Over £21 million lost to social engineering scams since the beginning of 2014

Get Safe Online, the UK Government and private sector-backed information service on Internet safety and security, is raising awareness of ‘social engineering’ scams through a new series of informative videos offering advice and tips.

A type of confidence trick, ‘social engineering’ is the use of deceit to manipulate or trick victims into certain actions including divulging personal or financial information. Examples include phishing e-mails and fraudulent phone calls asking for personal or financial information – known as ‘vishing’ – or phone calls from fraudsters impersonating computer technical support agents.

According to FFA UK, approximately 23% of people in the UK have received a cold call requesting personal or financial information, potentially putting them at risk of becoming a victim.

In the first five months of this year alone, some of the UK’s main High Street banks have reported losses of over £21 million from vishing attacks on their customers, with over 2,000 vishing attacks resulting in an average loss of over £10,000 per victim.

Social engineering exploits human nature and plays on victims’ emotions such as protecting themselves, their family and finances, gaining something of advantage or willingness to please others. It’s a factor in many types of fraud.

Schemes may be elaborate and highly convincing

Tony Neate, CEO of Get Safe Online, commented: “It’s important that the public are aware of what social engineering actually is, as there are so many types which can lead to the theft of your money or identity. It can be easy to fall prey to social engineering because schemes can be elaborate and highly convincing, with approaches usually made by somebody you think you should trust or appears to be in authority. It’s not just individuals who are likely victims, it’s also businesses.”

Get Safe Online – the UK Government and private sector-backed information service on Internet safety and security – is raising awareness of ‘social engineering’ scams through a new series of informative videos offering advice and tips

Neate added: “We hope that by raising awareness of how to avoid becoming a victim of social engineering through our online videos and activity with our partners, we can help prevent it from happening to others.”

Alasdair MacFarlane, head of customer security at NatWest, said: “NatWest is committed to providing safe and secure banking alongside an excellent level of customer service. Fraudsters are always looking for new ways to gain access to money which is why we offer our customers a Secure Banking Promise, as well as lots of advice on our website to help them avoid falling victim to a scam. We’re delighted to be working with Get Safe Online in raising awareness on this important issue.”

Dawn Cornwall, fraud and security manager at Lloyds Banking Group, explained: “At Lloyds Banking Group we are committed to making sure our customers’ Internet banking experience is as safe as possible. We use cutting-edge technology to protect their personal information and privacy. We also have our online guarantee in place if a customer experiences fraud in Internet banking and a wealth of advice and guidance on our websites. We’re really pleased to be working with Get Safe Online on the Social Engineering campaign.”

Alex Grant, Barclays’ managing director of fraud prevention, stated: “We’ve seen from our own interaction with customers who have fallen victim to social engineering frauds that the loss of hard-earned savings causes great emotional distress, as well as having a significant financial impact. This is why raising awareness about social engineering scams and protecting customers from fraud is one of our highest priorities. Barclays fully endorses this awareness campaign and we’re pleased that our sponsorship of Get Safe Online is helping provide consumer education and promote awareness of scams such as these.”

Detective Superintendent Peter O’Doherty is the head of the NFIB and Action Fraud. Speaking about the Get Safe Online initiative, he said: “The face of crime has significantly changed in recent years, with much of today’s offending being conducted not on a face-to-face basis but over the phone and through a computer. People need to be aware there are ruthless, calculating criminals using social engineering scams to obtain personal and financial information that makes them a profit and individuals and businesses the victims of crime. This multi-media Get Safe Online campaign will shine a light on these practices and help the public know when they are being targeted and the best ways in which to protect themselves.”

