Security Industry Authority UK News

SSAIB recently introduced a BAFE SP 205 UKAS-accredited scheme that deals with the certification of companies SSAIB, the UK’s leading certification body for organisations, will be back at Counter Terror Expo on stand M70 for this year’s show, following its successful appearances at the event in 2011 and 2012. With the number of SSAIB-registered firms now at a record 1500 – including companies providing electronic security, intruder alarms, manned protection...

The achievement follows rigorous inspections by the SIA and ISO Woking based security specialist Pilgrims Group Limited has confirmed its position in the top 5% UK security companies for the quality of service, good practice and professionalism of its security and static guarding services. Reports by the government’s Security Industry Authority (SIA) and the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) demonstrate that the company is among the best performers of...

The SIA Approved Contractor scheme requires applicant companies to complete a stringent auditing process The SIA Approved Contractor scheme requires applicant companies to complete a stringent auditing process (both internal and external) which allows the SIA to measure compliance against the relevant British Standards. The audit process is quite intensive and makes stringent demands on applicants who must demonstrate exceptional rigour when implementing procedural and operati...

For some of these opportunities, a specific license issued by the Security Industry Authority (SIA) may be needed 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 unemployme...

Sponsors, exhibitors and supporting organisations presented their products and services to security professionals ASIS International has held its 11th European Security Conference & Exhibition on 15-17 April 2012 at the Hilton London Metropole in London, UK. The event gathered a record attendance of 501 senior security professionals from 46 countries. Delegates were welcomed on 16 April by London Metropolitan Police Service Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe QPM. The event c...

The company's rating of 94 points places it ahead of the majority of other security contractors in the country Octavian Security has been ranked just one point short of the top ten per cent of security providers in the UK, in the voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme, operated by the Security Industry Authority. The scheme aims to raise performance standards within the private security sector.   The company's rating of 94 points places it well ahead of the majority of other security contra...

VRS is working with Network Rail and British Transport Police (BTP) to secure this 45-mile routeCable theft is endemic worldwide within transport infrastructure due to soaring copper prices, and the London Assembly has recently called for cash payments for scrap metal to be outlawed. In August 2010, a single incident of line-side cable theft on the Great Western main line near Reading (within the Thames Valley Area) caused 8,000 delay minutes to passengers and cost the industry around £1....

 A presentation made by Alliance chairman, James Kelly, reflected on the progress made by the AllianceThe newly-rebranded Security Regulation Alliance, celebrated its one year anniversary by reinforcing its support for a new regulatory regime for the security industry at this week's Security Industry Authority (SIA) Stakeholder Conference in Sheffield.A presentation made by Alliance Chairman, James Kelly, reflected on the progress made by the Alliance, alongside the SIA and government...

Napolitano wil receive the Fred. V Morrone 9/11 Memorial AwardThe Security Industry Association (SIA) and the InterPort Police-International Association of Airport & Seaport Police will honour Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Janet Napolitano at the Security Week Gala on November 2, 2011 in New York City. Napolitano will receive the Fred V. Morrone 9/11 Memorial Award in recognition of her leadership and efforts to protect the country from threats that range from te...

 The International Professional Security Association is UK's longest established trade body for security industry  The House of Lords agreement finally reached to remove the Security Industry Authority (SIA) from the Public Bodies Bill. This does not change the overall situation whereby the SIA will be replaced with a "new regulatory regime", however it does mean that the path will be clearer with a single piece of legislation both abolishing the current authority and detaili...

The Security Alliance will now hold discussions with the Government and the SIAThe Government's announcement on 14 October that there will be a phased transition to a new regulatory system was given a cautious welcome by the Security Alliance on 15 October. Since then, the stakeholders in industry who formed that Alliance have met and agreed that they will act in a transparent and consensual way to reflect the security industry's views as a single voice and will work with central and devolved go...

BSIA's tireless lobbying resulted in the Private Security Industry Act of 2001The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) is calling for a renewed focus on the licensing of in-house security personnel. "Many people will be shocked to discover that the same licensing law that applies to contracted-out security guards does not apply to those directly employed by a business or retailer to carry out security services on their premises. These staff are normally referred to as in-house secur...

