The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has welcomed another significant reduction in false alarms across England, Wales and Northern Ireland following the release of figures from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO). The figures demonstrate a 13.9% reduction in police attendance to false alarms over the last year. Tim Geddes, the BSIA's Security Systems Section Chairman, says: "These figures are testament to the work that the private security industry is undertaking to reduce the level of false alarms. With the industry working closely with the authorities, valuable poli...

A Cheshire wheel clamper has been sentenced to 160 hours unpaid work after being found guilty of working without an SIA licence. Iain Watson was sentenced at Crewe Magistrates Court today (Thurs 12 Nov). He was ordered to pay compensation of £246.30 and £95 to two members of the public who had their vehicles clamped, as well as £600 in costs. Following numerous complaints about Watson made to the police by members of the public; an investigation was launched by Cheshire Police, closely supported by the Security Industry Authority. This revealed that Watson, who worked for Crewe-based Clampi...

Hard on the heels of the launch of the Contract Quality Marque comes the news that the three major private security industry bodies – the British Security Industry Association (BSIA), the National Security Inspectorate (NSI) and Skills for Security – have announced another important initiative aimed at creating a high-level operational standard for companies wishing to demonstrate a significant and verifiable difference in the guarding services they provide. This will complement the Contract Quality Marque and is further evidence of the organisations' strong belief in the future. The o...

An exciting partnership that will inject at least 6,000 new recruits into the security guarding industry has been announced today. The unique partnership between the Government, the security industry and the education sector is set to bring thousands of new recruits into the security guarding and crowd management sectors in preparation for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, with a lasting legacy set to benefit the security industry for years to come. The Bridging the Gap initiative has been developed by the British Security Industry Association (BSIA), Skills for Security, Bucks ...

Baroness Ruth Henig has been reappointed SIA chairman by the Home Office. The new term runs for a further three years from 15 January 2010. Ruth Henig said: “I am very pleased to have been reappointed. I look forward to working with the different sectors of the security industry, with other partners and with ministers during the next three years to ensure that regulation continues to deliver the benefits that we all want to see.” Home Office Minister Alan Campbell said: “I am pleased to re-appoint Baroness Henig as the Chair of the Security Industry Authority. With extensive experienc...

The National Security Inspectorate (NSI) is leading a drive to further raise security guarding standards with the launch of the Contract Quality Marque scheme at a reception at the RAF Club, Piccadilly, London, today. This unique scheme is designed to show that individual contracts for security guarding have achieved a higher standard than those currently recognised in the industry.  The scheme criteria incorporates and builds on those already required for achieving ISO 9001 and the relevant British Standards, with the prerequisite that the company is a Security Industry Authority Approved Co...

A security team from MITIE, working at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), has become the first team within the Nuclear Industry to undergo Project Griffin training. Project Griffin was developed by the City of London Police and formally introduced in London in April 2004 as a joint venture between the City and Metropolitan police forces. Its remit was to advise and familiarise managers, security officers and employees of large public and private sector organisations across the capital on security, counter-terrorism and crime prevention issues. Following its unqualified success in London,...

G4S Risk Management, the leading global provider of risk mitigation and secure support services, is pleased to announce that United Kingdom Disaster Victim Identification (UK DVI) has signed up to its Global Intelligence System (GIS), an online information portal designed to provide subscribers with up-to-the minute geopolitical intelligence on individual country threats and hazards worldwide. UK DVI draws its members from all of the UK police forces and with specialists from the worlds of forensics and Information Technology support the Home Office and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO...

Calling all licensed retail trainers – the 2009 BII NITAs are open for entries. The ultimate recognition of excellence in training, BII NITA pyramids are highly coveted and much sought after. The BII NITAs were created to reward success achieved through effective training and development and winning an award is seen as an opportunity to create real competitive advantage for both individuals and organisations. Submissions are welcomed from licensed retail companies in the on and off sector; training organisations; door supervision trainers and companies and individual licensees. BII has reva...

The Shield Guarding Company having recently achieved an National Security Inspectorate (NSI)audited ACS score of 131 was presented with the Security Guarding Company of the Year prize at last nights Security Excellence Awards. Delighted Managing Director Rob Platais commented: ‘This is a fantastic award for the Shield Guarding Company because it is external recognition by senior and respected industry experts of the consistent quality of the service that we provide, the unique skill, loyalty and commitment of all our employees and our superb clients with whom we work with to deliver excellen...