How to avoid becoming the victim of social engineering

Getsafeonline.org offers a number of tips on how to avoid becoming a victim of social engineering:

• Always be wary of people requesting confidential or personal information by whatever means, however convincing they may seem
• Never reveal personal or financial data including usernames, passwords, PINs or other forms of ID
• Be very careful that people or organisations to whom you are supplying payment card information are genuine, and then never reveal passwords. Remember that a bank or other reputable organisation will never ask you for your password via e-mail or a phone call
• If you receive a phone call requesting confidential information, verify that it’s authentic by asking for a full and correct spelling of the person’s name and a call back number
• Check the number matches the contact number on the relevant website. Even then, the criminal may have used special software to display the authentic number
• If you are asked by a caller to end the call and phone your bank or card provider, call the number on your bank statement or other document from your bank – or on the back of your card. However, be sure to use another phone from the one you received the call on to ensure that a fraudster is not on the line by having kept the call open. If you cannot access another phone, be sure to hang up for at least five minutes before you dial out, or call a friend (whose voice you recognise) before making another call
• Do not open e-mail attachments from unknown sources
• Do not readily click on links in e-mails from unknown sources. Instead, roll your mouse pointer over the link to reveal its true destination, displayed in the bottom left corner of your screen. Beware if this is different from what is displayed in the text of the link from the email
• Do not attach external storage devices or insert CD-ROMs/DVD-ROMs into your computer if you are not certain of the source, or just because you are curious about their contents

*For more advice on how to avoid this type of fraud visit: http://www.getsafeonline.org/socialengineering to watch the online advice videos

About Get Safe Online

Now entering its eighth year of operation, Get Safe Online (www.getsafeonline.org) is the UK’s national Internet security awareness initiative.

A joint partnership between the UK Government, the National Crime Agency (NCA), Ofcom, law enforcement bodies and private sector sponsors from the worlds of technology, communication, retail and finance, the initiative continues to educate, inform and raise awareness of online security issues to encourage confident and safe use of the Internet.

GetSafeOnline.org is supported by Barclays, Bob’s Business, Creative Virtual, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, HM Government, HSBC, Kaspersky Lab, Lloyds Banking Group, the National Crime Agency, Symantec, the National Fraud Authority and Action Fraud, Ofcom, HSBC, Microsoft, PayPal, Symantec, Standard Life, Gumtree, Camelot, Detica, StubHub, Nominet, PurchaseSeal, ValidSoft, Business Link, the Charity Commission, Citizens Advice, the Association of Chief Police Officers, the Information Systems Security Association, e-Crime Wales, Information Risk Management plc, the Institute of Information Security Professionals, RG (Interactive Media in Retail Group), the International Association of Accountants Innovation and Technology Consultants, the Internet Services Providers’ Association, Neighbourhood and Home Watch, PTA-UK, SafeBuy, Safer Jobs, the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency, Scottish Police College, the Scottish Business Crime Centre and UK Online Centres.

Esoteric broadens global coverage with new Middle East operation

Leading international counter-surveillance company Esoteric is broadening its global coverage by incorporating a new company in Dubai.

Based in the DMCC Free Zone in the Jumeirah Lakes Towers district, Esoteric Middle East will provide a range of specialist security services to corporate and Government clients in the MENA region and help achieve its goal of becoming the region’s leading counter-espionage service provider.

Specialising in providing end-to-end solutions that address the issues of corporate espionage, competitive intelligence gathering and the theft of information, Esoteric Middle East will focus on offering a full suite of counter-surveillance services including Technical Surveillance Countermeasures (TSCM), otherwise known as electronic bug sweeping, espionage and threat awareness briefings and TSCM training.

Emma Shaw CSyP: md at Esoteric

Esoteric’s managing director Emma Shaw CSyP, who’s also chairman of The Security Institute, explained: “We’re delighted and excited by this recent development in the company’s growth strategy. The new Dubai office strengthens Esoteric’s commitment to the region, and I know that our specialist and professional approach will be welcomed by clients across the Middle East.”

Audrey Bedford, head of sales and marketing at Esoteric, added: “We have identified a clear demand from clients in the Middle East where we have been working for some time now. It has become imperative that we establish a base close to where demand is strong. The new Dubai office is a further step in the development of our services in the region.”

*For more information on Esoteric Middle East visit: http://www.esoteric.ae

Further detail about Esoteric

Esoteric is a leading bug sweeping and covert surveillance company working discreetly with corporations, Government departments and high net worth individuals on a global basis to safeguard private information and conversations from illicit eavesdropping devices.

