Geoff Zeidler, the busy Securitas UK Managing Director has been approved by the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) as their Vice Chairman, writes Infologue.com’s Bobby Logue. Zeidler’s influence in the industry rose significantly as a result of the rapid fire acquisitions of the business of Reliance in September 2010 and Chubb Security Personnel in the first quarter of 2011. Securitas who have an estimated annual turnover in the UK of £385 million are now the UK’s second largest security company in the UK licensable security sector. Securitas UK, part of the £...

“In my opinion yesterday’s British Security Industry Association’s (BSIA) annual lunch at the London Hilton, wasn't about the networking opportunities, the speeches nor the quality of the lunch, all of which were great. It was about the recognition of the tireless dedication and bravery demonstrated by the security industry's finest. It is the actions of these individuals and teams that demonstrates how great our industry is”, writes Infologue,com Editor Bobby Logue. “As a national judge of the BSIA’s National Personnel Awards it is an honour to read in detail examples of the rea...

The 2011 Infologue.com ‘Building the Future’ Award winner is David Evans, the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) Project Director-2012, and is responsible for focusing the work of the trade association for the 2012 Olympic Games. David Evans has received the award firstly for his work on the origination of the LOCOG Bridging the Gap initiative which will result the infusion of young students into a career in the private security industry and secondly for the promotion of the private security industry to the 2012 Olympic Games stakeholders, including the UK Government. David Evan...

The Home Office today published the third published version of the United Kingdom’s counter-terrorism strategy, known as CONTEST. The new strategy reflects the changing terrorist threat and incorporates new Government policies on counter-terrorism. The primary aim of CONTEST is to reduce the risk to the UK and its interests overseas from terrorism, so that people can go about their lives freely and with confidence. The revised version of Contest has been welcomed by the two major security industry trade bodies the BSIA and ADS, writes Infologue.com’s Bobby Logue. James Kelly, the Ch...

The key figures behind an organised crime group, suspected of defrauding thousands of EU citizens and copying more than 15 000 payment cards in a sophisticated scam, have been arrested in a major police operation coordinated by Europol. It is estimated that the group have clocked up over 50 million euros in damages for EU citizens by ‘skimming’ their cards and emptying their bank accounts. ‘Skimming’ occurs when a card is put through an illegal device, normally attached to an ATM or point-of-sale terminal at a retail outlet, for the purposes of copying data from the card’s magnetic s...

The Home Secretary today announced that the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre has changed the threat-level from international terrorism from severe to substantial. This means there is a strong possibility of a terrorist attack. The system of threat levels aims to keep you informed about the risk of terrorism at any given time. Announcing today's change, Home Secretary Theresa May said: 'Today the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) changed the UK threat level from international terrorism from severe to substantial. This means that a terrorist attack is a strong possibility and might well ...

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has today presented their Annual Report and Accounts for 2010/11. Part of the report is a joint statement by the Chairman Ruth Henig and the Chief Executive Bill Butler. Infologue.com believes it contains important analysis and review on the future of the industry and has decided to publish it in full. The statement reads: “The continuing impact of the economic downturn and the political changes following the General Election meant that 2010/11 was a demanding year for individuals and businesses subject to SIA regulation and for the SIA itself. We are p...

At Bradford Crown Court today (8th July 2011) His Honour Judge Benson determined that Johnny Daniels, who was convicted of money laundering offences in September 2010 had benefited by £1,038,540.33 from the proceeds his crimes and made a confiscation order against him to the sum of £479,146.74. Daniels will be required to pay back this sum within 6 months or face a further term of imprisonment of three and a half years if he defaults. Daniels, 37 of Cutler Heights Lane, Bradford, pleaded guilty at Bradford Crown Court on 6 September 2010 to one offence of deploying an unlicensed security o...

Police (Detention and Bail) Bill has been passed by MPs in Parliament today. The Police (Detention and Bail) Bill  was pushed through the House of Commons in just one day to reverse a High Court ruling that said the time suspects spend on bail should count towards the maximum period of detention allowed before a charge is made. The police said this ruling would have a serious impact on their ability to investigate crime. Keeping the public safe Speaking in Parliament today, Theresa May explained: 'Being held in custody in a police cell, is clearly not the same as being free on police bai...

The judge who recently sentenced Yi Qing Chen noted that the smuggler “never saw a criminal scheme he didn’t want a part of.” The Southern California man was convicted last October of distributing methamphetamine, trafficking approximately 800,000 cases of counterfeit cigarettes, and conspiracy to import Chinese-made shoulder-fired missiles into the U.S. Chen is now serving a 25-year prison sentence, and his case marks the end of a long-running investigation called Operation Smoking Dragon. Smoking Dragon and a related case in New Jersey called Operation Royal Charm led to the indictme...