Attacks in the UK and abroad remind us all of the terrorist threat we face. Police and security agencies are working tirelessly to protect the public but it is also important that communities remain vigilant and aware of how to protect themselves if the need arises. National Counter Terrorism policing is providing advice to the public on the steps they can take to keep themselves safe in the rare event of a firearms or weapons attack.
Download RUN HIDE TELL RHT_A5 leaflet here
Join us for our breakfast launch of Plymouth’s first Corporate White Collar Boxing Event. Find out everything you need to know about the event from signing up as a contender to sponsorship of a round.
YouTube video from the launch day
Purchasing a security service on price alone can be hazardous. Buying ‘cheap security’ could mean that you end up with officers who are very poorly paid and have no real interest in the job. These security companies are usually operating on a shoestring, which means that they have no back up, no checks on the officers and no local control centre.
Can a security guarding company really only charge £7.00-£8.00 an hour?
We are increasingly finding competitors charging ridiculously low prices to win business. Does it work? Yes, of course it does, they win the business on price and everyone is happy. But are they?
As a customer, what sort of Security Service can you really expect for £7.00 per hour?
Let us start with the basics:
• UK minimum wage is now £6.50 per hour
• As an employer, there is a requirement to pay employees for holidays – Assuming the officers are getting 20 days plus UK bank holidays then this would equate to around £38 per week per officer in holiday expense. On an average of 48 hours per week, this takes the cost per employee up to approximately £7.45 per hour.
• In addition, employers have to pay National Insurance for each employee, which again is calculated as a percentage. The current rate is 12% of earnings so the cost per hour is now approximately £7.98 per employee per hour.
• On top of the employee costs, there are then additional costs such as Uniform and PPE – in the security industry this is a generally accepted figure of around 8% of the wage cost. The cost per employee per hour is now approximately £8.72.
• We haven’t even factored in to the figure other costs such as capital purchases like equipment, training, supervisor visits, plus the general everyday costs associated with running a business.
• Oh and, of course, not forgetting profit!
Now ask yourself, “How can anyone charge £7.00-£8.00 per hour and offer a reliable, quality service?”
This is something we come up against every day in our business.
Put simply, it is impossible for any professional Security Company to offer a reliable, safe and quality service for those sorts of prices.
Are these companies SIA approved contractors?
Approved contractors are demonstrably committed to customer service and the compulsory licensing of their staff. This means their customers can rest assured that every private security operative deployed on their premises will be working within the law.
So how and why do companies do it?
The only way that could possibly be done is if they are using staff on a self-employed basis to get out of paying PAYE/National Insurance contributions, and holiday pay. This of course breaches Employment Law because according to Revenue and Customs employment regulations NO Security Officer can technically be self-employed because they are told where to work and when, and cannot send somebody else to cover their shift.
In our experience, another trick they use is to start to reduce the number of hours spent on site over a period of time.
For example if you are paying for a security officer to be on site Mon-Sun 1800-0600, and Sat-Sun days 0600-1800 this gives a total of 108 hours per week, and at £7.50 per hour this is costing you £810 per week.
What often happens unbeknown to you is the officer is pulled off site midway through a shift, for say a couple of hours to cover another job down the road. This not only leaves your site unattended, and vulnerable it also means that you are now only getting an officer for 94 hours per week but you will still be paying £810 per week.
So in addition to the 2 hours per day the officer is off site during the week before you know it you are not even getting 94 hours of cover you are now only getting 70 hours cover per week! But you can be sure you are still paying £810 per week for the 108 hours of cover you think you are getting. Therefore, the £285 per week you are paying out for cover that you are not getting is where they are making their money.
This is how they are able to quote such ridiculously low rates, and make a profit! As you can see they only need say four sites like this, and that’s £1140 per week or £59,280 per annum they are making just by not covering those sites!
By all means, especially in the current economic climate, businesses should shop around for a competitive price but that price needs to be realistic and it needs to be relative to the quality of service you want and need to receive. If one security company is charging considerably less than the others, work out how much you are paying per hour and then ask yourself can they really afford to charge that price?
