A Derby security director has been ordered to pay more than £9,000 after being found guilty of working illegally as an unlicensed security director, and failing to provide information to the Security Industry Authority. Louise Lowe, 29, was the director of Fortis Security (UK) Limited, supplying door supervisors to bars and clubs in Derby city centre. However, she was working illegally as she did not hold the necessary SIA licence to supply operatives. In 2011, SIA investigators were looking into her husband Mark Lowe’s activities, but he ignored their requests for information and s...

On National Day of Action on Metal Theft, on 11 October, will see police and partners across the UK taking positive action against thieves Metal thieves – your time is up. That’s the message from police forces across the UK in response to the news that legislative change is on the way. Changes to the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders (LASPO) Act will outlaw all cash transactions at metal recycling yards across England and Wales and there will be a significant increase in fines for those dealers who fail to abide by the rules. ACPO lead on metal the...

The Justice Secretary has announced that householders would have greater protection from burglars. New measures will mean someone who is confronted by a burglar and has reason to fear for their safety, or the safety of their family, and in the heat of the moment uses force that is reasonable in the circumstances but in the cold light of day seems disproportionate they will not be guilty of an offence. Force which is 'grossly' disproportionate will still not be permitted. Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said: 'Being confronted by an intruder in your own home is terrifying, and t...

Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Bernard Hogan-Howe, today unveiled an enhanced approach to identifying and tracking down vehicles involved in crime, using the largest Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) fleet in the UK. ANPR uses sophisticated digital technology to automatically detect the vehicle registrations of those committing or suspected of committing crime as they move around London's roads. From today, Tuesday, 9 October, all the information retrieved from ANPR equipped police vehicles and cameras will be fed into a new central ANPR bureau based at New Scotland ...

An advertising campaign to help the public understand the role and benefits of elected police and crime commissioners (PCCs) was launched today by the Home Office. The first ever PCC elections will take place on 15 November and are at the heart of the Government's efforts to bring local accountability to policing. PCCs will be accountable for how crime is tackled in their police force areas. They will aim to cut crime and deliver an effective and efficient service. The advertising campaign will raise awareness and understanding of the new role among the British public and let them ...

Broadcast earlier this week, the BBC’s hour long documentary Britain’s Private War investigated the UK’s armed private security industry. Repeated this evening (4th October) on BBC Two Scotland, the programme highlights how former servicemen are dying in Iraq and Afghanistan while on UK Government contracts paid for by the taxpayer with little public knowledge of their deaths. Reporter Sam Poling talked to private security contractors in a sector in which multi-million pound contracts are put up for grabs and where it’s feared some companies put profits before the lives of those on th...

An innovative communication engagement partnership established by the Metropolitan Police Service, London First, Industry and Government will be rolled out nationally this year as it commences its journey to charitable status. The Cross-sector Safety and Security Communications (CSSC) was established in London 18 months ago, with the involvement of 23 industry groups and the added support of the City of London Police, BTP, London Resilience and Transport for London. It provided a communications structure to ensure that businesses factored safety and security into their day-to-day operation...

Bobby Logue and Brian Sims explain why it should be an offence in law for anyone to verbally or physically abuse licensed security personnel. Politicians appear to have learned a new word of late: “Sorry”. It’s one they seem to believe somehow acts as a magic wand to atone for – and ultimately wash away – their previous actions. When Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg used ‘the S word’ last month (by way of an apology to Liberal Democrat supporters for pledging to block any increase in university tuition fees prior to the last General Election), the ‘So Sorry’ mantra was su...

The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) is pleased to announce the launch of a new careers guide. Written in association with Skills for Security, Bridging the Gap, Jobcentre Plus and Remploy, the manual showcases the various opportunities available within the private security industry. For those looking to get back into a job after a period of unemployment or health issues, or simply wanting to make a career change into something more exciting and varied, this new guide supplies the relevant information regarding the wide array of career opportunities and benefits available within p...

From today [Monday 1 October] it will be an offence to clamp, tow or immobilise a vehicle without lawful authority. The SIA Vehicle Immobilisation licence will therefore no longer be valid in England and Wales. Licences will continue to be valid, and issued by the SIA, for use in Northern Ireland. A Home Office fact sheet on the changes can be viewed on its website: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/about-us/legislation/freedom-bill/fact-sheet-part3?view=Binary SIA Website...