Security Industry Authority UK- Experts & Thought Leaders

When Care Protect wanted to upscale its operations in healthcare safety and monitoring services to a large private provider, it turned to Hikvision’s HikCentral video management software, in combination with offsite cloud video storage from Manything Pro. Care Protect is an innovative organisation. It was created to promote excellent, sustainable and consistent care delivery in health and social care settings. That innovation is reflected in the way the company integrates technology into the very heart of its care provision services. It uses the latest camera and audio technology, alongside the latest secure cloud-based video storage services, with a team of health and social care professionals reviewing and assessing around the clock. Social care environments Because of this diligence in monitoring, high levels of independent scrutiny can be guaranteed. The result is that through this transparency, reassurance is available for residents and their families, knowing that vulnerable adults and children are better safeguarded and protected. In all cases, system use is with the prior consent of residents and relatives or next of kin only. Care Protect was established to help address public concerns over incidents of poor care or malpractice Care Protect’s independent monitors are very well qualified, with years of relevant health and social care experience, together with all necessary Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks and Security Industry Authority (SIA) licencing. Collectively they offer a high level of sector knowledge and expertise essential to assist and advise those with responsibility for safeguarding and quality and clinical governance. One of the key reasons that Care Protect was established to help address public concerns over incidents of poor care or malpractice in health and social care environments, some of which have seen wide media coverage. Private healthcare provider As a result, sound and motion detection alarms and infrared filming is utilised so immediate alerts can be raised if an incident is seen or heard or there is a connectivity or maintenance issue. Video recordings also include the use of privacy settings to block any agreed zones or areas of view as required. With video footage playing such a crucial role in Care Protect’s service, it is of pivotal importance that the system in place to manage the viewing of that video is stable, reliable and effective. One of Care Protect’s clients is a large private healthcare provider, for which Care Protect monitors bedrooms and communal areas of child and adult wards in hospitals nationwide throughout England. Care Protect also monitors elderly care homes for several different providers. Offsite video storage Care Protect also monitors elderly care homes for several different providers Care Protect’s IT & Systems Director, Andy Johnson, said Care Protect Directors have a background in the care industry, which has informed the monitoring system the company utilises. “We’ve developed a system based on the reviewing of recorded footage by social workers and nurses to advise, initially, on the quality of practice,” Johnson explains. “The contract with the large private healthcare company saw our operation change to caring for patients who pose a high risk to themselves for self-harm. Because of the importance of this monitoring in ensuring the patients’ wellbeing, it was critical that we were able to efficiently manage that video, both in terms of live monitoring and offsite video storage.” Cloud video storage The new focus required an upscaling of Care Protect’s operational office in Belfast (the company’s head office is in Yarm, Cleveland). A key element of this upscaling was the use of Hikvision’s HikCentral video management software, which needed to be able to deliver high quality images to a Samsung multi-screen video wall for real-time monitoring. Resident and patient rights to privacy remain at the core of Care Protect’s operations Video management via HikCentral at Belfast is critical, as is the offsite cloud video storage provided by Manything Pro, as Care Protect is careful to ensure there is no local recording of video onsite at the customer’s facilities so that it cannot be tampered with. Resident and patient rights to privacy remain at the core of Care Protect’s operations, and they ensure they comply with and exceed all relevant legislation and guidelines, including the Data Privacy Act and Surveillance Camera Code of Practice. Intelligent surveillance platform HikCentral is a comprehensive, intelligent surveillance platform. The newly improved HikCentral delivers data and intelligence via a pre-installed VMS on standard, off-the-shelf servers, and contains advanced functions including advanced live view and playback, thermal imaging, queue detection, low bandwidth adaptability, video linkage with access control, enhanced alarm management and smart wall operation – as in use at Care Protect. HikCentral manages the cameras, the smart wall monitors, and the video decoders that drive the images to the multiple screens in the Belfast hub. These screens cover 21 separate hospital sites for Care Protect’s private health provider customer. “One of the key features of HikCentral for us was the new smart wall functionality,” Johnson says, “Allowing us to manage multiple screens from the one place, rather than having software to run an application to then put it on the screens.” Network mini domes We use Smart Maps within HikCentral for interactive floor plans for the hospitals we monitor" Care Protect also makes good use of HikCentral’s Smart Maps function. “We use Smart Maps within HikCentral for interactive floor plans for the hospitals we monitor,” Johnson explains. “We have a selection of the communal cameras live on the maps, and our reviewers can click into the relevant area and get an overview without having to further interrogate those floor plans.” The appeal of this VMS, he says, was down to both the newly mature and advanced functions of the latest version of HikCentral, as well as its very competitive pricing compared to its rivals. Care Protect uses 500 HikCentral licences and a variety of Hikvision cameras are deployed across the customer’s facilities, predominantly unobtrusive 4MP and 6MP high resolution network mini domes. Hikvision Smart functionality on those cameras also proves extremely useful, Johnson says. Smart camera functions “The use of Hikvision Smart events on the cameras helps our reviewers to know how many people are in a room or a designated zone at a particular time,” he says. “These sorts of Smart features can greatly assist our reviewers, allowing us to be more efficient and effective in responding to the needs of patients.” Those in-built Smart camera functions are complemented by the use of audio analytics Those in-built Smart camera functions are complemented by the use of audio analytics. In some cases this audio software is used to trigger cameras so that potential incidents can be automatically viewed and assessed by a Care Protect reviewer. The results of utilising this technology, according to Johnson, have been highly successful. “We have been able to upscale our operation to 27 screens, to accommodate 21 hospital sites for our biggest customer, to great satisfaction from their end as it is safeguarding the vulnerable patients that they care for,” he says. Poor network conditions In addition to monitoring the live streams for certain hospitals, Care Protect’s independent monitors are tasked with reviewing all recorded video to ensure that the quality of care provided meets the required standards. For this they utilise the services of Hikvision cloud video technology partner, Manything Pro. Care Protect have almost 3,000 cameras recording video to the Manything Pro platform. All video is stored offsite in the secure Manything Pro cloud and can be accessed via the Manything Pro app and website. Manything Pro software runs on Hikvision cameras and is constantly monitoring the bandwidth conditions on each site. If necessary, the software will dynamically adjust the video bit rate to ensure recorded events are sent to the cloud even in poor network conditions. “We use Manything Pro for our cloud storage, so any recorded footage goes up to them, and we review through their website,” he says. “Some providers that we work with aren’t part of the live streaming through HikCentral in our Belfast monitoring centre. For these sites we also use the Manything Pro app and website to view the camera live streams.”

