This year’s UK Outstanding Security Performance Awards (OSPAs), attended by hundreds of representatives from the UK security sector, took place yesterday (24 February) and NSI approved companies were amongst the winners and finalists recognised for outstanding performance, with two approved companies winning five award categories. The UK OSPAs is part of a global awards scheme, now running in 15 countries, recognising and rewarding the outstanding performance of companies, individuals and innovation across the security sectors of participating countries. As the UK’s premier independe...

ECHO is has announced that it is now supporting almost 200,000 Intruder and Hold-Up Alarm systems on police response with URNs (Unique Reference Numbers). Launched last year, following extensive development, ECHO provides virtually instant alarm signalling to police control rooms from approved Alarm Receiving Centres (ARCs) who remotely monitor premises protected by Intruder and Hold-Up alarm systems. Transforming the speed with which police can respond to confirmed alarm signals by replacing the legacy of manual call handling, ECHO is automating police alarm response to homeowners, busines...

The fourth OSPAs Thought Leadership Summit, organised in association with NSI (National Security Inspectorate), takes place on Thursday, 24th February 2022 at the Royal Lancaster London and the full programme has now been released.  The programme has an impressive line-up of speakers covering a wide range of hot topics relevant to the whole security industry including: What are the expectations of the security sector now? A police perspective Ian Dyson QPM - Recently retired Commissioner, City of London Police Geoff Zeidler - Chair, Police and Security Group (PaS) There was...

The fourth OSPAs Thought Leadership Summit, organised in association with NSI (National Security Inspectorate), takes place on Thursday, 24th February 2022 at the Royal Lancaster London.  Firmly established in the calendar as an opportunity to directly confront issues faced by the security industry, 2022 will be no exception. The event guarantees to address hot topics, be lively and thought provoking - providing an engaging platform to address and challenge many issues. The Summit will examine the Protect Duty and its implications for the security sector.  Michelle Russell, Chief Executiv...

The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) launches its 2022 celebration of the industry’s finest, the British Security Awards today, starting with the regional rounds of the security personnel categories. Scheduled to take place on Wednesday 29 June at the Marriott Hotel, Grosvenor Square, the British Security Awards will celebrate the achievements made by security officers and teams across the UK’s private security industry, as well as acknowledging innovations in technology and business and the career contributions made by long-serving industry stalwarts. The first phase of the...

Dame Julie Kenny DBE DL has been elected to serve as Chair of the UK’s Security and Resilience Industry Suppliers Community (RISC). Julie, a former Chair of the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) between 2010-12 and the Security Equipment Manufacturers section twice between 1998 and 2004, started her career in litigation before turning to manufacturing, founding BSIA members Pyronix Limited in 1986, which is now a multi-million pound global organisation. Julie also holds a CBE, DBE and an Honorary Doctorate from Sheffield Hallam University in recognition of her contribution to b...

Zoë Billingham has been appointed as a Non-Executive Director of the SIA. Her appointment is effective from 06 December 2021 and she becomes a member of the Board of the SIA. Her tenure will be for three years. Zoë is a lawyer by background and she brings to the Board a wealth of experience in the oversight of public safety. She has spent much of her career inspecting public services to promote improvement. She was formerly a lead inspector with Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Fire and Rescue Services. She served there for 12 years, and she shone a light on all aspects of po...

Kings Secure Technologies (KST) today announced that it has completed the acquisition of Fire Risk Assessment and risk management reporting specialist, Quidvis Ltd. Industry disruptor Quidvis has revolutionised the way that Fire Risk Assessments (FRA) and Fire door inspections are carried out and reported. Providing property owners with a comprehensive solution for managing the fire risk process in their business. The Quidvis solution provides property owners the ability to review their risks across their whole estate, allocate work internally or externally, recording works carried out, bud...

The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has launched its latest code of practice, an industry-first for security fogging. Security Fog Systems: Installations, Commissioning and Maintenance - code of practice is the first of its kind intending to support the design, installation, commissioning, operation, and maintenance of security fog systems conforming to EN 50131-8, as well as to serve as practical aid to mitigate risks and reach operational requirements. Carl Gibbard, Vice Chair of the BSIA’s Security Equipment Manufacturers section, said: “I am pleased that the BSIA hav...

The panel of 28 independent experts from across the security industry has concluded its judging – which means it’s time to reveal the finalists of the 2022 UK Outstanding Security Performance Awards (OSPAs). The 2022 OSPAs has attracted more submissions and greater diversity than ever before.  The judging panel faced a challenging task narrowing down the entries, to no more than 10 finalists for each category, with many very impressive nominations narrowly missing out. “This year’s finalists exemplify the values of the OSPAs. Each one of them has demonstrated outstanding perfor...