SecuriGroup was announced as the ACS Champion of the Year 2009 at last night’s Security Excellence Awards, which took place at London’s Park Lane Hilton. The category for ACS Champion is in its second year and is sponsored by the SIA. The award recognises approved contractors that have taken exceptional steps to raise their operational standards and promote good practice within the industry. The award recognises approved contractors that have taken exceptional steps to raise their operational standards and promote good practice within the industry. The judges decided upon SecuriGroup, base...

British security exporters have just returned from an extremely successful visit to Singapore. The Safety and Security Asia 2009 exhibition, held in early October, saw 13 British security companies from a variety of industry sectors form a British pavilion to showcase their products and services to a broad range of visitors from across South East Asia. Chris Pinder, British Security Industry Association Export Services Manager, comments: "In a difficult economic climate, the BSIA was delighted to be able to organise for 13 companies to attend the Singapore exhibition, an increase from nine l...

Greater Manchester Police is today (Friday 16th October) stepping up a gear in the fight against armed robbers and has released harrowing CCTV footage showing the devastating effect on innocent victims. The footage reveals the moment a gang burst into a bank in Wigan and terrified staff and members of the public by holding two victims at gunpoint. The offenders from this incident are due to be sentenced today. As part of this latest crackdown on organised gangs, police are asking the public to help stop the violence and report any information in the run up to the festive season – traditional...

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...