The company firmly believes in delivering a strategic approach that assists its clients in understanding the risks facing a given business. Esoteric works with its customers to implement Best Practice systems, policies and procedures and undertake appropriate measures to address the threat of potential, attempted and actual attacks from competitors, criminals, overseas agencies and employees.

Services include:
• Development of counterespionage/security strategies and policy implementation
• Technical Surveillance Countermeasures (TSCM)/electronic bug sweeping
• Critical information protection products such as E-Room 24/7 monitoring sensor, mobile phone detectors and mobile phone blockers
• TSCM training and espionage awareness briefings
• Covert investigations and surveillance

100 in 100 2014: creating new apprenticeships for UK security

The official launch of 100 in 100 2014 – the fourth annual drive to energise more brand new apprenticeships across the security world – took place at a special presentation held in the IFSECGlobal.com Centre Stage Theatre at IFSEC International 2014 on Wednesday 18 June.

100 in 100 aims to energise 100 or more new apprenticeships in the UK security sector within a 100-day timeline starting at IFSEC International 2014 (which ran from 17-19 June at ExCeL, London).

“Last year, the 100 in 100 campaign exceeded its target and even caught the eye of the Government with a personal letter of congratulations from Prime Minister David Cameron,” said Simon Banks, Group Managing Director at the CSL DualCom Group and the co-founder of 100 in 100.

“This publicity is crucial in order to keep employers’ minds focused on apprenticeships as a credible recruitment source. Employers must engage with apprenticeships and recognise how valuable an apprentice can be within their company in a relatively short time frame.”

Simon Banks: co-founder of 100 in 100

Banks also stated: “In just three years, the right candidate can become integral to the team and a great source of fresh ideas and skills. When you also factor in the potential skills gap predicted in the UK by 2020, it really is very important for employers to act now. Put simply, there has never been a better time to hire an apprentice.”

The political will is also there to make apprenticeships work. Matthew Hancock MP – the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning – is once again supporting the 100 in 100 campaign.

New apprenticeship opportunities in the UK security sector

Supporting the 2014 campaign are CSL DualCom and Skills for Security as well as the major inspectorates – the National Security Inspectorate and the Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board.

Also backing the apprenticeships drive are the British Security Industry Association, the Fire Industry Association and the Fire Protection Association.

Matthew Hancock MP: supporting this year’s apprenticeships drive in the security sector

As always, UBM Live’s Security and Fire Portfolio (with http://www.IFSECGlobal.com at its heart) is the campaign’s official media partner.

100 in 100 focuses on all types of apprenticeship, among them installation engineers, manufacturing engineers, business administration, Human Resources, marketing and PR.

Apprentices usually take around 18 months to gain Level 2 qualifications, with a further 18 months required to take the apprentice to a Level 3.

Employers embracing the opportunities on offer will be responsible for paying employment costs of at least the minimum wage (for 16-18 year-olds and 19-year-olds in the first year of their apprenticeship). Employers will also be required to provide work-based training within their companies.

Skills for Security has again committed to look after paperwork for those organisations willing to employ new apprentices, right from initial sign-up through to appointing the college or training provider.

The training and skills body will also draw down Government funding on each participating company’s behalf.

Why should your company take on apprentices?

According to the National Apprenticeship Service research undertaken in 2010, 77% of employers canvassed believe apprenticeships make them more competitive. The research also showed that 80% of employers believe apprenticeships reduce their staff turnover, while over 80% of consumers favour using those companies that take on new apprentices.

That’s why your company should take on apprentices NOW!

Richard Jenkins – CEO at the National Security Inspectorate (NSI) – commented: “It’s vital to engage with young people and encourage them to view our industry as a credible and rewarding career choice. The NSI’s mission is to raise standards in the industry and, to help achieve this, young enthusiastic talent must be nurtured in order to carry the industry forward in a professional manner. The NSI wholeheartedly supports the 100 in 100 initiative and encourages employers to seriously consider the many benefits that apprenticeships can bring to their businesses.”

