British Security Industry Association (BSIA) News

 James Kelly, Chief Executive of the British Security Industry Association (BSIA)'Security - Whatever the Cuts' is the title for this year's free annual Manchester Security event, which will focus on providing businesses with valuable insight as how investing in security solutions during an economic downturn will help them reduce losses associated with threats such as theft and vandalism.This free exhibition with seminar is opened to anyone concerned about security, providing an opportunity...

  The British Security Association encourages government tax credit increases for security businessesThe British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has welcomed the Government's announcement of a boost to tax credits for small businesses conducting Research and Development into new products.  As part of yesterday's Budget announcement, Chancellor George Osborne reinforced the Coalition's support for manufacturing, increasing R&D tax credits to 200% from April 2011, a figure...

 David Evans, BSIA Project Director for 2012 favours the revised Olympic and Paralympic Safety and Security Strategy The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has welcomed the Government's publication of a revised Safety and Security Strategy for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Revised following the publication of the National Security Strategy in October 2010, the Olympic and Paralympic Safety and Security Strategy sets out the key aims and objectives for Police, governm...

 Pauline Norstrom, Chairman, BSIA's CCTV Section has emphasised on the use of CCTV in crime solving Following the second reading of the Protection of Freedoms Bill in the House of Commons earlier this week, the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) is welcoming the positive comments made by many MPs in support of the crime-solving capabilities of CCTV systems. The bill, which ministers claim will protect millions of people in England and Wales "from unwarranted state intrusion i...

 The Sout-East Asian security market will benefit from the Safety and Security Asia 2011 in the coming years  Political conflicts and terrorism concerns in South-east Asia have propelled the region's safety and security industry to new heights. Safety & Security Asia 2011 is held to address these heightening issues and concerns. Convening industry experts from various organisations across the region, this event will...

   James Kelly, Chief Executive, BSIA said that selection of winners was quite difficult due to high standard entrantsThe regional winners of the British Security Industry Association's Annual Security Personnel Awards 2011 have been announced.The awards recognise the excellent work and vital contribution that those working in the security industry are making across the country, and are presented in the following categories: Service to the Customer, Outstanding Act, Best Newcomer, Best...

 The Information Destruction event aims at providing insight into what is topical in the world of information destructionThe British Security Industry Association (BSIA) is hosting its second annual Information Destruction conference and exhibition, aimed at sharing best practice amongst suppliers and service providers within the information destruction industry. The event will take place on the 8th June, and will be essential for keeping up to speed with the key developments in the industr...

 British Security Industry Association, the trade association for the professional security industry in the UKThe Coalition Government published the Protection of the Freedoms Bill, following an announcement by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg. In the Bill, reference is made to the forthcoming appointment of a Surveillance Camera Commissioner, and to the stipulation of a Code of Practice for the CCTV industry.The CCTV Section of the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) - the trade a...

 The BSIA suggests use of the potential in-store security measures such as CCTV and access control Following the publication of the results from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) Retail Crime Survey 2010, the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) urges retailers to up their game in the fight against retail crime by improving their in-store security and seeking advice from reputable security companies.The survey results, released earlier this week, show that the total value of good...

  JSIC is as originally intended a single representative body that can speak for the security industry with government The leak in September 2010 of an imminent government announcement that the Security Industry Authority (SIA) would be axed in the current round of planned expenditure cuts caused the security industry manned guarding interests to reel in shock. The demise of a number of quangoes and other non-departmental public bodies was threatened and in many cases subsequently conf...

  CCTV images capture specific incidents and help identify the prime offenders to make high-profile calls CCTV cameras have played a vital role in bringing to justice those responsible for the violent disorder at last week's large-scale student protests in Millbank, London.Two more arrests were made yesterday following CCTV footage being released to the public, bringing the total number of arrests made over the violence and damage to property to 61.Pauline Norstrom, Chairman...

Police were assisted in this case by use of modern technologies, such as face mapping on CCTV footageThe British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has welcomed the sentencing of four cash-in-transit robbers, which took place at the Old Bailey recently. The offenders, who were responsible for several robberies in London netting them £100,000 and targeting late night cash deliveries to cash machines, received hefty sentences totalling 27 years. James Kelly, BSIA Chief Executive, comments:...

Private security industry can do much to help in the aftermath of catastrophic eventsIn the aftermath of the severe flooding that affected the Cornwall area on Tuesday and Wednesday, the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) analyses how the private security industry can help the police force cope with the challenges brought on by natural disasters, recalling the successful partnership that was formed when dealing with the devastating effects of the Gloucestershire flooding in 2007.The he...

Mick Lee, Chairman of the BSIA's Police and Public Services Section which represents private security companiesAs the clear-up continues at Conservative Party headquarters following last week's violent student protests against tuition fees, the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) is highlighting the important role that the private security industry could play in avoiding future clashes. Wednesday's protest, initially expected to attract 20,000 protestors, was in fact attended by an esti...

