This month sees the publication of a new Publicly Available Specification (PAS) that provides a method of assessing the performance of a forensic code. To help those working in the industry to understand the main points of the PAS, the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has produced a short guide outlining its key points. Forensic marking products are used to link items to an owner or place, or a suspect to stolen goods or the scene of a crime. They can be used to protect cables, lead roofing, personal property (e.g. computers and mobile phones), banknotes and safety-critical part...

Eleven illegal workers have been arrested after a UK Border Agency operation targeting a restaurant in Marylebone. Acting on intelligence, officers visited the Lahore Restaurant on Gateforth Street at 19:00 on Saturday 1 September 2012, where they questioned staff to check if they had the right to work in the UK. They arrested 7 Pakistani men aged between 23 and 37, 2 Afghan men aged 24, a 26-year-old Afghan man and a 47-year-old Indian man. Six of the Pakistanis and the Indian had overstayed their visas, all the Afghans had entered the country illegally, and a 24-year-old Pakistani ...

The first Detection Dog in the world to be trained to sniff out forensic markings on stolen metal is set to help police officers crack down on metal theft in the UK. Instead of locating drugs or human remains, a two-year old black Labrador called Jazz has been trained by former Police Officer and Home Office Police Dog Instructor Mick Swindells to locate SelectaDNA forensic markings on a range of metals including copper, lead and aluminium. Metal theft is costing the UK economy approximately £770m a year and there are about 1,000 incidents reported each week. SelectaDNA is being u...

Chris Grayling has today been announced as the Secretary of State for Justice following a Ministerial reshuffle. He was previously Minister of State for Employment at the Department for Work and Pensions. Speaking about the appointment, Permanent Secretary, Ursula Brennan said: 'I'm delighted to welcome Chris Grayling to the Ministry of Justice. He joins us in the midst of a radical programme to reform the justice system. One of the first things we will be discussing is his vision for the justice system and how we will deliver this. I'd also like to pay tribute to our previou...

Leading organisations from across the security industry are to impart their shared expertise at a forthcoming series of seminars entitled PD6662: The Industry Debate, aimed at educating a wider audience about the implications of the PD6662 scheme relating to hold-up and intruder alarms. The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) will be joined by the National Security Inspectorate (NSI) and Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board (SSAIB), as well as the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and its Scottish counterpart, ACPOS, in a series of presentations and debates surround...

Figures from the Office for National Statistics published today show estimated net migration in the UK has fallen to 216,000 in the year to December 2011, from 252,000 to the year to December 2010, as a raft of recent reforms to the immigration system start to bite. Home Office statistics also released today reveal further reductions in the number of student and work visas issued – two of the main reasons for migration to the UK. Fall in net migration Immigration Minister Damian Green said: 'We are now starting to see the real difference our tough policies are making, with a...

Stabbings and shootings among young people have fallen since the launch of the Trident Gang Crime Command just over six months ago. Overall serious youth violence is down by 34 per cent, equating to 1,000 fewer victims Knife injuries involving those under the age of 25 have reduced by 29 per cent The number of times a gun has been discharged has dropped by 21 per cent. Officers have been engaged in pro-active and targeted operations to tackle and disrupt criminal gang activity. Since April, more than 1,500 known gang members have been arrested, many of them charged with serio...

Research undertaken by security trade body the British Security Industry Association (BSIA), has revealed an increase in demand for security from the retail sector over the past 12 months, with petty theft, shoplifting and theft by employees the biggest cause of this rise. The survey, which aimed to identify trends in retail security over the past year, was completed by members from across all sections of BSIA membership, with those focused on security guarding and the manufacture and installation of intruder alarms and staff protection technology showing particularly significant levels of ex...

New figures have revealed how efficiently and effectively the courts and tribunals service operated during the Olympics. In the criminal courts, a process was put in place to 'fast track' any cases directly connected with the London 2012 Games. To date 84 such cases have been listed at London magistrates' courts. Of the 84 fast track cases, 36 have already been dealt with by the magistrates' courts and 28 cases have been sent or committed to the Crown Court. The courts are now gearing up to deliver the same efficient service throughout the Paralympics games. Courts Minister, Jon...

Security Industry Authority investigators checked 156 security operatives including door supervisors, CCTV operatives, security guards and close protection operatives to ensure they held and displayed a valid SIA licence as is required by law. In total, 42 venues were checked across nine cities. These venues included retail parks, shopping centres, a power station and a racecourse. The checks were carried out to ensure compliance remained robust in other areas while the Olympic Games were held. 151 operatives held a valid SIA licence. Five people were found to be working illegally; four with...