Following the recent press release regarding Andrew White’s forthcoming retirement, the National Security Inspectorate (NSI) has announced that Jeffrey Little has been appointed the Chief Executive with effect from the 1st December.  Brigadier Jeff Little, OBE, MBA, will joins NSI from his position as Business Development Director with Universal Engineering Company (Charlestown), a company specialising in the design and manufacture of components for safety critical environments such as defence.  Commenting on his impending appointment as NSI Chief Executive, Jeff stated, “NSI carries a...

Brian Sims and Bobby Logue offer their latest response in relation to the Government’s decision on the future of the Security Industry Authority. As the Editors of SMT Online and Infologue.com, we believe the UK’s regulated security industry was only hours away from being deregulated until a last-minute reprieve as a result of appeals to Government ministers, MPs and comments made in the trade press. Information received from sources within the Government suggests that the decision was changed on the evening before the day of the announcement on the fate of the Security Industry Authorit...

The Beginning of an a new era?  That is the question being asked by many security professionals after the government’s announcement that the Security Industry Authority is  No Longer an Non Departmental Public Body (NDPB) - Phased transition to new regulatory regime.  What does this really mean?  I think that the devil will be in the detail shortly, however the notes in the document state “No longer an NDPB (or where appropriate non ministerial department or public corporation) - subject to the spending review and, where appropriate, to impact assessment and consultation these bodi...

Tackling terrorism and the growing threat from cyber crime are among government priorities. A new National Security Strategy was revealed today is aimed at giving clear to government efforts to keeping the UK safe from security threats. Commenting on the release the Prime Minister, David Cameron said: ““The United Kingdom faces a complex array of threats from a myriad of sources. The National Security Strategy describes the strategic context within which these threats arise, and how they may develop in the future. It describes Britain’s place in the world, as an open, outward-facing na...

A|D|S, the UK’s AeroSpace, Defence and Security trade organisation today (Monday) welcomed the publication of the National Security Strategy and stressed the importance of the industry in achieving its goals alongside the Government’s wider economic recovery aims. Ian Godden, Chairman of A|D|S, said: "The Government has identified within its new National Security Strategy the broad range of security risks that face the country and against which the nation and its citizens must be protected.  We welcome the strategy and the incorporation of wider security aspects alongside the defence e...

Security services providers Bowles Security Services (UK) Ltd (BSS) and Alpha Plus Security Ltd (APSL) have today announced the successful completion of a merger between the two companies to form TSG National Ltd. The merger enables the two companies, both of which are SIA Approved Contractors with scores that place them comfortably in the top 10%, to build on their shared vision of delivering exceptional customer service by creating a company that can offer clients a greater depth of resource as a result of this union. It is expected that the merger will secure the future for both businesses...

The Home Office, the SIA and The Security Alliance have issued exclusive statements to SMT Online and Infologue.com following yesterday morning’s axing of the SIA. Brian Sims and Bobby Logue outline their contents. At 9.35 am yesterday morning (and as exclusively reported at the time on SMT Online), the Security Industry Authority (SIA) fell under the Coalition Government’s axe as part of the much-debated Austerity 2010 public spending cuts. As expected, Francis Maude – Minister for the Cabinet Office – summarised plans to substantially reform a large number of public bodies across G...

The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has called for the Home Secretary to carefully consider the implications of the rumoured abolition of the Security Industry Authority (SIA), following recent speculation in the press that the security industry regulator is about to be scrapped. In a letter to Theresa May MP, BSIA Chief Executive, James Kelly, appeals for the Home Office to engage with the security industry over any planned changes to regulation, citing issues such as industry maturity, public confidence, and lighter-touch regulation as key considerations when planning the way f...

The “worlds leading security exhibition” was more successful in 2010, believe the organisers of Security Essen. A reported 42,000 visitors from 113 countries attended, viewing the wares from the 1,078 exhibitors from 38 nations.  Key findings of the organisers were the increased global presence from exhibitors (46%), as well as visitors, and a willingness to invest more in security and a strong interest in system solutions. The exhibitors praised the high technical quality of the visitors, writes Infologue.com Editor, Bobby Logue, who spent three days at Security Essen. The organisers sa...

Following their meeting last Thursday, 7th October, the Skills for Security Scottish Employer Consultation Group for the manned guarding sector agreed a letter which was sent to the Home Secretary with copies to Kenny MacAskill MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Justice in the Scottish Government and other members of the Westminster and Scottish Parliaments. Russel Kerr, MD of SecuriGroup and Chair of the consultation group wrote on their behalf: “Dear Home Secretary, Regulation of the Private Security Industry I write to you in my capacity as Chairman of the Skills for Security Employer Consulta...