David states that the 2012 Olympics represent a significant business opportunity for BSIA membersThe British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has announced its support for the forthcoming Olympic and Paralympic Safety and Security Conference 2010. The event, now in its second year, will take place on 25 November and is hosted by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in Whitehall, London. With less than two years to go before the opening ceremony planning for 2012 steps up a gear, shaped...

Tim has a wealth of experience working in communications and PR, particularly within the security industryThe British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has appointed its National PR Committee Chairman.Tim Compston, from BSIA member company RemGuard Visual Management, will be heading the BSIA National PR meetings for the next 12 months, having been re-elected Chairman by the rest of the committee representatives last week.The National PR Committee, attended by the BSIA communications team and...

Long hours of darkness during winter make properties more vulnerableAs the days are getting shorter and the cold starts settling in, the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) is reminding homeowners of the importance of ensuring that their homes and possessions are protected this winter. Past events have proven that the risk of falling victim of crimes such as burglary increases during the cold season, as long hours of darkness make properties more vulnerable. However, simple and cost-eff...

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...

The BSIA reaction comes after airport security measures in the UK were criticisedAs Western airlines once again become the focus of terrorist threat, the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) is highlighting the ongoing importance of aviation security in the fight against extremism.A plot by Yemen-based members of terrorist group Al-Qaida to smuggle explosive materials within innocuous-looking printer cartridges on US cargo planes was uncovered sometime back, causing authorities...

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...

The private security industry can do much to help in the face of police budget cuts As Chancellor George Osborne reveals the Coalition government's four-year Public Spending Review Plan, the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) analyses how public and private sectors could work together to overcome challenges brought on by budget cuts, particularly within the police force.The Comprehensive Spending Review, covering the whole of the public sector during the four years from...

Independent oversight is key to maintaining public confidence in the private security industryThe British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has called for the Home Secretary to carefully consider the implications of the rumoured abolition of theSecurity Industry Authority (SIA), following recent speculation in the press that the security industry regulator is about to be scrapped. In a letter to Theresa May MP, BSIA Chief Executive, James Kelly, appeals for the Home Office to engage with the...

"Reducing false fire alarms and unwanted fire alarm signals represents a constant challenge in our industry"The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has welcomed the recent publication of a series of best practice guidelines by the Chief Fire Officers' Association (CFOA). The CFOA Protocol for the Reduction of False Alarms and Unwanted Fire Signals was launched recently, and represents a significant step forward in the reduction of false fire alarms, affecting both fire an...

The 'Storage and Retrieval Solutions for the Surveillance World' seminar will be presented by Pauline NorstromCCTV specialist Dedicated Micros - part of AD Group - announces that it will be hosting two key seminars at IP Expo, at Earls Court 2, in London on Thursday, 21 October, under the 'Life Safety and IP Security' track. These will address key surveillance issues in the IP world from the effective handling of the large amounts of video footage now generated to the security of the infrastruct...

Smart CCTV or Video Content Analysis uses complex algorithms that detect suspicious behaviour in public placesWith the US, Japan and several other countries issuing warnings about travel through Europe - and France issuing a UK terror alert advising ‘extreme vigilance' on British public transport and popular attractions, the BSIA looks at the UK's response, and how technology is attempting to prevent another tragedy like 7/7.The advancements in security technology in transport mean that th...

BS8418 is the British Standard for remotely monitored, detector-activated CCTV systemsResearch carried out by the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) amongst its CCTV section members has provided a valuable insight into the benefits of BS8418 solutions to the CCTV industry and its customers. First introduced in 2003, BS8418 is the British Standard for remotely monitored, detector-activated CCTV systems. As the standard has just gone through a process of revision, the BSIA's recent surve...

BSIA members will showcase a range of products including access control systems at Security Essen 2010Members of the British Security Industry Association's Export Council have given an exclusive preview of what visitors can expect to see at this year's Security Essen exhibition, which takes place from 5 - 8 October. As the trade association representing the UK's private security industry, the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) and its dedicated Export Council play a vital role in forg...

Effective working partnerships between police and private security companies result in budgetary savingsWith budget cuts across the public sector recently announced by the Coalition government, police forces across the country will be faced with increased pressure to cut costs while maintaining an excellent level of service to local communities. The private security industry can do much to help police forces overcome this challenge, especially when it comes to protecting national and regional in...

The government has alloted a budget of £600m for Olympic securityThe British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has reinforced the important role of the private security industry in securing the London 2012 Olympic Games, following the concerns expressed over event security by London Mayor, Boris Johnson. Speaking at the London Assembly, Johnson cited public sector budget cuts as a main area of concern, and vowed to fight hard to protect the £600m budget for Olympic security. "...

Andrew's retirement will mark a sad day for the security industry as a wholeThe British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has reacted with sadness to the announcement of Andrew White's imminent departure from the NSI. James Kelly, BSIA Chief Executive, comments: "Andrew's retirement will mark a sad day for the security industry as a whole. Throughout his four-year tenure at NSI, he has worked tirelessly to restore key relationships with Government and industry stakeholders, and has succe...