British Security Industry Association (BSIA) News

The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has appointed Pauline Norstrom and Uzair Osman as new non-executive directors of the Association’s Operating Board. Pauline Norstrom Pauline, the CEO of Anekanta®AI and Anekanta®Consulting, and a former Chair of the Association, has driven good practice for security sector technology for over 20 years. She has a background in leadership, innovation, and commercialisation, and in her current role at Anekanta®, has created the a...

The delegates of Euralarm’s Services Section have elected Dave Wilkinson as Vice-Chair of the section. He follows in the footsteps of Brian Cunningham. Robert Thilthorpe, Chair of the Services Section, stated, “I’d like to thank Brian for his efforts as the previous Vice-Chair and I am sure that Dave will be given the support that our delegates have always given Brian and I, to help us to move the Services Section to the next level." Development of service standards Thiltho...

A new digital technology that helps organisations to monitor and manage a broad spectrum of new and existing security systems and peripherals from a smartphone through a complementary user-friendly app has been introduced by OPTEX, the global pioneer in security sensing technology. Olarm MAX Olarm MAX – is a discrete, Graded Dual-Path (DP) digital communicator that can be quickly and easily installed alongside a new and existing alarm panel to make them smart and effectively bring 21...

The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has appointed Martin Watson as its new Chair at the Association’s Spring Forum and Annual General Meeting. With a background in fire, security, and engineering spanning 40 years, Martin is currently Industry Laison Director for BSIA members Mitie Fire & Security Systems; he is also the Chair of the Fire Industry Association, and until recently, was Chair of the Association’s Security Systems section. BSIA’s chairman Martin...

The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has announced its regional security personnel winners for 2024, recognising frontline security officers across the United Kingdom for their commitment to keeping people, property and places professionally protected. The BSIA’s regional security personnel awards are part of the Association’s British Security Awards, which will be held from 2024 at the Royal Lancaster London. All regional winners will now go forward as national finalist...

The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has updated its manufacturers’ code of practice that recommends on the design, testing and manufacture of safety and security products with cyber exposure, whilst aligning with major new UK legislation. Manufacturers of safety and security systems' Cybersecurity code of practice, is based on international industry best practices regarding cybersecurity and refers to recognised guidance and standards applied to safety and security systems....

The first ever British Standard code of practice focusing on the ethical use and deployment of facial recognition technology (FRT), developed on recommendations by the British Security Industry Association (BSIA), has been released by the British Standards Institute (BSI). Facial recognition technology The code of practice, Facial recognition technology - Ethical use and deployment in video surveillance-based systems – Code of practice (BS 9347:2024) - has been developed by the BSI, in i...

The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has signed award-winning security broker - Darwin Clayton as the new regional and national security personnel sponsor of its major awards scheme for 2024. Lead sponsor Darwin Clayton, BSIA Associate member since 2004 and provider of insurance brokerage for over 100 years, will be the lead sponsor of the Association’s five personnel-based categories.  Aimed at recognising and rewarding security officer services across the United Kingd...

OPTEX, the global sensor manufacturer, has appointed Lawrence Peters as Head of Sales in the UK and Ireland to further strengthen and expand OPTEX’s capabilities across the region. Lawrence Peters' responsibilities Lawrence Peters will be responsible for pioneering and implementing OPTEX’s domestic sales and growth strategy, with a particular focus on new customer acquisition across key vertical markets, including the retail, logistics, data centre, critical infrastructure, and res...

The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has created a toolkit for alarm installers to encourage their customers to ‘Beat the Big Switch Off’ and be All-IP ready as analogue lines are switched off at the end of 2025. PSTN switch-off Since the initial announcement by Openreach in 2017 of the PSTN switch-off, the BSIA has been engaging with its members to ensure that they are fully aware and prepared for the final upgrade deadline of December 2025. While many companies have...

The British Security Industry Association (BSIA), founder members Securitas UK, has been working with homeless charities and funding initiatives that will mean the delivery of hot meals and accommodation for those who find themselves in need of services as well as providing key provisions to assist in a better quality of life. Working with Calderwood House in Cumbria, which was set up to help people experiencing homelessness get back on their feet, its charitable donations have funded a be...

The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) is calling on the UK government for clarity on how it intends to fill the void left after the recent resignation of its Biometric & Surveillance Camera Commissioner (B&SCC) and the abolition of its office. The current commissioner, Fraser Sampson, will remain in post until the end of October, before the functions of the role are expected to be subsumed by the Investigatory Powers Commissioner, as part of the Data Protection and Digit...

The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has appointed Paddy Kyle as its Chief Commercial Officer. Paddy Kyle  Paddy joins the Association bringing 25 years of commercial experience in the fire and security industry, specialising in sales teams. Paddy has a strong track record in aligning marketing strategy with sales objectives for companies such as Texecom. His prime responsibility will be to drive membership retention and accelerate membership growth, working closely with...

Pyronix has won at the British Security Awards 2023 in the ‘Innovative Security Project’ category with their CarDefender; a complete industry-first, combined technology device. The CarDefender works in conjunction with Pyronix alarm systems when in wireless range of the control panel to deliver instant notification via HomeControl2.0 in the event of attempted theft, it can even raise the house alarm if desired. British Security Awards The British Security Awards are held by the B...

Eptura, the global work tech pioneer announced an enhancement to its visitor management software with the new Emergency list feature to improve occupant safety and streamline the building evacuation process during emergencies. Emergency list feature The enhancement is intended for organisations that find themselves lacking data that indicates who is present in the building or on the job site between flexible working arrangements, external contractors, and guests amid the current evolution of...

