*Press Release* The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has won the Business Member Association of the Year Award at the Association of Association Executives Awards 2020, which was held last night (16 December). In choosing the BSIA from a wide list of well-known and respected trade associations from across the United Kingdom, the judges chose the BSIA as overall winners by recognising that “the new leadership team have clearly pushed the organisation forward – raising its profile and benefitting its members a great deal.” Mike Reddington, Chief Executive, BSIA said: �...

*Press Release* A Lancashire company director who provided unlicensed security staff to a school has had his case referred to a higher court for sentencing. Martin Coe, the former director of Evolution Security Services NW, was found guilty following a two-day trial at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court on 05 and 06 October.  The prosecution was brought by the Security Industry Authority (SIA). SIA investigators discovered that unlicensed security guards had worked for Coe on numerous occasions at Baines School in Poulton, the Wyre Light pub in Fleetwood, and at the Poulton Industrial ...

*Press Release* The current public perception of security officers seen as playing an ‘essential role’ in the United Kingdom, both prior and during the COVID-19 pandemic, is ranked only ‘slightly ahead of traffic wardens’, according to a recent survey. Perceptions of the security officer, carried out by YouGov on behalf of the British Security Industry Association (BSIA), the Security Institute (SyI) and the Security Commonwealth (SyCom), as part of the ‘Hidden Workforce’ campaign. The survey’s objective was to understand the current perception of security officers amongst ...

*Press Release from the SIA* The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has appointed Michelle Russell as Acting Chief Executive. Michelle will take up the role on October 19 following Ian Todd's departure from the SIA. Michelle is currently the SIA's Director of Inspections and Enforcement. Immediately prior to joining the SIA Michelle was a Director at the charity regulator, the Charity Commission.  Elizabeth France, Chair of the SIA said: "Michelle was selected following an internal competition. All Authority Members took part in the interview and selection process and were impre...

The Outstanding Security Performance Awards (OSPAs) is held annually to celebrate the outstanding achievements of the men and women of the UK security industry. Awards cover 16 categories that cover a range of areas including frontline personnel, products, services to the industry and those who have made contributions to keeping safe the UK’s infrastructure. If you know of an individual, team or company that deserves to be honoured for their efforts, you can nominate them online. The nomination period is coming to a close but will remain open until midnight on Thursday 1st October 2020...

Ian Todd, the Chief Executive of the Security Industry Authority announced today, Thursday the 3rd of September 2020, that he would be stepping down from his position. A release sent out by the SIA stated that this decision was taken due to a change in personal circumstances and that Ian would be leaving the role on the 16th of October 2020. “It has been an honour and a privilege to lead the SIA over the past 18 months and I am proud of what we have achieved together, particularly rising to the challenges of Covid-19. Whilst I am disappointed that I will not see our Corporate Plan thro...

As has been announced previously, requirements for applying for an SIA license will be changing effective April 2021. In order to ensure that new applicants and existing license holders will have comparable knowledge and expertise, the SIA has been reviewing how best to bring current holder up to speed. As part of this process, they announced on Wednesday 2nd September 2020, that they were launching a public consultation on top-up training for security officers and door supervisors. The SIA stated that the top-up training will include parts of the new additions to licence linked qualifi...

Over the last two decades, the role of security officers has shifted. Where once it was simply a case of guarding a door or location, years of upskilling and diversification have transformed the role to be something more. Security Officers are now required to possess higher levels of training and assume more responsibility than they did in the past. The advent of the Coronavirus Pandemic made this fact even more self-evident. While the public clapped for healthcare and supermarket staff, little attention was given to their security colleagues who stood shoulder to shoulder with them, making...

On June 7th 2020, Perpetuity research, organiser of the annual Outstanding Security Performance Awards announced the opening for nominations for the 2021 event. Every year the OSPAs celebrate the best of the UK security industry has to offer with categories covering a range of roles and activities carried out by individuals, companies and teams. Nominations will be open until October 31st 2020, so if you wish to put forward a candidate for any of the following categories, please ensure that you do so before then. Next year’s categories are:   Outstanding In-House Security Ma...

The British Security Awards 2020 was live-streamed for the first time ever on July 1st.  While usually a black-tie event held in London, this year's event was made public given the restrictions currently in place during the Covid-19 pandemic. The awards celebrated the best of the security industry's achievement over the last 12 months with winners coming from a range of companies and walks of life. They were presented by prominent figures in the security industry including SIA Chief Executive, Ian Todd, Security Institute Chief Executive, Rick Mounfield, Metropolitan Police Commissioner ...