Richard Jenkins: CEO at the NSI

Geoff Tate – Chief Executive of the Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board (SSAIB) – added: “We’ve supported the 100 in 100 initiative since its inception and we’re delighted that it has been so successful. To ensure that the industry continues to service the market well, we need to make certain that the skills base of those just starting to work in the security sector is as good as it possibly can be. The success of this project is testament to the enthusiasm of all those involved, and to the resilience of the sector overall.”

Geoff Tate: CEO at the SSAIB

What the employers have to say

Speaking from the perspective of an employer fully committed to taking on apprentices, Anthony King – Managing Director at Kings Security – explained: “Kings Security has always believed in apprentice investment and, over the last 30 years, we have increased our intake each year. At the moment we average 50 apprentices every 12 months, and we’re proud to host an onsite Learning Centre.”

King continued: “By training an apprentice you’ll nurture an employee with the exact skill-set required by your business so the initial time spent training them pays dividends in the future. Many former apprentices now head up our teams of engineers. Kings Security is committed to continue our apprentice investment for future years.”

Kings Security’s managing director Anthony King

Another keen supporter of 100 in 100 is Lucy Banham, Director at The Banham Group. “At the Banham Group, we use the apprenticeship scheme to bring into the business young individuals who are keen to learn. It’s important for any company to safeguard their future by nurturing a variety of experience and ages within their workforce.”

Importantly, Banham added: “The fact that a potential apprentice has sought out an apprenticeship with your business shows an immediate level of commitment. They are prepared to go through training and college work in order to prove to us as an employer that they really want a job at the end of the process. We also find that apprentices are good, mature candidates as they have made this important career decision so early on.”

Telephone Skills for Security’s Customer Relations Team on 01905 744000 TODAY and play your part in the UK security apprenticeships drive for 2014.

For further information visit: http://www.csldual.com/uk/news/get-apprentice-aware-in-2014.html or e-mail: TheApprentice@csldual.com

About IFSEC International 2014

IFSEC International 2014 showcased effective and efficient security solutions across a wide range of product areas, among them: Access Control, Integrated Security, Smart Buildings, Intruder Alarms, Perimeter Protection, Physical Security, Safe Cities and Video Surveillance.

IFSEC International is the largest security event to showcase a range of solutions for the entire security buying chain. Visitors are able to attend the IFSEC Academy and experience the wealth of education on offer from many industry leaders and experts in chosen disciplines.

IFSEC International 2014 is part of UBM’s Protection and Management 2014. Registration for IFSEC International is open and gives badge holders access to all the shows within Protection and Management 2014 including: FIREX International, The Facilities Show, Safety & Health Expo, Energy & Environment Expo and Service Management Expo.

IHS Research Note: ‘Fire market to embrace wireless and IP technologies?’

In the latest Research Note from IHS, Justin Siller (manager of the security and building technologies group) informs on the global fire detection and suppression market.

Despite traditionally being slow to use new technologies, the fire market is starting to see increased interest in wireless and IP (Internet Protocol)-enabled products.

Wireless products have typically been used in specific applications where wiring is difficult (such as historical buildings), but outside of this the market has been virtually non-existent. Barriers such as reliability, price, variations in frequencies and installer reluctance have slowed adoption.

However, wireless is now beginning to be embraced. This is particularly true in the United Kingdom (UK) and Nordic countries.

Despite traditionally being slow to use new technologies, the fire market is starting to see increased interest in wireless and IP (Internet Protocol)-enabled products

IHS estimates some 25% of wireless product sales in Europe are taking place in the UK. End users are now willing to spend a bit more upfront for such solutions in exchange for lower installation costs as wiring is obviously unnecessary.

Focusing on the integrator/installer channel

The main barrier to mass-market adoption is the integrator/installer channel. Installers continue to be reluctant to market wireless products because they would need to complete more installations in order to realise the same financial returns as they do with wired installations.

That being the case, while end users see the benefits it remains the case that installers struggle to see any advantages.

For IP, increasing demand to integrate multiple building systems is driving acceptance. The managers of large facilities, centrally-managed chains and campus-style buildings want to connect multiple building systems together to gather higher levels of data on a single platform.

