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...

With the US, Japan and several other countries issuing warnings about travel through Europe- and France issuing a UK terror alert advising ‘extreme vigilance’ on British public transport and popular attractions, the BSIA looks at the UK’s response, and how technology is attempting to prevent another tragedy like 7/7. The advancements in security technology in transport means that the UK is the ‘CCTV Capital of the world’. Developments in this field mean that there are now extremely sophisticated methods that could help foil a terrorist plot on British soil. Starting with the implem...

From Paul the Octopus to a Pea in the Thimble conman, dressed in a police uniform and plenty of video cameras this years Security Essen Exhibition had it all as Infologue.com Editor Bobby Logue reports; “At SECURITY ESSEN this year, there were more than 1,100 exhibitors from 38 nations plying their wares in the security and fire protection disciplines. If it’s a security exhibition anywhere in the world be rest assured there will be plenty of cameras from the basic to the sophisticated, and Essen was no exception. What I found interesting was the intelligence being added behind the came...

Only 6.58 % of Security Companies could Qualify for Self Regulation After producing their Private Security Industry Analysis 2009, Infologue.com believes that only 6.58 percent of the regulated security industry could be ready for self regulation should the Government decide to axe the Security Industry Authority (SIA) in their planned “Bonfire of the Quangos” replacing the regulator with self regulation. This analysis demonstrates the initial need for a twin track approach to regulation in the form of “part SIA, part self” as intimated by the SIA Chair Ruth Henig at the SIA conferenc...