IPSA News - 2003
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5 December 2003
From the SIA Bulletin
Molly Meacher resigns
Molly Meacher, Chairman of the Security Industry Authority, today tendered her resignation from the Authority for personal reasons. The Home Secretary has accepted Mrs Meachers resignation with regret.
An acting Chairman will be appointed from the SIA Board pending an open competition for a successor to Molly Meacher.
The SIA Board issued the following statement:
Molly has made a considerable contribution to the successful establishment of the SIA and its strong relationship with the private security industry and all stakeholders. She has established a much respected Board and has ensured a sound balance between the commercial consideration of the industry and the social implications of a regulated environment. We express sincere thanks to Molly for all her work and wish her the very best in the future.
Hazel Blears, the Home Office Minister with responsibility for the SIA, said:
It is with regret that the Home Secretary has accepted Molly Meachers resignation as Chair of the SIA. Molly Meacher has made a significant contribution to the establishment of the Authority over the past 20 months, and played a vital part in preparing the SIA for the start of door supervisor licensing in March 2004. We wish her well for the future.
Molly Meacher was appointed Chairman of the SIA in March 2002 and led the Authority through its launch in April 2003.
The SIA licensing timetable remains on schedule.
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20 November 2003
The RUSI conference on "International Threats & Responses" which will take place in London on 10 and 11 December 2003.
The conference will examine the nature of the threats faced by companies operating overseas and the options for managing the risks they pose to the security of installations, property and personnel. Sessions will be devoted to case studies of particular volatile environments (such as Iraq, sub-Saharan Africa and Asia) and to the common threats such as kidnapping, hostage taking, threats to building and essential infrastructure. The conference is sponsored by Qinetiq, BAA and ChevronTexaco.
Confirmed speakers at the conference include:
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean, Minister of State, Foreign & Commonwealth Office
HRH Prince Turki Al-Faisal, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the UK
Assistant Commissioner Graham Ashton, Australian Federal Police
Col Ivar Hellberg, Director Resilience Centre, RCMS Cranfield
John McCarthy, journalist & former hostage
Adeel Kazi, Security Manager, Shell Pakistan Ltd
Nigel Churton, CEO, Control Risks Group
By way of background, the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies is the UK's leading thinktank on issues of national and international defence and security. This conference is being organised by three of the Institute's leading research programmes: the RUSI Homeland Security & Resilience Programme, the Middle East & North Africa Programme and the Asia Programme. Further details can be found on www.rusi.org.
16 September 2003
The Institute of Nanotechnology - organiser of two upcoming and ground-breaking meetings:
"Advanced Technologies: Crime Prevention and Detection", Oct. 2003, London - Learn about totally new ways of identifying criminals and preventing crime, through application of many of the huge advances being made in nanotechnology today.
"Nanomaterials and Smart Medical Devices", Dec. 2003, Edinburgh - New nanotechnologies are being created and developed at breakneck speed. Find out at this 2nd Nanoforum (www.nanoforum.org) conference, how the convergence of nano and the life sciences will lead to a revolutionary new generation of medical devices.
Visit our website for updates: www.nano.org.uk
23 June 2003: Ireland
The Irish Data Protection (Amendment) Act 2003 comes into force on July 1st 2003.
For more details see www.dataprivacy.ie/3n.htm
23 June 2003
Presentation on CBRN threats postponed to August 6th.
18 June 2003
The Guild of British Security Officers is holding a presentation on CBRN threats in Solihull on June 27th.
We have some free places for IPSA members.
11 June 2003
British Telecom awarded four year contract to handle SIA licence applications.
The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has signed a four year, £23 million contract with British Telecommunications plc. BT will use their Syntegra arm to operate a call centre and process applications for the new national licensing scheme for the private security industry.
BT will be responsible for:
- A national SIA call centre
- Processing of licence applications
- Verifying an applicant’s identity
- Initiating criminal records’ checks
- Producing and dispatching licences.
All decisions on policy and the granting and refusal of licences will remain with the SIA.
John Saunders, Chief Executive Officer of the SIA said:
“I welcome the signing of this important contract with BT. The SIA and BT face a tough challenge to implement the practical process of licensing for the private security industry, but I’m confident that we can work together to achieve a seamless operation.
“We have been through a robust tendering process and our decision to award this contract to BT is based on the quality of their proposal and value for money. All of us at the SIA look forward to working with BT to provide a swift and efficient service to the private security industry. “
The initial implementation phase is expected to take around nine months with the first SIA licences issued in a pilot scheme early in 2004. Door supervisors and wheel clampers will be the first sectors of the security industry to benefit from the new national licence.