All Axis Security officers on-site are trained to the CCTV SIA licence as standardAxis Security, one of the UK's fastest growing providers of integrated security solutions, has been selected to protect and provide concierge services at the old Echo newspaper building in Sunderland. Echo 24 is the redevelopment of the old Sunderland Echo newspaper offices, on the South bank of the River Wear. With curving, art-deco forms the building is clad with 2,200 square metres of acid-etched white reconstru...

David was awarded the prize for his pivotal role in the development of the Bridging the Gap projectDavid Evans, Project Director - 2012 at the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) was awarded the prestigious Imbert Prize at the Association of Security Consultants' annual lunch. The Imbert Prize is awarded annually for the development of ideas in the advancement of risk and security management, which, in David's case, relates to his pivotal role in the development of the Bridging the Gap...

The security industry course is led by two highly experienced ACS assessorsThe International Professional Security Association (IPSA) has put together training for people who want to understand the inspection requirements of the SIA Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS). This follows on from reports that consultants have been approaching companies offering to assist with ensuring that they meet the requirements, but the company has subsequently failed the inspection.A trial course was run by IPSA in...

The BSIA endorses the SIA's tough stance on security companies that break the licensing rulesThe British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has welcomed the recent convictions of security company Sabrewatch who have been found guilty of supplying unlicensed security operatives to customers. Sabrewatch, based in East Grinstead, provided security for high street retailers including Marks and Spencer, Morrisons, Harvey Nichols, GAP and Cadbury Schweppes. The firm had been supplying unlicensed sec...

All those working in the private security industry in Northern Ireland now need to hold an SIA licenceAxis Security, one of the UK's fastest growing providers of integrated security solutions, has achieved Approved Contractor Status under the recently launched Northern Ireland SIA regulation. SIA regulation in Northern Ireland was introduced on the 1st December 2009 to ensure that training and professionalism in the private security industry are of the same high standard across the whole of the...

The SIA has obtained guilty verdicts against Sabrewatch for supplying unlicensed security guardsAfter a series of court hearings, the SIA has obtained guilty verdicts against security company Sabrewatch Limited and its directors for supplying unlicensed security guards.The result comes after a lengthy court process concerning offences committed at the time licensing of the manned guarding sector came into force - confirming that the SIA has both the power and intent to prosecute.The East Grinste...

The three major security industry bodies aim to create a standard  for guarding service provisionHard on the heels of the launch of the Contract Quality Marque comes the news that the three major private security industry bodies - the British Security Industry Association (BSIA), the National Security Inspectorate (NSI) and Skills for Security - have announced another important initiative aimed at creating a high-level operational standard for companies wishing to demonstrate a signifi...

Octavian Security offers training courses for door supervisorsOctavian Security is warning door supervisors employed by security firms across Northern Ireland that if they do not get a licence soon, they will be breaking the law. With effect from 1 December 2009, the Security Industry Authority (SIA) will be responsible for regulating the private security industry in Northern Ireland, a role it currently performs in England, Wales and Scotland.Those door supervisors who are not employed in-house...

SIA has new Chief Excutive Today, Bill Butler joins the Security Industry Authority as its new Chief Executive. Speaking today, Bill said: "I am very pleased to be joining the SIA today. What is very clear to me is that the SIA is very focussed on what it needs to achieve, and is demonstrating that it can deliver. "I am looking forward to working with colleagues and meeting stakeholders over the coming weeks and months."

  Andy Drane appointed Acting Chief Executive by Security Industry AuthoritySecurity Industry Authority Chairman Ruth Henig has invited Andy Drane (SIA Director of Compliance and Enforcement) to take up the post of Acting Chief Executive.The recruitment process for a permanent Chief Executive is underway and an announcement will be made shortly.Previous SIA Chief Executive Bernard Herdan, who was appointed in November last year for an interim period of four to six months, took up a new...