The Home Office has today launched a new consultation to reduce the number of passengers arriving in the UK without proper travel documentation. Each year, thousands of undocumented passengers are stopped by Border Force staff at UK airports or seaports. It is the responsibility of air and sea carriers to ensure that passengers have the correct documentation before they board. The cost to the UK of undocumented passengers can be high as many go on to claim asylum. There can also be a security risk as individuals wishing to come here for organised crime or terrorism purposes may view this a...

A new series of seminars and exhibitions are set to explore the latest developments in the CCTV sector, providing expert insight into the latest changes in technology and legislation. Organised by the British Security Industry Association – the trade association representing the UK’s private security industry, including a large number of CCTV manufacturers and installers – the seminars will discuss the ‘current landscape’ for CCTV and talk about the professional use of modern cameras, equipment, and IP connections, including energy saving systems. They will also provide an opport...

Finnish law enforcement authorities, working closely with the European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) at Europol, have dismantled an Asian criminal network responsible for illegal internet transactions and purchasing of airline tickets. As a result of this successful operation, two members of the criminal gang, traveling on false documents, were arrested at Helsinki airport. In addition, around 15,000 compromised credit card numbers were found on the criminals’ seized computers. The criminal network had been misusing credit card details stolen from cardholders worldwide. In Europe alon...

More than 150 checks on security staff working across South Yorkshire found the majority were complying with the law. Operation Hydrus was carried out by the Security Industry Authority and South Yorkshire Police with support from the charity Crimestoppers on Friday [01 March]. The first aim of the operation was to ensure that security staff and their employers were operating within the law, by holding a valid SIA licence and meeting licence conditions. The second aim of the operation was to provide a visible presence in the towns, to encourage the public to report security operatives...

The SIA has today launched its new online e-Renewals service for security companies. The service allows security businesses to renew Security Industry Authority licences, or apply for additional licences, on behalf of their staff. This will simplify the licence application process and help companies to ensure that their employees remain licensed. If a licence holder provides their permission, the employer can submit a renewal application on their behalf without the need of a signature. The online service means there is no need to print or submit documents. Assistant Director Customer Serv...

New research has revealed the growing importance of robust health and safety measures to protect staff and businesses from potential Corporate Manslaughter claims, which can arise when deaths are caused by management failures that are deemed to constitute a gross breach of duty of care. Figures published earlier this year by law firm Pinsent Masons show that the number of corporate manslaughter cases rose to 63 in 2012, compared with 45 in 2011 – an increase of 40%. The firm also warns of an increased focus by the Crown Prosecution Service on corporate manslaughter claims, claiming that m...

Trust, accountability and the delivery of value for money are three key deliverables essential for the private security industry to build successful working relationships with the Police, according to attendees of a recent parliamentary roundtable meeting, hosted by the British Security Industry Association (BSIA). These issues were part of a wider debate on the topic of delivering community policing, which took place at a recent Parliamentary roundtable event hosted by the BSIA and chaired by the Rt Hon Hazel Blears MP. The event brought together MPs, senior figures from the private securi...

Mitigating terror threats is a critical priority for civil, military and private sector stakeholders. Both Counter Terror Expo and Infologue.com have been at the forefront in delivering exclusive content to assist in keeping security practitioners aware of the latest, and potentially new, global and local terrorism trends. Counter Terror Expo is the premier international event delivering buyers and specifiers from across the world within Government, Military, Law Enforcement, Emergency Services, Private Sector and the Security Services. This market leading event hosts the most comprehensiv...

Criminals from drug dealers and gang members to uninsured drivers and burglars were targeted yesterday by the Met Police in a major day of coordinated activity to cut crime and disrupt those who cause harm to London’s communities. As of 19:00 last night, 387 people had been arrested for a variety of criminal activities; including burglaries, robberies and drug-related offences. The Big Wing Operation continued across the capital until midnight last night. Borough officers were joined by specialist colleagues to carry out arrests, search warrants, licensing enforcement, ANPR operations, h...

One in four healthcare professionals have reported that their organisation has been the subject of some sort of data breach, new research carried out on behalf of the Information Destruction (ID) Section of the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has revealed. This surprising statistic comes from a BSIA survey which questioned key workers in the healthcare sector – including consultants, doctors, senior managers, facilities managers and IT managers – of which over half were from hospitals. This research underlines the need for the healthcare sector to continue to implement rob...