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...

The British Security Industry Association has hosted the inaugural meeting of its Leisure Industry Security Section, giving a formal voice to the door supervision sector in the UK. BSIA Chief Executive, John Bates, comments: "Door supervision is an immensely important area of the private security industry and since the regulation of the sector, levels of professionalism have heightened considerably. The BSIA is delighted to welcome a number of the leading companies into membership and is looking forward to using its extensive expertise and experience to tackle the issues that face the sector ...

The Security Industry Authority’s customer contact centre is to trial a Saturday service for the coming 12 weeks. From Saturday 10 January, the contact centre will be open for calls between 09.00 and 17.00. The trial will run until Saturday 28 March 2009. Bernard Herdan, chief executive, said: “We continuously seek to improve the service we provide to our customers. The number of calls to our contact centre is continuing to rise and we are taking on additional staff there. The Saturday opening trial offers further flexibility for customers, and we hope it will also reduce high call volumes...

Opinions and experiences of regulation are being sought in new research to gauge the impact of regulation on the private security industry. In collaboration with the Security Industry Authority (SIA) and the Economic and Social Research Council, the work is being undertaken by the University of Sheffield. An online questionnaire has been set up for those working in the private security industry – both individuals and companies - to share their views. Simi Bath, SIA Assistant Director of Development said: “We welcome the industry’s comments. The data gathered will be used to assess and m...

A study commissioned by G4S Security Services (UK) (‘G4S’) reveals that retailers increasingly operate in an unacceptable environment where members of the public believe it is acceptable to be abusive and threatening towards store employees. In the last five years over 1.6 million Britons have verbally abused retail employees who they felt gave them poor customer service.  Worryingly, many Britons do not perceive that there is anything wrong with this behaviour, says G4S.  One-in-20, (over 1.5 million), Britons believe it is morally acceptable to verbally abuse a store employee if they ...