The British Security Industry Association has welcomed the publication of the new European Standard for security smoke devices – EN50131-8. The new standard started life as a BSIA code of practice and was then developed into a British Standard before progressing to Europe. The BSIA has led the way in the development of the standard throughout its transition. Alex Carmichael, BSIA Technical Director, comments: "Developing standards is essential to ensuring the supply of high quality products to the market. The Association has been at the forefront of developing this standard from its beginn...

Today, Bill Butler joins the Security Industry Authority as its new Chief Executive. Speaking today, Bill said: “I am very pleased to be joining the SIA today. What is very clear to me is that the SIA is very focussed on what it needs to achieve, and is demonstrating that it can deliver. I am looking forward to working with colleagues and meeting stakeholders over the coming weeks and months." Before joining the SIA, Bill was Director of Corporate Services at the Gambling Commission working as part of the Board in the creation of the new regulator for the gambling industry. Prior to this h...

“Today, 20 July, the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) changed the UK threat level from international terrorism from severe to substantial. This means that a terrorist attack is a strong possibility.” Said the Home Secretary, Alan Johnson, when announcing the reduction of the threat level to the lowest, since the inception of the threat level system, on 1 August 2006.“The change in the threat level to substantial does not mean the overall threat has gone away – there remains a real and serious threat against the United Kingdom and I would ask that the public remain vigilant. ...

On the Brent Housing Estate, a neighbourhood warden, Kay-Ann Beckford-Reid of G4S Secure Solutions rescued a young girl who was being attacked by a crowd of thirty youths. Kay-Ann bravely intervened, rescued the girl and led her to safety with the gang of youths still in pursuit, and then called the emergency services.   Kay-Ann has been described as always showing passion and commitment for her work. She acted with a sense of duty and another person’s safety in mind and risked injury to herself in order to halt the attack. Yesterday, Kay Ann, nine other security officers and four security...

“During my chairmanship I wish to assist British Security Industry Association (BSIA) in building on its strengths so that it is viewed as the differentiator of choice for the end-user. I also wish to encourage more members to get actively involved in the Association so that we can drive the security guarding sector forward, encouraging best practice and raising standards," commented Bill Muskin today on his appointment as the new BSIA Security Guarding Section Chairman. Other new BSIA appointments made at their Annual General Meeting today included; BSIA section chairmen and vice-chairmen...

Officers from Norfolk Constabulary’s Licensing Regulation Team and investigators from the Security Industry Authority recently carried out an operation to check licensed door staff and security guards across Norwich city centre. The joint operation was held on Saturday 11 July 2009 to coincide with the celebrations held around the Lord Mayor’s Procession and enabled officers and investigators to check that all security operatives held Security Industry Authority licences.The operation checked 38 security operatives at 11 venues, including some security operatives who were working on be...

The British Security Industry Association has this week held the inaugural meeting of its new Close Protection Section. The section has been formed to provide representation for companies providing close protection services within the UK. During its inaugural meeting, David Allison, Managing Director of Octaga Security Services Ltd was elected as the section's chairman.David Allison comments: "It is an honour to have been elected as the first chairman of the BSIA's Close Protection Section. The section has brought together quality companies who wish to raise the profile of close protect...

Leading global security solutions group G4S today announces the appointment of Clive Hayton as Director of Global Security Technology. Clive, who has 20 years’ experience in technology and security, joins from Chubb Security UK where as Managing Director he was responsible for the integration of the Initial and Chubb electronic security businesses in the UK.  Prior to that Clive held a number of senior roles within Initial Group companies focusing on running the electronic security business in Europe and the USA. Clive’s role is one of a number of senior new positions being created by G4S...

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) and City of London Police found two door staff working illegally following checks at City bars and clubs on Saturday 4 July 2009. One doorman was working with a revoked licence and the other with a forged licence –both licences were confiscated and prosecutions may follow. By law, all door supervisors must hold a front line SIA licence and display this whilst working.The checks were part of an ongoing operation targeting security provision at venues in the area. Nine events in City venues were inspected with 51 security operatives checked – 49 were...

The Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) of the Security Industry Authority (SIA) is a hugely valuable tool for buyers, if used wisely and not in isolation believes Stuart Lowden, the Chairman of the British Security Industry Association and Managing Director of Wilson James Ltd. “Whilst the SIA would claim it to be a scheme that ensures good practice, I would argue that it is more a benchmark of adequate practice and should give buyers comfort that acceptable standards will be delivered. In the very simplest terms, those buyers selecting companies who are not ACS need to do extensive r...