Following the British Security Industry Association's (BSIA) recent research into crime in the recession, the Association's Access Control Section is highlighting the benefits that users can gain from access control technology. The BSIA's research revealed that security remains a key investment for UK plc despite the difficult economic climate with 92% of respondents retaining the same level of investment. In a summary report of the research findings, access control was featured as a popular security measure among the respondents.BSIA Access Control Section Chairman, Mike Sussman, comme...

The infologue.com Top 20 for 2009 is as follows:Rank Company Name 2009 Turnover Est Market Share1 G4S £380,000,000 17.27%2 Mitie plc £263,000,000 11.95%3 Reliance Security Services Ltd £229,000,000 10.41%4 Chubb Security Personnel Ltd. £124,000,000 5.64%5 Vision Security Group Ltd (VSG) £103,000,000 4.68%6 OCS Ltd £95,000,000 4.32%7 Securitas Security Services Ltd. £92,000,000 4.18%8 The Corps Ltd £78,000,000 3.55%9 Advance Security Ltd £75,000,000 3.41%10 Interserve Plc £70,000,000 ...

The Chairman of the British Security Industry Association (BSIA), Stuart Lowden, has today announced the appointment of James Kelly as the new Chief Executive of the BSIA. James brings a wealth of experience in lobbying, legal advice and commercial service delivery. With a very successful track record in professional representation he has performed leadership roles on behalf of the legal profession, engineering and marketing services industries. Until recently James was Chief Operating Officer of the Direct Marketing Association (DMA), a role which was both high profile and hugely challenging...

The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has welcomed the announcement from the Home Office on its formation of the National CCTV Oversight Body and decision to appoint an interim CCTV regulator. Among several responsibilities, the oversight body will develop the national standards for the installation and use of CCTV in public spaces, determine training requirements for users and raise public awareness of how CCTV works and the benefits it carries in tackling crime and protecting the public. Over the next 12 months the CCTV regulator will draft recommendations to ministers on how CCT...

This is the second year of the Broadwalk Business Services awards to recognise outstanding achievements by quoted companies in the business services sectors. The UK often leads the world in business services and is a major employer. It is one of the less well known success stories of the economy, and these awards are another step towards raising its profile. Competition for awards this year was extremely fierce with many very strong performances, despite the demanding economic environment. 2009 Award Winners:Company of the year: Aggreko CEO of the year: Nick Buckles, G4S Chairman of the ...

Skills for Security has announced that it has redesigned its popular Basic Job Training packs in response to the SIA’s announcement concerning changes to their requirements for licence-linked training. From January new trainees in Guarding and CCTV Operation will need to be taught a modular programme, and Door Supervisor training will be brought in line with the new requirements in June. In essence, all licensable occupations will be taught certain “core modules”, which will then be supplemented by specialist modules relating to the type of licence being applied for. This will mean that...

Plans to raise standards by introducing additional training for UK door supervisors will form part of a Home Office consultation launched today. The aim of the new proposals is to protect the public by raising standards of training across the industry. Additional training will include physical intervention, first aid, special considerations when dealing with young people and awareness of the threat of terrorism. The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has already included the additional training elements as part of the new qualifications being introduced from June 2010. The 14-week public consu...

The first checks on security guards and CCTV operatives working in Northern Ireland took place yesterday [10 December] – ten days after SIA licensing came into effect. Five teams of SIA investigators visited 35 sites across Belfast, Londonderry, Lisburn, Newry, Craigavon, Antrim and Ballymena. This included government sites, shopping centres, construction sites, retail stores, commercial and industrial sites, car parks and warehouses. On 1 December 2009 it became an offence in Northern Ireland to work in designated security roles without a valid Security Industry Authority licence. During t...

Today at Southwark Crown Court, the final member of a violent gang who committed a number of robberies against cash in transit (CTI) couriers was jailed for his part in these crimes. Thomas Pulhofer, aged 21 was jailed for seven years on Friday 4th December at Southwark Crown Court, for a series of violent 'strangulation' robberies; two cash-in-transit robbery offences; and one aggravated taking and driving away offence.It is understood that Pulhofer was the final member of a gang involved in a series of violent robberies on CIT couriers in the UK.  Earlier this year, Christopher Ryan and N...

In Northern Ireland, the International Professional Security Association (IPSA) has noted that it is member companies of IPSA and the British Security Industry Association (BSIA), the two UK associations for security companies, that have achieved the quality mark of the Security Industry Authority’s voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS). In order to pass the inspection for the ACS, companies have to demonstrate compliance with the relevant industry standards and a quality scheme covering key aspects of the management of the company, its relationship with both employees and clients and ...