New research released by the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has challenged the concept of ‘big brother’ style state surveillance, with new figures revealing that privately-owned CCTV systems outnumber those operated by police and local authorities by as many as 70 to 1. Launched at a press conference held in London on Wednesday, 10th July, the results of a comprehensive report, carried out by the BSIA – the trade body representing the UK’s private security industry – reveal the truth behind the public perception of the UK’s ‘surveillance culture’, while raising...

NSI Regional Meetings provide an important link between the NSI executive and its NACOSS Gold approved companies within their respective regions. NSI is pleased to announce the appointment of a new Chairman and Assistant Chairman for the Southern Region. At present there are ten regions across the UK, all offering a forum for debate, shared experiences, industry updates and discussions on best practice. The meetings take place on average, every sixth months at various locations within each region. Each region has a Chairman and Assistant Chairman nominated from NSI NACOSS Gold compan...

Serco Group plc (Serco), the international service company, notes today's announcements from the UK Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and the Cabinet Office. These reflect the initial findings of the independent audit of the electronic monitoring contract originally let in 2005. The audit was commissioned by the MoJ on 17 May 2013. The initial findings of the audit have highlighted to the MoJ matters of potential concern in relation to billing practices. Serco has therefore agreed with the MoJ that a detailed investigation into the contract should continue with Serco's full cooperation. The...

G4S notes the Justice Secretary’s announcement today and provides the following additional information: The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is an important customer and G4S is committed to addressing and resolving the MoJ’s concerns as soon as possible. G4S has co-operated fully with the PwC audit and is committed to co-operating with all audits of current contracts to the full extent provided under those contracts. G4S has requested full details of the PwC audit findings and looks forward to receiving these in order to address any findings. The Justice Secretary has confirmed that, follow...

Secretary of State for Justice, Chris Grayling, has made a statement in the House of Commons today (11th July, 2013) with regard to electronic monitoring contracts with Serco and G4S. He said: "Mr Speaker, I would like to make a statement about the Ministry of Justice’s electronic monitoring contracts with G4S Care and Justice Services and Serco Monitoring. These contracts provide for the tagging of individuals on bail and offenders under supervision in the community. The current contracts were awarded under the previous Government, in November 2004, and are due to expire shortly. "The...

Parliamentary Report provides Insight into Current UK Terror Threat The Intelligence and Security Committee has published a new annual report covering the work of MI5 and the UK's other security and intelligence agencies. The Committee, which is appointed by Parliament and reports directly to Parliament, provides independent oversight of the agencies' work. Included in this report is a summary of the threat assessment to the UK from international terrorism which is set out below;  THE CURRENT UK TERRORISM THREAT PICTURE “The UK threat level from international terrorism is SU...

At Luton Crown Court on 5 July, a Bedfordshire security director was sentenced to 27 months imprisonment after pleading guilty to offences under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. Thomas John Rice, 42, of Bedford Road, Wilstead, Bedfordshire, ran Paragon Security Services Ltd, a vehicle clamping and removal business based in Bedfordshire. Rice did not hold an SIA licence, and his company employed staff without frontline vehicle immobiliser licences, or whose licences had expired. Paragon Security ran from October 2005 to 2011. It is estimated that during that time £500,000 was taken...

Jewellers and pawnbrokers are running the risk of prosecution by failing to properly check second-hand items, according to members of the British Security Industry Association’s Asset and Property Marking Section, whose new guide, ‘Spotting Stolen Goods: A Guide for Jewellers and Pawnbrokers’ is published this week. Watches, laptops, mobile phones and jewellery are among the most common items to be offered for sale, but smaller items such as these are also more likely to have been obtained through pickpocketing or burglary. By accepting these items without question, jewellers and pawn...

Terror suspects and hate preachers will be stripped of their benefits, Theresa May told the Commons yesterday. That was one of a series of lessons the Home Secretary vowed to learn from the twelve-year battle to deport Abu Qatada, whose family have received more than £500,000 since he arrived in Britain. The Home Secretary was cheered by Tory MPs as she confirmed that the fanatic had finally been put on a plane to Jordan. She told the House that Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith was already examining ‘how we can curtail the benefits claims made by terror susp...

In June of this year, NSI launched the ‘Wall of Shame’; a dedicated page on the NSI website to publicise the names of organisations who falsely claim to be NSI approved. The initiative has been warmly welcomed by the industry, prompting much positive feedback and discussion. NSI has a high success rate in addressing misuse of logo complaints.  Through direct contact with those making misrepresentations and with the assistance of Trading Standards and the Advertising Standards Authority, most misuse of logo issues are addressed and rectified quickly and co-operatively. The ‘Wall of Sham...