Surprisingly, most demand for these solutions is coming from the Middle East and South East Asia where legislation is more lax on integration standards. Here, building managers are integrating fire equipment with building management, security and lighting equipment to improve operational efficiencies and have fewer people reviewing/monitoring the information.

These moves are expected not only to increase the adoption for networked addressable panels but also enhance the adoption of more sophisticated communication channels such as IP and Modbus.

Demand for these technologies is expected to remain modest in the short-term. However, as other building technologies – such as access control, video surveillance, intruder alarms, building automation, elevators and visitor management systems – move to use wireless and IP-ready products, and are integrated, the fire industry may be hard-pressed not to follow suit.

Kasabian’s Summer Solstice homecoming gig heralds new dawn for Showsec

Rock band Kasabian’s historic Summer Solstice homecoming gig in front of 50,000 fans massed at Leicester’s Victoria Park presented crowd management and event security specialist Showsec with the perfect opportunity to put on a ‘show’ of its own.

Showsec event stewards and managers debuted the company’s new uniform designs at the 21 June gig, which took place barely a stone’s throw away from the company’s Head Office in the city.

“It seemed entirely appropriate this should be the occasion when we used our new uniforms at a major event for the first time, and it certainly heightened the importance of the event to us,” explained Richard Church, Showsec’s regional manager for the Midlands. “We were proud to play such an important role in staging this historic event for the city of Leicester, which will always be remembered as an exciting step forward for the company.”

Kasabian: brilliant gig at Leicester’s Victoria Park

Church continued: “The new uniforms are a further representation of how we are continually looking to achieve excellence in service for both our clients and members of the public. All of the feedback has been extremely positive, and it’s quite apparent that our staff feel good about the new uniforms which can only enhance that level of service.”

First major concert in Victoria Park for a decade

Showsec’s strong presence at Victoria Park meant that there was predominantly a splash of yellow on the scene for Kasabian’s Summer Solstice event. A workforce of 450 staff was directed by a 62-strong team of management and supervisors put in place for what was a large-scale operation.

The new Showsec uniforms made their debut

“This was the first major concert in Victoria Park for more than ten years,” outlined Church. “The occasion was extra special for a number of other reasons, too.”

From Showsec’s point of view, one of the significant aspects of Kasabian’s homecoming gig – which hihglighted tracks from the band’s new album 48:13 – was that the event took place in the early stages of the security company’s new contract with Leicester City Council, who had collaborated with Live Nation to make the concert happen.

“The operation had its challenges, largely due to the lively audience and the park design, but the event was an overwhelming success,” enthused Church. “We worked closely with Leicestershire Police on crime reduction measures and the feedback from them was very complimentary, as indeed it was from the local authorities and others involved in the organisation.”

As always, the Showsec event stewarding operation was excellent and drew much praise

Kasabian put on a great show, featuring lots of classic tracks including Shoot The Runner, Underdog, Empire, Processed Beats and Club Foot (the latter two tracks from their excellent debut album).

VideoEdge NVR: a better way to focus on video surveillance

American Dynamics (part of the Security Products business unit of Tyco), has released version 4.5 of its powerful, high-performance VideoEdge NVR. New features provide customers with more secure and efficient systems for businesses requiring an active surveillance environment.

VideoEdge Network Video Recorder (NVR) adds a new level of ease and efficiency for surveillance operators. With features such as Auto Discovery, users can locate cameras on the network and assign IP addresses to any VideoEdge NVR with the click of a button.

“The changing landscape for surveillance is dictating a new list of ‘must-haves’,” said Steve Carney, director of video product line management for Tyco Security Products. “This latest version of VideoEdge responds to those security-critical situations with effective, reliable and intuitive tools.”

Carney added: “We’re focused on providing the unique features required by customers who rely on their surveillance systems for fast, real-time incident response.”

Such customers include security managers in retail environments who are looking for solutions to theft as well as data that helps them better understand customer behaviour.

VideoEdge NVRs now boast new features

VideoEdge provides both. Its powerful Heat Mapping tool means that retailers may spot where customers are lingering – important information that lets retail marketers see where the hot items are, or where they may need additional promotional displays.

