come up with the first set of penetration force data for broken glass bottles. This work has been published in the International Journal of Legal Medicine. Stabbing is the most common method of committing murder in the UK. Injuries and assaults related to alco...

The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has welcomed the publication of a study into employee motivation in the security guarding sector, which has informed a useful new guide for security managers and supervisors. Entitled ‘Motivation within the Security Sector’, the guide provides practical advice on methods of assessing motivation within the guard force, including a short validated questionnaire, and useful guidance on how to address any issues identified. Commissioned by the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure, the guidance was developed by Booz & Compan...

The Home Secretary has expressed her gratitude for the work of Sir Paul Stephenson and John Yates. The comments were made in an oral statement to the House of Commons about the Metropolitan Police Service. The Home Secretary said: 'The important work of the Met - its national responsibilities like counter-terrorism operations as well as policing our capital city – must and will continue.' She confirmed that Sir Paul will be replaced by Tim Goodwin who will become Acting Commissioner, Bernard Hogan-Howe will take on the responsibilities of Deputy Commissioner on a temporary basis and tha...

Two leading lights from the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) have been recognised with prestigious industry awards for their ongoing commitment and outstanding contribution to the security industry. At the Association’s Annual Luncheon, held last week at the London Hilton on Park Lane, the BSIA’s Project Director – 2012, David Evans, was presented with the Infologue.com Building the Future award, a joint initiative between leading industry publications SMT Online and Infologue.com. David was chosen for this prestigious award in recognition of his work on the Bridging the Gap...

“Thanks to the work done by the SIA and the industry through the Security Alliance, the phased transition of the SIA to a new regulatory regime is progressing well. It is encouraging to know that the industry is in such competent and capable hands.”  Lynne Featherstone, the parliamentary under-secretary of state for equalities and criminal information told the audience, at the prestigious BSIA lunch and awards ceremony, on Wednesday this week, writes Infologue’s Bobby Logue. Lynne Featherstone spoke of how encouraged the Government was by the increasing maturity and professionalism...

“Over the past year, the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has worked hard to engage with the Coalition Government to ensure that our industry remains adequately represented through a period of substantial legislative and regulatory change. It is pleasing to see these new relationships begin to flourish as we move towards a new era of industry regulation,” said the British Security Industry Association Chairman July Kenny, when addressing the BSIA annual lunch, on Wednesday, at the London Hilton Hotel, writes Infologue.com's Bobby Logue. Active Engagement with Government Ke...