On 10 December, the Security Industry Authority demonstrated its commitment to tackling labour exploitation by inviting senior pioneers from the twenty largest private security businesses to a special summit.  The event forms part of Operation EMPOWER, which is the SIA’s response to labour exploitation. EMPOWER involves a dedicated multi-disciplinary team that includes intelligence specialists and criminal investigators. Unfairness and distortion  Paul Fullwood hosted the summit, which he described as “unique”, at the SIA’s offices. Paul, who leads Operation EMPOWER and is the SIA Director of Inspections and Enforcement, said: “This is the first time that we’ve held a meeting of this kind, and we hope you’ll all use this opportunity to make your voices heard. We’ve seen that there is an appetite throughout the industry, from top to bottom, to address labour exploitation." "The unfairness and distortion it brings is bad for everybody, not just the individuals who are directly affected.”  Integrity of private security industry Michelle Russell, SIA Chief Executive, had previously opened the event with a welcome and an explanation of why labour exploitation matters so much: “Labour exploitation undermines the integrity of, and public trust in, the private security industry." "It undermines the good work of companies that operate lawfully and ethically, and undermines the raison d’etre of the industry, which is to protect people. It is by working together we can stop exploitation of people working in private security.”  Business in the security supply chain Liam Emmerson of HMRC gave a presentation on the work that HMRC is doing in conjunction with the SIA Liam Emmerson of His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) gave a presentation on the work that HMRC is doing in conjunction with the SIA. He explained that HMRC ordinarily expects operatives to be employed by a business in the security supply chain to ensure that PAYE tax and national insurance are properly accounted for.  Ronnie Megaughin, SIA Head of Compliance and Inspections, spoke to the group about some of the intelligence-led operational activity that his team has put into action since the launch of Operation EMPOWER. He described how the SIA has mobilised its Compliance & Inspections and Criminal Enforcement investigators across the UK, with some significant success.  Benefits of security services The group then took part in an open roundtable discussion. Among the subjects under discussion were what further could be done by the government, the regulator, and the industry to tackle labour exploitation; educating buyers of security in the benefits of purchasing services on the basis of quality rather than price; and ensuring compliance and fair employment practices throughout the supplier chain. Participants put forward suggestions including improved co-operation between statutory agencies, a requirement that government contracts for security should be restricted to SIA-approved contractors, and greater transparency and effective auditing of subcontracted suppliers. The summit finished with a commitment for the group to meet again in spring 2025, and to widen participation to include more of the top businesses in the UK private security industry.

A man has been jailed for almost three years after he used a fake Security Industry Authority (SIA) licence to work at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust and commit theft. £1425 cash theft Daniel Carter, who has a criminal history of fraud and deception, used his position as a security supervisor to steal £1425 cash from the hospital. The SIA worked closely with Leicestershire Police to investigate Carter, who had never held an SIA licence, despite being employed as a security supervisor. The investigation found he lied to his employer in order to work at the Trust from November 2022 until January 2023, when the theft took place. Investigation findings  In 2018, he was sentenced to more than a year in prison for fraud and theft for stealing bank details He pleaded guilty to 11 indictments, including 3 counts of theft by an employee and 8 counts of fraud and false representation. He was sentenced to 33 months' imprisonment on 28 October at Leicestershire Crown Court. In 2018, he was sentenced to more than a year in prison for fraud and theft for stealing bank details of customers while working as a security guard. Fraud and deception Jenny Hart, Criminal Investigations Manager at the SIA said, “Mr. Carter is a career criminal with a long history of fraud and deception. He used a fake SIA licence to deceive his employers and in doing so put the public he was there to protect in danger." “His deceitful actions not only undermined the trust placed in him as a security professional, but he used his position to target a hospital for his financial gain. His calculated dishonesty and theft will not be tolerated, and this case underscores our commitment to protecting the public by ensuring that only licenced, vetted professionals serve in trusted roles and bringing those seeking to break the rules to justice.” licenced security operatives licenced security operatives undergo robust training requirements to help them protect the public. Untrained and unvetted security operatives with fake or cloned licences put the public at risk. Anyone suspected of breaking the law should be reported. The SIA encourages security providers and buyers to check the SIA licences of security operatives to ensure they are genuine.