This feature is also very useful in other vertical markets such as sports and entertainment, healthcare and other venues for tracking foot traffic patterns, thus ensuring visitors are receiving adequate assistance.

Inclusion of a new Watermarking process

The latest version of VideoEdge also includes a new Watermarking process that allows security officials to assign a unique visual mark to the video that’s specific to its business. This maintains the integrity of recorded video and protects the owner from fraudulent use of the video.

The victor Unified Client helps end users manage all of their live and recorded video from VideoEdge, exacqVision, Intellex and ADTVR video recording solutions from one intuitive interface. victor is part of a powerful NVMS that includes advanced policy management, health monitoring, Smart Search, instant playback and more, ensuring the security and safety of the entire organisation whether a single site or a multi-location, globally dispersed enterprise.

For those enterprise customers who use Software House C•CURE 9000, victor Enterprise provides unification for SAS (satellite application server) and MAS (master application server). Deploying victor and C•CURE 9000 software at the same time and into the same IP system has never been easier.

For those customers at smaller sites, victor Express has been designed to eliminate the need for an SQL database, thus simplifying and saving on installation time.

The VideoEdge NVMS and victor Unified Client are available through American Dynamics’ worldwide channel partners.

Elmdene powers ahead at IFSEC International 2014

Electronic fire and security products manufacturer Elmdene International (a subsidiary of Potter Electric Signal, LLC) used IFSEC International 2014 (which ran from 17-19 June at London ExCeL) to unveil a record number of new product lines – from highly efficient switch mode power PSUs (Power Supply Units) for intruder alarm and fire applications through to an EN54-23:2010-compliant Fire Alarm Beacon and the groundbreaking ‘Flexi-Bell’ modular siren.

The company (which on first assessment has seen a surge in footfall year-on-year) significantly increased its profile for the 2014 exhibition by exhibiting its latest solutions on stand as part of a large-scale Harmony Village also featuring other Harmony Alliance members GJD, Texecom and TDSi.

Looking in more detail at the solutions showcased by Elmdene at IFSEC International, leading the way was an EN54-23:2010-compliant, ceiling-mounted Fire Alarm Beacon. This is an indoor ‘Type A’ VAD (Visual Alarm Device) which is built around low power consumption LED technology.

Crucially, Elmdene reports that the product has already completed a rigorous testing process to secure a certificate of approval from the LPCB (Loss Prevention Certification Board).

Elmdene’s stand at IFSEC International 2014

Another new concept for which Elmdene has high hopes is the company’s aptly-named ‘Flexi-Bell’ modular siren which is available in Grade 2 and Grade 3 versions. According to Elmdene, what makes this external sounder stand out from competing solutions on the market is its ability to use one common backplate with simple ‘snap in’ clips to accommodate all of Elmdene’s sounder covers: Vertec, HS and Quartz.

This not only minimises the stock that distributors need to hold but opens up the potential for customers to have their own bespoke covers in terms of shape and colour.

Switch mode PSUs for intruder alarm applications

Other industry-leading products that made their UK debut during the show included a number of new models in the GEN2 and GEN3 ranges of 12V switch mode PSUs for intruder alarm applications. The latest additions have been developed to satisfy the requirements of Grade 2 and Grade 3 under PD6662:2010 and EN50131-6:2008.

Also previewed by Elmdene at IFSEC International 2014 were the company’s cost-effective STX fire power supply units. The roll-out of the latest additions to the STX range (1A, 2A, 5A and 10A) reflects the soaring demand that Elmdene is seeing for fire-specific power supplies that satisfy the EN54-4:1997 standard.

In addition to new product launches, Elmdene once again highlighted the virtues of its ever-expanding family of switch mode PSUs, with sales proving particularly strong where CCTV applications are involved. When deployed, switch mode models offer typical efficiency levels of 80-87% and, correspondingly, lower energy bills and a reduced carbon footprint when compared to more conventional linear alternatives.

Given that they run significantly cooler, switch mode PSUs support enhanced reliability as well as being better equipped to cope with mains input voltage fluctuations.

Beyond this, Elmdene spotlighted the importance of Power over Ethernet (PoE) standby devices. The company has already developed two types of power supplies to bridge what it views as a worrying capability gap across security, access control and information technology applications.

