Bicycle theft is a growing problem across the UK, and in recognition of this, the Asset and Property Marking Section of the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has launched a helpful guide for cyclists to emphasise the importance of marking their bikes with forensic solutions in order to deter thieves. Bicycle theft is a huge problem in the United Kingdom, with the National Crime Survey for 2010/11 suggesting that there were over 500,000 bicycle thefts, many of which went unreported. To add to this, the Crime Survey for England and Wales, year ending September 2012, confirmed that ...

Today the SIA celebrates 10 years as the regulator of the UK’s private security industry. The SIA was established as a result of industry lobbying and was created by Parliament with The Private Security Industry Act 2001. The core purpose was to contribute to the Home Office’s crime reduction agenda: with the vision to reduce criminality and raise standards in the private security industry so that the public is, and feels, safer. The SIA was launched in London on 2 April 2003. Since then the SIA has worked with the industry to: license individuals, recognise excellence with the Ap...

Checks on security staff at the venue hosting the UK City of Culture events in Derry-Londonderry took place on Tuesday [19 March]. All those inspected held valid Security Industry Authority licences. SIA investigators carried out the operation to gather information about private security in the area and to test the compliance of security during the events. SIA investigators conducted checks on 25 security operatives, including door supervisors and CCTV operatives. SIA Head of Investigation Sharon Roberts said: “To be awarded the UK City of Culture 2013 status is a prestigious accola...

Police and security industry experts were on hand to provide valuable security advice to North-West based businesses last week, as the annual Manchester Security conference and exhibition returned to the city for the nineteenth consecutive year. Organised by the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) in partnership with Greater Manchester Police and the Manchester City Centre Crime Prevention Panel, the event aims to inform businesses based in the North West about the various security solutions available to help them tackle issues of crime and anti-social behaviour. This year’s con...

The Skills and Standards team at Skills for Security is calling on industry practitioners to lend their knowledge and experience to the development and review of National Occupational Standards within their sectors. Following a successful funding bid to UKCES the Skills and Standards team in association with Advisory Working Groups members will be developing a new suite of NOS for Remote Monitoring, reviewing the existing NOS for Security Search Operations, and reviewing the Scottish Providing Security Systems L3 Apprenticeship Framework. Ruth Oliver, Skills and Standards Manager said: '...

A Northamptonshire security director has been order to pay £2,400 and sentenced to a 250 community punishment order after pleading guilty of working illegally. Ian Matthew Taylor, 40, ran Shadow Protection Services Ltd, supplying door staff to venues in the Wellingborough area. In September 2010, the Security Industry Authority was passed intelligence about Shadow Protection Services Ltd. During on-going enquiries, investigators had determined that Taylor had illegally supplied an unlicensed door supervisor to Rafferty's and The Kingfisher, in Wellingborough, between 31 December 2010...

Bob Forsyth, the Managing Director of MITIE Total Security Management (TSM) introduces his first video blog on Infologue.com (his seventeenth feature overall) in which he discusses commoditisation in the security industry. Recent reports show that margins in the security industry continue to be a challenge. Bob Forsyth discusses why commoditisation has occurred, what can be done about it, and how it will shape the future of companies in the industry. “A number of factors are at the root of commoditisation including changes in how security is bought, and how the issue has grown progress...

In the most detailed study ever undertaken of its kind in the European law enforcement community Europol has identified an estimated 3,600 organised crime groups currently active in the EU. The EU Serious and Organised Crime Threat Assessment (SOCTA), published by Europol today, found that international drug trafficking remains the most active organised crime activity but it also identified the emergence of new criminal phenomena, many linked to the current economic crisis and the internet. These new developments are changing the nature of organised crime towards a model based aroun...

On Tuesday 12th March, at Cardiff Crown Court, a security company director and consultant to a security business were found guilty of falsely claiming to be part of the Security Industry Authority run Approved Contractor Scheme. Dean Campisi, 32, of Alpha Place, Port Talbot and Stephen Bosher, 51, of Longford Road, Neath, claimed security company Secure Serve Facilities Management Services Limited (Secure Serve) was an accredited security company to maintain a lucrative security contract with supermarket chain Lidl. The security company, formerly based in Llewellyns Quay, Port Talbot, h...

Skills for Security, the sector's Skills and Standards Setting Body, has announced today that the new suite of standards for Event Security Operations have been approved by the United Kingdom Commission for Employment and Skills. The new suite of standards can be accessed here. As with all National Occupational Standards developed by Skills for Security, on behalf of the sector, the NOS for Event Security Operations will also be freely available on the National Occupational Standards Database, which can be accessed via: http://www.ukstandards.org.uk/. Skills For Security Website...