The challenge, currently being shown on BBC2, saw Charlie travel ‘By Any Means’ through some of the world’s most hostile terrain and across the most treacherous oceans. As official security provider with an ongoing partnership, the Big Earth team rely upon Pilgrims’ Information Services department to provide country specific risk assessments prior to the start of their trips in order to satisfy the BBC’s stringent due diligence. The Pilgrims Global Operation Centre also provided 24/7 security and evacuation cover for the expedition. “We collate, cross-reference, analyse and add ex...

With only eight weeks until deadline day, time is running out for security workers to apply for their SIA licence.  From December 2009, Northern Ireland will join Security Industry Authority regulation, when it will be law for individuals working within designated sectors of the private security industry to have a Security Industry Authority licence.From the point of completing the training qualification to receiving the complete licence takes an average of eight weeks so security workers need to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. The introduction of regulation of the priv...

National Security provider Kingdom Security Ltd is pleased to announce the acquisition of FSG Security PLC, Guardian Security and Firewalker Events Ltd. FSG/Guardian Guarding Contracts include NHS, Education, Public Sector, Logistics and Retail sector Contracts, with services including guarding, mobile patrol, key holding, remote monitoring and cash in transit contracts. Firewalkers Events contracts include prestigious events including Football, Music Festivals and Local Council Events. The acquisition is in line with the Kingdom strategy to complement organic growth. The FSG/Guardian/Firewal...

Skills for Security has launched a new website, designed to provide its audience with a friendlier approach and easier navigation. The website, designed by Real Point Design, features details of training courses and products, Skills for Security events, (including the Annual Conferences taking place in October) useful information for employers about industry standards and research,  and an FAQs section with lots of helpful hints and tips - from how to apply for an SIA licence to how security Systems apprenticeships work. Training courses and conferences can now be booked and paid for online, ...

A brand new framework of professional development qualifications for the security sector has been launched at the inaugural Security Week event at Missenden Abbey in Buckinghamshire. Valerie Dale, HR Director of G4S Secure Solutions (UK) (‘G4S’), the UK’s leading security company, was a guest speaker at the launch,  describing how the new courses form an integral part of the company’s new Learning and Development strategy,  now available to all 18,500 of its UK employees. The framework of qualifications that includes “Securing the Future”, the joint initiative between Bucks New U...

All door staff inspected on Friday night as part of checks by Security Industry Authority investigators and Fife Police were found to be working legally [18 September]. By law, door staff must hold a licence from the SIA and display this while working. During the intelligence-led operation, 17 door staff working in licensed premises in Kirkcaldy were inspected, all of whom held valid SIA licences. Sharon Roberts, an SIA Head of Investigation said: “I am very pleased with the result of this operation. Trained, vetted and SIA-licensed door staff play an important role in protecting customers.�...

SIA chief executive Bill Butler today welcomed the positive findings of a Better Regulation review, while acknowledging opportunities to achieve further improvement. The Better Regulation Executive report found that overall the Security Industry Authority has made real progress in improving its performance as a regulator and is prioritising better regulation principles. Bill Butler said: “I very much welcome the findings of the review. The positive report reflects the progress we have made and the work we have undertaken to achieve our goals. We have already made many improvements. But of c...

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) is prioritising its use of better regulation principles and has made real progress improving its performance as a regulator, according to a new report published today by the Better Regulation Executive. The report, part of a series of reviews of national regulators, examined how the SIA matched up to the principles of effective regulation set out by Philip Hampton in 2005. The SIA, which regulates the growing private security industry, has placed a high priority on implementing these principles across their work. The SIA currently licences over 300,000 se...

A door supervisor working illegally with an expired SIA licence was sent home by police during checks on Friday [11 September]. SIA investigators and officers from Staffordshire Police visited nine pubs in Burton on Trent and Uttoxeter, inspecting 18 door supervisors. Of these, 17 held a valid SIA licence. By law, door supervisors must hold a valid frontline Security Industry Authority licence and display this whilst working. The premises supervisor must hold at least a non-frontline licence. One individual was found working with an expired licence, so was sent home by police and warned not to...

The Security Industry Authority is calling for views on whether a generic SIA license should be introduced. At present, SIA license cards are specific to each sector. Operatives working in more than one sector may need to be issued with multiple licenses. The two options set out in the consultation are: 1) To introduce a single generic license card covering all of the licensable activities that the holder is qualified to undertake; or 2) To continue to issue sector-specific and multiple licenses. If option one were introduced, all license cards would look the same. Information on the licensab...