Like most things in life, if something seems too good to be true then it probably is.
Better to utilise the services of a company that pay their guards a living wage and have the resources to keep a check on their officers’movements and activities, and have the back up to respond to any situation that occurs. True, this may cost the client more, but what price do you put on your property, your security and your peace of mind? The saying ‘you get what you pay for’ is never more true than when it is applied to security companies, so digging a little deeper into your pockets will be far less painful in the long run than utilising bargain basement companies to appease the bean counters.
The Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS) is the UK’s national proof of age accreditation scheme. It provides minimum standards and criteria for proof of age card issuers to meet. PASS is endorsed by the Home Office, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), the Scottish Government, the Security Industry Authority (SIA) and the Trading Standards Institute (TSI).
The PASS Proof of Age Scheme was launched in 2001 and since then, over 5 million cards have been issued with the PASS hologram being widely recognised and accepted in both the on and off trade.
According to Home Office statistics, alcohol-fuelled harm costs society around £21billion a year and the new PASS is a major step forward in the prevention of alcohol abuse and associated anti-social behaviour by underage drinkers. In addition, lost Passports can cause a major problem not only for the owner but for the police should they fall into the hands of criminals. There is now no need for young people to take these valuable documents into town for a night out.
Bill Butler, Chief Executive of the Security Industry Authority said “SIA licensed door supervisors have a difficult job to do, often in a challenging environment. The PASS proof of age card has helped door staff carry out their duties in a responsible and effective way, and the new card design is a massive step forward in making PASS cards easy for door staff to recognise and accept.”
More information can be found at http://www.pass-scheme.org.uk/
Now the weather is brightening up and the sun is shining, it is all too tempting to become complacent when it comes to home security. Approximately 25 percent of break-ins that take place in the spring and summer months are gained through insecure windows and doors.
When out in your garden ensure that windows and doors to the front of the house are secure. It only takes a second for someone to get into your home and take things without you noticing.
REMEMBER not all burglars work alone. One suspect will go to the front door and distract you while another enters through an open window or door. Never open your door to a stranger. If someone does come to your door and you are alone be cautious.
With the onset of British Summer Time, people are being warned to take precautions in protecting their garden sheds.
Offenders see sheds as easy pickings because they are unprotected and lack basic security measures. They often contain property that can be sold on or implements that can be used to force entry into the owner’s home.
Although there’s never a guarantee that gardens will not be targeted, there are measures that can be put in place to deter thieves. A simple awareness of garden security and an investment in high quality locks can ensure that homeowners can enjoy the summer months without worry.
Will this have an impact on your business? What are your thoughts on this?
On 24 March, the Security Industry Authority will stop issuing paper-based licence applications and from 7th April, the SIA will no longer accept the paper-based applications
Individuals
New licence applications: Applicants fill in a form online at the SIA website; they are told which identity and other documents to take to one of over 750 post offices around the country to complete their application.
The Post Office will complete licence applications by:
The applicant’s photograph and signature are sent to the SIA electronically by the Post Office. The SIA will then add them to the application information already received and continue with its checks, just as it does today.
The service with the Post Office makes applying for a new SIA licence easier and cheaper; most applicants will no longer need to post valuable documents and supply a photograph, which can be costly and inconvenient.
Licence renewals: Individuals renewing their licence can use the SIA’s telephone renewals service, as now.
Businesses
Bulk applications: The SIA’s bulk application service – a service used by companies to manage the completion and submission of new applications on behalf of their employees – remains available to existing company sponsors.
Existing Company Sponsors: Can use the bulk application service by visiting the SIA’s website and downloading a bulk application pack.
Licence renewals: The SIA’s e-Renewals service – which allows companies to renew SIA licences, or apply for additional licences, on behalf of their staff – will continue for existing and new company sponsors.
http://www.sia.homeoffice.gov.uk/Pages/about-news.aspx?newsID=485&ArtTypeID=12
From 6 April 2015, all regulated security businesses will need to hold an SIA business licence.
