John Bates is to step down as Chief Executive of the British Security Industry Association with immediate effect. John Bates comments: "It has been a privilege and I am proud to have led the BSIA. The team are conscientious, dedicated and serve the members well and I have enjoyed working with them. I am confident that the 'Better, Bigger and Stronger' agenda that I have championed, together with the vision the future we have developed together since October last year, will do much to build upon the Association's success."Stuart Lowden, BSIA Chairman, says: "John has made a significan...

Two security firm bosses were fined after they sent illegal security guards to protect their customers. Francis Preston, 39, and Thomas Bannister, 35, were ordered to pay £45,000 in fines and costs after sending guards without licences to businesses across Merseyside.It meant the guards they sent had not passed stringent Security Industry Authority checks which includes probes into whether guards have criminal records.Liverpool crown court heard company director Preston and manager Bannister worked for St Helens based Preston Security and Services Ltd when they were caught in 2007. Police...

Bob Doyle, Commercial Director at Skills for Security, has announced that he will be retiring early to spend more time with his wife, who is in poor health. He will leave the skills body at the end of the year. Bob joined the team at Security House in 2004, bringing with him over 30 years experience in operational and business development roles in the security industry.  Initially his remit was to work with companies in advance of the implementation of the Private Security Industry Act, helping them to understand and comply with the new regulations, particularly those concerned with training ...

A dramatic reduction of 60% in the level of verbal abuse was achieved by the SIA Approved Contractor, ISS Mediclean, at the Chelsea & Westminster hospital during an 8 week trial using body worn video equipment to record incidents. The Robocam mobile CCTV units, supplied by Interconnective Limited, are being used extensively by UK Police forces and also being introduced into the private security sector. The trial has demonstrated the equipment to be effective when dealing with acts of violence, aggression and anti social behaviour. ISS Mediclean is currently finalising deployment of the Rob...

Checks were conducted on door supervisors working in Great Yarmouth on Friday night [7 August] as part of operation to ensure public safety. Working together, the Security Industry Authority and Norfolk Constabulary checked door supervisors held and displayed valid SIA licences – a requirement by law. At pubs, bars and a caravan park, 27 operatives were inspected. Only one individual was warned for failing to display their licence. Nigel Davies, an SIA Head of Investigation said: “I am pleased with the high compliance found on Friday night. During the summer months, Great Yarmouth becomes...

Personal Profile - Bill Muskin Chairman - VSG Limited Bill Muskin is Chairman and the original founder of VSG Ltd.  He is also Chairman of the Manned Guarding Sector for the BSIA and UK representative for the Confederation of European Security Sectors (CoESS). Bill spent his early career in the police force: based in Daventry, he spent most of his 16 years in CID, including an eight-year assignment with the drug squad.  On leaving the police force Bill joined Firm Security, where in nine years he worked his way up to become Operational Director.  Firm Security was acquired by Chubb in 199...

The nominees for this year’s Security Industry Oscars – The Security Excellence Awards – organised by United Business Media, whose titles include Info4Security and SMT Online, have been announced. Once again the Security Guarding Company of the Year category appears to be hotly contested with nine nominees, including previous winners, VSG and Wilson James. The nominees are; Security Guarding Company of the YearAFC Group Cardinal Security Ecovert FM FGH Security Profile Security Services The Shield Guarding Company VSG Ward Security Wilson JamesSecurit...

Yesterday at Grantham Magistrates Court [30 July], Magistrates handed down a Community Punishment Order (60 hours of unpaid work) and prosecution costs of £1000 to former Grantham doorman Jamie David Barratt after he pleaded guilty to making false statements to the Security Industry Authority – an offence under section 22 of the Private Security Industry Act 2001.Barratt, (22) of Buckminster Gardens, Grantham, Lincolnshire, had previously been convicted of working as an unlicensed door supervisor in August 2008.Barratt then knowingly made false statements in an appeal against the SI...

Thursday night checks at pubs and bars in Skegness and Ingoldmells found door staff complying with licensing regulations [Thursday 23 July]. As part of a follow-up to another operation conducted last month to ensure that only SIA licensed door staff work at local licensed premises officers from Lincolnshire Police and licensing officers from East Lindsey District Council joined investigators from the Security Industry Authority.By law, door staff must hold a front line SIA licence and display this whilst working. Those who manage, supervise and/or employ door staff must hold a non-front li...

At a `sparkling’ event at the IPC Blue Fin Building  in London to celebrate its 50th , Strand, synonymous with top class cleaning in London’s iconic buildings, introduced Eligo and Resolution as a premier brand alliance to top City clients.  Eligo offers bespoke high end fine dining, with experience in serving some of London’s most discerning customers, and Resolution has an excellent reputation for offering a tailored, discreet bespoke security service to blue chip clients in the world’s leading international financial business centre.  The Premier Alliance allows Strand to offer c...