Following a thorough selection process, Broadgate Estates has appointed Ultimate Security Services as its new service partner for manned guarding services at both More London and London Bridge City. Currently, London Bridge City and More London are serviced by 2 different contractors.  A key drivers in the tender specification was to consolidate both manned guarding operations and appoint a service partner with the capability to create and develop a strong one team ethos while delivering unrivaled and innovative risk management. Steve Hall, Chief Executive at Ultimate Security Servic...

On 23 and 24 September 2015, over 300 high-level representatives from 50 countries and a dozen international and European organisations attended the European Police Chiefs Convention (EPCC) at Europol headquarters in The Hague. This year the police chiefs and senior representatives of national and international law enforcement authorities, European Union institutions and agencies, as well as academia, gathered to discuss counter terrorism and illegal immigration issues. Illegal immigration was also high on the agenda of bilateral and multilateral meetings of police chiefs. Law enforcement lea...

Skills for Security have introduced the ISO 27001 standard to their array of courses to tackle the growing problem of information security threats faced by businesses today. Skills for Security are delivering two courses; a one day introduction to the ISO 27001 and a two day ISO 27001 implementation course, both designed to enable companies to train their staff and adopt a best-practice approach to information security management across their business. The greatest security threat faced by most companies today is not from outside attacks but from insider threats, either malicious or unintent...

Leading maritime security company MAST welcomes the initiative, but warns that the burden of responsibility will still be with shipping companies to protect their assets and crews. In response to the ongoing threat of piracy, Malaysian Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed suggested that closer cooperation between countries and having armed guards on merchant ships are among ways being considered to improve maritime security in SE Asia. Gerry Northwood OBE, Chief Operating Officer at MAST, commented: “Responsible governments, like the Malaysians and Indonesians, are taking an i...

The security situation in the Indian Ocean could very quickly change for the worse, says leading maritime security company MAST. Gerry Northwood OBE, COO of MAST, said: “For commercial shipping, the Indian Ocean is arguably the safest ocean on the planet. Put simply, the current security framework is working, but it remains extremely fragile and dependent on international navies maintaining a presence in the Indian Ocean, Best Management Practice 4 (BMP4) being diligently applied and for at least the majority of vessels to be protected by armed guards”. “Yet we continue to see speculat...

The Association of Security Consultants (ASC) is delighted to announce that Bill Butler, former Chief Executive of the Security Industry Authority (SIA) has accepted an invitation to Chair the Association’s annual international conference/exhibition, CONSEC, which this year will be held on Thursday 15 October 2015 at the excellent facilities of the Marriot Hotel, Heathrow, London. The theme for this year’s conference will be “Knowing the Threats, Managing the Risks”.  Mr. Butler will introduce a number of eminent speakers, including a Keynote address from Deputy Director General of t...

On 1 September, two security company directors appeared before the Central Criminal Court, Old Bailey, London. John Anah and Tony O’Gonna, co-directors of ANCO UK Ltd, AA Guarding Ltd and Metro Guards, UK Ltd were ordered to pay a confiscation totalling £666,697 under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (Anah was ordered to pay £175,000 and O’Gonna was ordered to pay £491,697). Both have until the 1 December 2015 to pay or face default custodial sentences of two years three months and three years six months respectively. This was the conclusion of confiscation proceedings by the SIA in part...

Yemen Local sources have reported that Yemen may become two separate states, and that this will be a popular solution with the Yemenis around Aden. Gerry Northwood OBE, COO of MAST, said: “Interestingly, should the separation occur along the pre-1990 North Yemen/South Yemen borders, both states will share jurisdiction of the Bab-el-Mandeb strait, which may create a greater challenge for those seeking to ensure that the straits are properly regulated and policed.” - Hodeidah Commenting onHodeidah being declared open again, Northwood said: “The situation remains extremely unstable and ...

Half-yearly results announcement for the six months ended 30 June 2015 Financial highlights on an underlying basis: New contract sales achieved a total value of £1.4 billion (annual value £0.7 billion) with contract retention rates maintained at approximately 90%. Sales pipeline replenished to stand at £6 billion annual contract value Revenue from continuing operations of £3,285 million, up 2.8%; up 4.2% excluding completion of three large contracts in Q1 2014  - Emerging markets revenues up 5.7% to £1,183 million; up 8.7% excluding the Manus Island contract; with stron...

Continued growth and strategic momentum Interserve, the international support services and construction group, announces its half-year results for the six months ended 30 June 2015. Financials  H1 2015 H1 2014 Revenue £1,595.1m £1,374.8m +16% Headline total operating profit* £60.3m £53.7m +12% Profit before tax £33.7m £28.3m +19% Headline earnings per share* 30.3p 27.5p +10% Future Workload £8.3bn £7.5bn +11% Interim dividend 7.9p 7.5p +5% Highlights  Revenue growth of 16 per cent Headline total operating ...