The plan, published yesterday, will make it easier for the public to hold the Home Office to account, as it sets out key future policies along with deadlines and 'milestones'. Published in all departments, the structural reform plans are part of the government’s commitment to transparency. The Home Secretary said, ‘The draft Home Office structural reform plan sets out timings for our key policies, and includes milestones to which the public can hold us accountable. This is part of our commitment to transparent government. ‘We are determined to make accountability democratic, not bur...

Following the informal consultation on whether a single generic SIA licence should be introduced, the SIA will not be developing a non sector-specific licence. Overall, feedback from the industry showed that while there was some interest in a more integrated approach, the option for a single generic licence card did not receive widespread support. At present, SIA licence cards are specific to each sector. Operatives working in more than one sector may need to be issued with multiple licences. The two options set out in the consultation were: To introduce a single generic licence card co...

Facebook and the Home Office-backed centre for child protection join forces to help make the internet safer for young users. Young Facebook users in the UK can report suspected grooming or inappropriate sexual behavior at the click of a button, thanks to a new online service launched today. The Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre has worked with the popular social networking site to deliver the ‘ClickCEOP’ button that users can add to their homepage. It provides a constant source of help and reassurance and acts as a strong signal to friends, family and others that th...

John Clifford, the Director of Operations of the National Security Inspectorate (NSI), who died suddenly whilst on holiday in Brazil, had recently announced to colleagues his intention to retire at the end of July and that he was looking forward to enjoying more time with his family and on trips abroad. John started his career in the police force in Liverpool where he quickly rose to the rank of Sergeant prior to a move to the West Midlands Constabulary.  John was to spend the rest of his police career with the West Midlands Police rising to the rank of Chief Inspector.  During his time w...

MITIE Group PLC (‘MITIE’) is pleased to announce that it has been given preferred bidder status by Rolls-Royce for the facilities and energy management of its European properties. Subject to contract, this will be MITIE’s largest pan-European agreement and demonstrates MITIE’s capability to meet the needs of Rolls-Royce across its European property portfolio. It will include facilities management, energy management and the delivery of services including engineering and fabric maintenance, security, cleaning, catering, waste management, document management, reception, pest control an...

While combating terror and providing security, the government will reduce the intrusion by the state into peoples’ lives and give impetus to integrating our society on the basis of equality, responsibility and shared values; Baroness Pauline Neville Jones, the Home Office Minister of State responsible for security and counter-terrorism, told the audience at the Homeland Security and Border Conference Queen Elizabeth Conference Centre in London last week. “Security abroad and at home are part of an inseparable continuum in which the different threats and dangers interact.” “The es...

The Security Industry Authority has today published a Customer Service Commitment designed to ensure licence applicants are fully informed about the standard of service they can expect from the SIA. The commitment is based on two long-term objectives that shape everything the SIA wants to achieve: delivering a service that meets the needs of customers; and delivering value The commitment sets out service levels that applicants can expect. The SIA aims to: Process correctly completed application within six weeks from the date received. Answer all calls to the contact centre withi...

Rentokil Initial plc, one of the world's leading providers of business support services, has announced the acquisitions of Knightsbridge Guarding Holdings Limited and Perception UK LLP for a total cash consideration of £6.9 million. Both businesses will become part of the Company's Initial Facilities Services division and will enable it to strengthen its position in the UK's integrated facilities market. The acquired businesses generated combined revenues of £33.8 million in the last financial year. Rentokil Initial is one of the largest business services companies in the world, operatin...

Nikaro, the national key holding and response service network, has partnered with Omni Security Services to offer canine units as part of its service offer. The Nikaro network is made up of over 200 nationally based service partners to deliver a multitude of key holding and associated security services locally. This recent addition of Omni Security will serve to further expand Nikaro’s services and the canine units will be used in situations when the additional deterrent of a guard dog and dog handlers are required. The partnership will also secure the provision of specialist search dogs,...

The SIA’s annual conference was held yesterday [15 June] at The Kings Fund, London. Titled ‘A Common Purpose – Raising standards in the private security industry’, the event aimed to encourage further development and progress by the industry, including examples of business best practice and the latest news from the SIA. The conference was well attended with around 200 delegates including enforcement partners, security providers and buyers of security. SIA Chairman Baroness Ruth Henig opened the conference and spoke on how everyone in the private security industry can work together mor...