The BSIA’s flagship event, the British Security Awards, returned to the live stage to recognise security officers and businesses working to keep people, property and places professionally protected during the last 18 months. British Security Awards In its 26th year, held in 2023 at the sold-out Grand Connaught Rooms, the industry celebrated security excellence with 18 awards presented to security officers and businesses in front of clients and leading industry stakeholders. The show als...

The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has announced its regional security personnel winners for 2023, recognising security officers across the United Kingdom for their commitment to keeping people and property professionally protected. The BSIA’s regional security personnel awards are part of the Association’s British Security Awards, which will be held in 2023 at the Grand Connaught Rooms London on 21 June, 2023. Security personnel awards All regional winners will now...

The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has elected broadcaster and campaigner - Nick Ross CBE as its new President. Nick will replace Sir Keith Povey, who retires as President after 14 years, taking up the role on 19th April at the Association’s Annual General Meeting in London. His primary goal will be to continue the work on developing the relationship between police and private security. Crime prevention committees Starting as a junior reporter while still at university, Ni...

The British Security Industry Association (BSIA), is calling on the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) to review current commercial safety schemes that are affecting its members’ ability to remain competitive. Concerns have been raised around the time-consuming and administratively costly processes often used as a barrier to entry on prospective customer sites, requiring an organisation to acquire and maintain multiple accreditations for the very same management system and paying for the...

Intruder Detection manufacturer - Texecom is pleased to confirm their Digital Services platforms have received Cyber Security Product Assurance Group (CySPAG) accreditation from the BSIA. CySPAG accreditation Set up in 2017, the Cyber Security Product Assurance Group (CySPAG) is an action group that is operated by the BSIA to tackle cybersecurity in the professional security industry to ensure best-in-class digital security products enter the market. Following a strict assessment procedure to...

The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) is to rename its Best Newcomer category at the British Security Awards in memory of security operative Gaby Hutchinson, who lost their lives in the course of duty in December. Gaby, who worked as a dog handler for BSIA members County, was on duty with their dog Coco on the night of the Asake concert on 15 December and was caught up in the ensuing incident, tragically losing their life on 19 December. Best Newcomer category The Best Newcomer cat...

The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) is delighted to announce it has renewed its exclusive sponsorship partnership with IFSEC. Now in its 50th year, IFSEC is the ever-popular annual trade show and industry gathering for the global security sector, held at London’s ExCel exhibition venue. Organised by Informa Markets, it is the largest and longest running security related event in the United Kingdom, regularly welcoming over 20,000 visitors from the UK and over 115 different co...

The British Security Industry Association (BSIA), its training subsidiary Skills for Security, and members SecuriGroup have launched the UK’s first apprenticeship for front-line security personnel. They aim to tackle the outdated image of security and recruit younger people to the industry. The UK is facing an acute shortage of security officers, increased demand for security services, an aging workforce, Brexit, and fall-out from the COVID-19 pandemic, meaning around 62,000 new security...

Integrated security manufacturer TDSi has been honoured by the BSIA (British Security Industry Association) in recognition of its 30 years of membership. To mark the occasion, TDSi Managing Director John Davies was presented with an Anniversary Trophy by BSIA Director John MacAskill MSyl at the Intersec 2023 event in Dubai in January. Well-deserved reputation John Davies commented, “It’s an honour to have been associated with the BSIA for the last 30 years, and to have been able t...

The British Security Industry Association’s (BSIA) flagship event, the British Security Awards, is to move to a new venue and date for 2023. The awards, now in its 26th year, will take place on Wednesday, 21 June, a week earlier than previous years, at the iconic Grand Connaught Rooms, Covent Garden London. After last year’s sell out event at the London Marriott Grosvenor Square, it was decided to move to a bigger venue as the awards continues its growth into one of the major events...

Skills for Security, the UK's fire and security apprenticeship provider announces the appointment of Arevika Stepanian to the Board as a Director of Corporate Relations (Non-Executive), with immediate effect. Responsibilities  As a Director of Corporate Relations at Skills for Security, Arevika will be working with channel partners and media affiliates to increase the support of, and sponsorship of robust skills pipeline for the UK electrotechnical sector, with a focus on fire and securit...

The UK’s private security industry must recruit, train and licence more than 62,000 new security officers over the next 12 months to keep up with the growing demand for their services and keep the public safe, according to the British Security Industry Association (BSIA), the trade body for the professional security industry in the UK. To meet demand the BSIA launches a major national initiative, ‘People, Property, Places: Professionally Protected’, to increase awareness of th...

RISCO’s new apprenticeship programme is playing its part in helping the security industry to address a 30,000 shortage of engineers. Taking place in conjunction with a restructuring of the firm’s sales operation, the initiative will also enhance the UK installer offer provided by the manufacturer and distributor of security solutions. The new apprentices will help to ensure that RISCO continues to give installers rapid access to knowledgeable, UK-based engineers who provide them wit...

The British Security Industry Association’s (BSIA) wholly owned subsidiary, Skills for Security, has sold part of its share equity to The Banks Foundation (TBF). With a 49.9% share in Skills for Security, TBF will allocate its generated income to activities centered around young entrepreneurs encouraging and advancing their careers, training, salaries, and seed-fund start-ups. IoT and Security TBF was set up by Entrepreneur and Founder of CSL Group, Simon Banks, a long-standing advocate...

Reliance High-Tech, the independent security technology integrator, is celebrating 30 years of membership of the British Security Industry Association (BSIA). During this time, Reliance High-Tech has been able to help shape the direction of the security industry by sharing its knowledge with other members and playing an active role in a number of special interest groups. Voice of the security industry Since it was formed in 1967, the BSIA has firmly established itself as the voice of the prof...