The Private Security Industry Act of 2001 gives the Security Industry Authority (SIA) the function of setting standards of conduct in the United Kingdom’s private security industry. Time is winding down to provide input during the SIA’s six-week consultation on a new draft code of conduct for SIA licence holders and applicants for SIA licences. The authority is inviting the industry, licence holders, and anyone with an interest in private security to have their say on the draft code of conduct by taking part in a survey. The consultation will end on 23 February.   “The ethos of the code of conduct is that it will improve standards and public safety by setting out the standards of conduct and behaviour we expect people to uphold if they are entrusted with protecting the public, premises and property,” says Ian Todd, Chief Executive, Security Industry Authority (SIA). Security's Code of Conduct A code of conduct sets out what standards of behaviour professionals have to meet in order to work in the profession In security as in many professions, a code of conduct sets out what standards of behaviour professionals have to meet in order to work in the profession. SIA is suggesting Six Commitments of behaviour that will apply to all licensed security operatives and to applicants. If the code of conduct is sanctioned by the U.K. Home Office, it would become mandatory and incorporated into SIA’s licensing criteria Get Licensed. A commitment to certain standards of behaviour is fundamental to what it means to be fit and proper, and to being part of a profession. The six commitments are: Act with honesty and integrity Be trustworthy Protect the people and property you are entrusted to protect Be professional at work Act with fairness and impartiality at work Be accountable for your decisions and actions “We will review the comments from the consultation once it concludes on 23 February, analyse the results and publish a report on our findings,” says Todd. “The SIA will then use the comments it has received to write a final version of the code of conduct. The introduction of a code of conduct will be subject to final approval by Home Office Ministers.” SIA’s current Standards of Behaviour provide guidance on professional behaviour but are not mandatory. The draft code of conduct builds on the Standards of Behaviour. Upholding SIA's Standards The SIA’s Partnership and Interventions team is the unit that enforces the Private Security Industry Act “The majority of licence holders uphold the standards of behaviour that the SIA, their employers and the public expect of them,” says Todd. “Their professionalism and dedication keep the public safe and tackle crime. However, there are incidents in which some licence holders do not behave in this way. This minority lower the standard of service the public receives, harm public safety, and bring themselves and the rest of the private security industry into disrepute.” The SIA’s Partnership and Interventions team is the unit that enforces the Private Security Industry Act. It is likely that they will be required to enforce the code of conduct should it become mandatory. The draft code of conduct is currently out for consultation and the proposal has been shared widely to licence holders, private security businesses, and enforcement partners encouraging them all to take part. “Once the consultation has concluded, we will analyse the findings from the feedback, produce a report and publish it on our website and share this widely via social media,” says Todd.

A BBC report Monday alleges instances when Security Industry Authority (SIA) licences were fraudulently obtained, prompting questions about licencing processes and whether unqualified candidates are being "fast-tracked" and provided SIA cards without taking the required hours of training and passing exams. Following is a statement provided to SourceSecurity.com by Robert Buxton, head of communications, Security Industry Authority, about the matter: SIA assures investigation over alleged training malpractice We take allegations of training malpractice seriously. When the BBC shares the information it holds on training malpractice, we will investigate, and where training malpractice is proved, we will take action against the licensed individuals concerned in order to protect public safety. We will also pass the information to the qualification authorities and the relevant enforcement partners for them to investigate the training malpractice allegations. "When the BBC shares the information it holds on training malpractice, we will investigate, and where training malpractice is proved, we will take action against the licensed individuals concerned in order to protect public safety", says Robert Buxton, head of communications, SIA Qualifications are awarded by nationally recognised awarding organisations under the oversight of Ofqual in England and Northern Ireland, and are not, in law, the direct responsibility of the SIA. Nevertheless, we monitor all allegations we receive of training malpractice and pursue these through the responsible awarding organisations and Ofqual. Security qualifications malpractice In the last three years over 343,000 security qualifications have been awarded. In that time, 188 allegations of malpractice were investigated by awarding organisations, leading to the closure of 28 training centres. In the same period, 1,800 security qualifications were withdrawn, leading to action against over 1,100 licence holders (those who used their fraudulent qualification to gain an SIA licence). Compliance with the Private Security Industry Act 2001 continues to be high. Overall compliance with the law for 2013/14 is 98%. The figure is based on 569 SIA / joint SIA-partner checks, spread geographically across the UK and all regulated sectors. (The British Security Industry Association's Training Providers Section has also responded to the BBC report.)