Elmdene’s leadership in this field was underlined as a finalist in Benchmark magazine’s Innovation Awards 2014 (which ran in parallel to the show), with its POE1230-C model singled out for praise in the ‘Infrastructure’ category.

The POE1230-C is a PoE powered PSU (Power Supply Unit) that incorporates a battery back-up capability. Power is supplied from a 50W PoE injector to deliver 12V DC at 1.5A output.

IFSEC International 2014 “exceeded all expectations”

Commenting on Elmdene’s attendance at IFSEC 2014, Ian Moore (the company’s managing director) said: “IFSEC 2014 has exceeded all of our expectations. In fact, it has proven to be the most successful show for us yet in terms of the quality of leads and footfall. We had a much bigger, more prominent stand this time around and, thanks to our strong R&D base, an unprecedented number of product innovations, whether you are talking about PSUs or our EN54-23:2010-compliant Fire Alarm Beacon.”

Ian Moore: managing director at Elmdene International

Moore continued: “Co-locating with other members of the Harmony Alliance represented a major advance for us in the context of IFSEC. Undoubtedly, the benefit of being part of the Harmony Alliance is the way in which it’s focused on pulling together complementary expertise from all of our specialist fields to deliver Best of Breed integrated solutions, most notably at the project level.”

In addition, Moore explained: “The managing directors of the Harmony Alliance member companies took part in a thought-provoking panel discussion around the subject of integrated security during the first day of the show. On a lighter note, we were delighted to play host to over 300 Harmony Alliance customers at an invitation-only party held on a barge near London’s ExCel to help celebrate the success of the Alliance.”

Follow Elmdene on YouTube and Twitter

For more information on Elmdene’s solutions, which are available through the usual distribution channels, telephone: +44(0)23 9269 6638, e-mail: sales@elmdene.co.uk or log onto http://www.elmdene.co.uk

Elmdene has a YouTube Channel which can be found at http://www.youtube.com/ElmdeneInternational and you can also follow the company on Twitter at twitter.com/ElmdeneIntLtd

Further information on the Harmony Alliance is available at: http://www.harmony-alliance.com

Security Institute members dominate IFSEC International ‘Top 40 Influencers’ table

The much anticipated list of Top 40 influencers in the security sector was announced at IFSEC International 2014, with over 30% of those included being Security Institute members.

The 40-strong list was compiled by http://www.IFSECGlobal.com to determine the most influential people in the global security sector. The eventual winners were all noted for the significant contributions they have made to their respective sectors.

The Security Institute is extremely proud of the 13 members who found a place in the final listing. All of them have made a significant personal contributions for the benefit of those working in security, in some cases over many years.

MITIE TSM’s md Bob Forsyth

Three of the Top Ten are members. This year’s Number One (Bob Forsyth, managing director at MITIE Total Security Management) is a member while The Security Institute’s chairman Emma Shaw CSyP finished second in the list.

The full list of Security Institute members included in the Top 40 is as follows:

• Bob Forsyth MSyI (managing director, MITIE Total Security Management)
• Emma Shaw MBA CSyP FSyl FCMI (chairman, The Security Institute and managing director, Esoteric)
• Mike Gillespie MSyI (director of cyber development, The Security Institute and managing director, Advent IM)
• Professor Martin Gill FSyI (director, Perpetuity Research and Consultancy International)
• Andy Williams FSyI CPP (head of security, Nomura and chairman, ASIS UK Chapter 208)
• Peter French MBE FSyI (managing director, SSR Personnel)
• James Willison MSyI (founder, Unified Security and vice-chairman, ASIS International European Convergence/Enterprise Security Risk Management Sub-Committee)
• Simon Whitehouse CSyP MSyI CPP PSP MIET MASC MIAPSC (group director, SGW Consulting Group)
• Dr Mark Button FSyI (professor of criminology, University of Portsmouth)
• Don Randall MBE FSyI (CISO, Bank of England)
• Richard Bell FSyI (commercial director, The Security Institute, strategic security planning and audit manager, Transport for London and Board advisor, Ten Intelligence)
• Tom Lapage-Norris MSyI (security manager – EMEA, Google)
• Allan Hildage FSyI (chairman, Association of Security Consultants and CEO, Griffin Security Group)

