Infologue.com received high interest in our comments in the Infologue.com Annual Review 2008 regarding the Security Industry Authority’s (SIA) unwillingness to release the full independent delivery review into the leadership and management. Infologue.com has applied to the SIA for a copy of the review in terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The industry has a right to know what is contained in the independent delivery review. The release of the review coincided with the shock departure of the SIA Chief Executive Mike Wilson by "mutual agreement". It is inconceivable that in this ...

Buyers and suppliers of private security industry services are invited to comment on how the SIA’s voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme could be improved, as part of its third annual review. The ACS measures security companies against assessed standards, aiming to raise performance standards for security suppliers, enhance the customer service experience for buyers, and assist the private security industry in developing new opportunities. The Security Industry Authority is conducting the review, which will look at how the scheme can be enhanced and improved to benefit suppliers and buyers o...

Pauline Norstrom, Chairman of the British Security Industry Association's CCTV Section, has been confirmed as an expert panellist at the forthcoming ‘Securing Educational Establishments’ Conference being held on 5th March at Jury’s Inn, Birmingham, which will feature high level representatives from the world of education, security and technology. Norstrom will be able to bring her considerable expertise in CCTV standards and best practice to bear in her panellist role at the conference, as the head of the CCTV Section of the BSIA, its technical committee TC/10, and also as the sole sec...

Innpacked Training, based in Bournemouth, has won the ‘Door Supervisor Training Award’ in the 2008 BII NITAs, the annual national training awards for the licensed retail industry. BII, the industry’s professional body, has today announced the winners of these prestigious awards which recognise and reward training excellence, via a live broadcast from its website. The victorious category winners – including Innpacked – will each be presented with their awards and receive the recognition they truly deserve in front of an audience of 1,000 top industry representatives at the BII Annual ...

As the high street turmoil deepens, a huge surge in vacant shops could lead to the creation of a commercial property wasteland, according to G4S Security Services (UK) (‘G4S’). Following high profile insolvencies including Woolworths and MFI, 90,000 retail outlets are expected to be vacant by the end of February 2009, a figure expected to rise to 135,000 or 15% of all UK shops, by the end of 2009.  G4S warns that if these buildings are left unattended, they could easily lose significant value through environmental deterioration, criminal damage and the presence of vermin and other intrude...

CerticCS, a new independent certification body, was launched at Clontarf Castle Hotel, Dublin, on 21 January 2009.  It is a security-specific body that provides certification schemes for security companies involved in the installation of electronic security systems and providers of guarding, cash-in-transit and alarm monitoring services. CerticCS provide an alternative route for security companies seeking approval to meet the Private Security Authority's (PSA) Private Security Contractors Licence and An Garda Síochána Intruder Alarm Policy.  Companies will be audited to the appropriate Ir...

The regional winners of the British Security Industry Association’s Annual Security Officer Awards 2009 have been announced and once again highlight the vital contribution security officers are making across the country. Recognising excellence within the security guarding sector of the industry, the awards are presented in the following categories: Service to the Customer, Outstanding Act, Best Newcomer, Best Use of Technology and Best Team. John Bates, Chief Executive of the British Security Industry Association, comments: "Security officers work in a variety of diverse and challenging en...

The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) will once more be facilitating a visit by over 60 UK companies to Intersec Dubai 2009 – an event which addresses the challenges of international security. This exhibition will be an excellent showcase for UK companies to highlight their capabilities and enthusiasm to explore markets in both Dubai and the wider Middle East region and also to identify future opportunities for joint venture partnerships. The BSIA will attend the show as part of the UK pavilion, hosting its own information point and also facilitating the attendance of some of the...

A 72 year old grandmother was sent personal identification documents belonging to a stranger by the gaffe prone SIA, only to be told that she would have to pay for them to be posted back to the SIA, as revealed by the Bolton News. Earlier this month, Daphne Powell received a parcel marked with her name and address on the outside. However, upon opening the package Mrs Powell soon discovered that a grave mistake had been made as the contents were all personal documents belonging to a Christian Jouault, including his SIA application form. These documents had been sent to the SIA whose job it is t...

As part of the day of action, 62 people were arrested for various drugs, weapons and disorder offences, effectively removing them from the streets. Officers also uncovered a cannabis cultivation, seized a variety of offensive weapons including knives and a home-made machete, and confiscated a four-figure sum of money under the Proceeds of Crime Act. Operation Fleet, which took place on Friday January 9 2009, aimed to tackle and reduce levels of violence, drugs, disorder and antisocial behaviour through high-profile policing and enforcement. The crackdown, involving more than 340 local and spe...