The arrangements necessary for the SIA to start accepting business licence applications in April 2014 are not yet in place. This date has therefore been postponed.
The Home Office will announce a revised business licensing timetable as soon as possible. The date on which a licence will be legally required remains 6 April 2015.
http://www.sia.homeoffice.gov.uk/Pages/business-licensing.aspx
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/vehicle-tax-changes
From 1 October 2014, the paper tax disc will no longer be issued and required to be displayed on a vehicle windscreen. DVLA holds a digital record of taxed and untaxed vehicles.
If you have any remaining months left on your current paper tax disc from 1 October 2014, you can either remove the tax disc from your vehicle or display the disc until it expires.
Checking the tax status of a vehicle
You can check the tax status of your vehicle online (including rental vehicles). DVLA will still notify you when your vehicle tax is due for renewal. You will still need to renew your vehicle tax if your vehicle is exempt eg historic tax class.
Buying or selling a vehicle
When buying a used vehicle you will be able to use the V5C/2 – new keeper supplement to pay vehicle tax at a Post Office branch, along with the MOT certificate (if applicable) and fee. From 1 October 2014 you will also be able to pay vehicle tax using the V5C/2 online or by phone.
When selling a vehicle to a new vehicle keeper, the vehicle tax will no longer be transferable. Vehicle tax will end when a vehicle is sold and the new keeper will need to get the vehicle taxed immediately before the vehicle can be used.
Paying vehicle tax by Direct Debit
From 1 November 2014 you can pay your vehicle tax online by Direct Debit either:
•annually
•6 monthly
•monthly
Whichever option you choose, the payments will continue automatically until you tell DVLA to stop taking them or you cancel the Direct Debit with your bank.
If your vehicle needs to be taxed from 1 November 2014, you can set up a Direct Debit when paying online for vehicle tax. DVLA will forward your instructions to your bank.
If you have been paying your tax annually or every 6 months, you will get a refund for any full calendar months left on the tax period when you tell DVLA you no longer require tax.
When the Direct Debit scheme can’t be used
Paying by Direct Debit will not be available to:
•first registration vehicles
•fleet schemes
• HGVs (paying the Road User Levy)
Declaring your vehicle is off the road (SORN)
DVLA will automatically stop taking Direct Debit payments from your bank once you declare the vehicle off-road (SORN).
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/vehicle-tax-changes
The SIA have launched a new licence application service with the Post Office that makes applying for a new SIA licence easier and cheaper; most applicants will no longer need to post valuable documents and supply a photograph, which can be costly and inconvenient.
This is how it works:
1. Applicants register on the SIA website by going tohttp://www.sia.homeoffice.gov.uk/apply and clicking on the register / log in link. A username and password is e-mailed to them.
2. The applicant logs in and fills out their application. At the end they receive an e-mail with an application reference number and are told which identity and other documents to take to one of over 700 participating post offices nationwide. Applicants must keep their application reference number safe as they will not be able to complete an application without it.
3. When the applicant goes to a post office, the post office staff check and return the applicant’s documents; they will also take a digital photograph of the applicant, take an electronic version of their signature, and take payment of the application fee. The applicant will not be charged by the Post Office for using the service.
4. The applicant’s photograph and signature are sent to us electronically by the Post Office. We add them to the application information already received and continue with our checks. A licence decision is made within 25 working days.
The new service will be available alongside existing methods of applying for a licence until early in 2014, when it will replace the paper application form as the way to apply for a new licence.
The objective of the SIA’s Approved Contractor scheme is to raise performance standards and to assist the private security industry in developing new opportunities. The scheme is voluntary and was developed in consultation with representatives from across the industry; it only covers those parts of the industry that are regulated by the SIA and the Private Security Industry Act 2001 (as amended). There is a single scheme, with sector-specific approval based on a relevant set of qualifying criteria.