Information from the SIA website www.the-sia.org.uk
10 June 2003
The Metropolitan Police are rolling out a keyholder service to London businesses - but with a cost.
Dial Media Group have the Met contract to run the Keyholder database. You can go for a basic or premium service. Basic is free - register via freephone number 0800 19 777 11. Premium allows you to update details of key-holders on-line, by 'phone and post. Details of plumbers, window boarders and glaziers and so on can also be registered. This line is chargeable and is on 0870 060 1212. Registration costs businesses £35 plus VAT (£41.13); homes, £15.
For details visit www.metkeyholders.org.uk or ring the registration hotline 0870 060 1212. Every property in the capital is getting a letter from Met Commissioner Sir John Stevens over the next nine months.
Under the London Local Authorities Act 1991, properties in London boroughs with an audible alarm are legally obliged to notify police and their local authority with the name of the key holder. Previously, the Met reports, it and local authorities relied on various computer databases and card indexes to log key-holders.
Chief Supt Mark Gore said: "Once the owner of an audible alarm has registered their details with the database either via the telephone, on-line or by post, their details will be recorded on the database. This database is accessible by police control rooms and environmental health offices and allows police and local authorities to contact keyholders more easily in the event of an incident at the individual's premises."
10 June 2003
Vision in Business is holding a conference called Corporate Security 2003 in London on July 22nd & 23rd. The conference will cover topics such as crisis management, managing people's awareness and fears of threats, tackling ever changing threats and coordinating with other departments.
10 June 2003
The Guild of British Security Officers is holding a presentation on CBRN threats in Solihull on June 27th.
2 June 2003
LONDON CRIMESTOPPERS SEARCH FOR PIONEERING LEADER FOR CRIMEFIGHTING VOLUNTEER BOARD
London Crimestoppers search for an inspiring and progressive leader to head a committed team of crime-fighting volunteers. The successor will replace Ian Harley, Director of Security of Argos , who has spent 11 years as a volunteer board chairman building an impressive alliance to fight crime in the capital through the anonymous hotline.
Since London Crimestoppers began in 1988 almost 6,000 have been arrested as a result of calls to 0800 555 111. Last year alone 540 people were arrested in the London area thanks to Crimestoppers, of which 32 were for murder and attempted murder, £179,000 worth of property seized and drugs to the street value of £205,000 recovered. These successes are a result of hard-hitting campaigns such as Rat on a Rat, language line and through partnership and fundraising activities in the capital.
Without doubt the most successful fundraising event has been the Brain Game, now in its 8th year, attracting high profile business teams to compete in a brain-challenging contest, helping to raise in excess of £160,000 for the crime fighting charity.
The London board of volunteers ,currently under the Deputy leadership of Peter French CEO of SSR Personnel , are the driving force for Crimestoppers within the capital. Members are drawn from business, the Police , media and other high profile organisations. The Board seek a prominent individual with commitment, enthusiasm and experience to maintain community based initiatives in partnership with local government, law enforcement authorities and business sponsors.
Liz Manning, Area Manager for London says:
"To continue London Crimestoppers commitment to helping reduce crime it is essential that we engage an inspirational figure to continue to develop and build on our successes. Through our Associate scheme we have some tremendous corporate and local authority support. We look to working with a new chair person so we can continue to bring Crimestoppers to those communities in most need of benefiting from its guarantee of anonymity".
For more information about this role or London Crimestoppers (its Associate Scheme or the Brain Game) please contact:
Liz Manning on 01327 358690 or e-mail: Ldncrimestoppers@aol.com
31 May 2003
THE SAFER DOORS CONFERENCE - 2003
As a training company or organisation, you will by now have heard that pub and club door supervisors will be the first group from the private security industry to be covered by the new regulations under the Private Security Industry Act.
This one-day conference is open to companies that supply door staff to licensed premises, those that train them, local authorities, police forces and end-users. This important event will let you know how individual door supervisors can get their new SIA licenses next year, how leisure security companies will be regulated under the 'approved contractor scheme', and what the new vetting and training criteria will be.
As this is the only national event of its kind, please feel free to forward or photocopy the linked conference brochure to as many colleagues or representatives from other organisations who you feel may wish to attend.
Please return your completed application form early, as the number of delegates on the day has to be limited, and the conference is very likely to be over-subscibed.
Thank you for your time - we hope to see you there on the day.
ANDY WALKER
(Conference co-ordinator)
23 May 2003
Data Protection and the CCTV User
A one-day seminar on CCTV Best Practice and Data Protection legislation relating to CCTV Usage
London & South East Region - One-Day Conference
Tuesday 24th June 2003
Open to Non-IPSA Members
If you would like to apply for IPSA Individual membership, complete the form below to begin the online application process.
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