Commenting on the list, The Security Institute’s managing director David Thorp said: “We congratulate all of these members on the incredible contribution they make to the security sector, and on receiving this recognition from their peers via http://www.IFSECGlobal.com”

Thorp added: “The fact that almost one third of the Top 40 are members of The Security Institute underlines why we are the number one membership organisation for security professionals in the UK. It’s great to see that Chartered Security Professionals are also represented, in turn demonstrating that ‘The Gold Standard’ for security professionalism continues to make its mark.”

About The Security Institute

The Security Institute is a not-for-profit organisation established in 1999 for the benefit of individuals working in the security sector.

The organisation promotes the art and science of security management and works to drive standards, educate and Best Practice across the security sector (a sector responsible for the safety of much of the UK’s Critical National Infrastructure).

The Institute is responsible for managing and operating the Register of Chartered Security Professionals on behalf of The Worshipful Company of Security Professionals. In conjunction with the Registration Authority, The Security Institute sets standards, provides quality control, appointment and management of licensees and admitted registrants.

Since the launch of the Register, The Security Institute has processed over 100 applications. There are currently 71 Chartered Security Professionals.

About The Register of Chartered Security Professionals

The Register of Chartered Security Professionals was launched on 7 June 2011. Established under Royal Charter by The Worshipful Company of Security Professionals, the Register itself endorses the main aim of the Company which is “to promote, support and encourage standards of excellence, integrity and honourable practice in conducting the profession of security practitioners, and to aid societies and other organisations connected to such profession.”

Security Industry Authority News: ‘Security directors disqualified for six years’

On Thursday 19 June 2014 at the Old Bailey, two security directors were disqualified from acting as company directors for a total of six years.

John Anah (aged 56) and 54-year-old Tony O’Gonna ran three security companies: Anco UK Limited, AA Guarding Limited and Metro Guards UK Limited, all of them based in Woolwich.

In December 2012, the companies came to the attention of the Security Industry Authority (SIA) when an unlicensed security officer was found working at a building site in London. SIA investigator then issued a formal warning to Anco UK Limited.

Two security directors have been disqualified from acting as company directors for a total of six years

A few weeks later, SIA investigators conducted an inspection of the business premises in Woolwich and discovered the true scale of the illegal activity.

It was found that, between August 2012 and July 2013, the companies supplied 33 unlicensed security officers to ten different building sites around London.

Hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court: October 2013

In October 2013 at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, Anah and the three security companies pleaded guilty to ten charges of supplying unlicensed security operatives contrary to Section 5 of the Private Security Industry Act 2001. O’Gonna pleaded not guilty to the same offence.

In March 2014, O’Gonna was found guilty at the City of London Magistrates’ Court. During the trial the magistrate rejected O’Gonna’s claims that he entrusted Anah with the operational side of the business and that he never consented to the supply of unlicensed security officers.

The sentencing was referred to Crown Court.

Anah was sentenced to 120 hours of unpaid work and disqualified from acting as a director for four years. O’Gonna was disqualified from acting as a security director for two years.

Additionally, the SIA and the London Regional Asset Recovery Team have commenced legal proceedings against the two individuals and their security companies under the Proceeds of Crime Act. It’s expected that fines will follow the conclusion of the confiscation proceedings.

The hearing is due to take place later this year.

Complex and challenging investigation

The SIA’s Head of Investigation Nathan Salmon said: “I welcome this verdict, which brings to a close a complex and challenging investigation. The defendants provided misinformation to the SIA in order to distance themselves from the offending. Some of these security officers had neither been trained nor properly vetted to recognised national standards. In one instance, an officer had actually been refused an SIA licence due to convictions relating to common assault and disorderly behaviour. The court also heard that some security officers did not have a legitimate right to reside or work in the UK.”

Salmon added: “The verdicts comprehensively discredit the directors’ version of events and their inability to effectively operate a security business. The directors now face the prospect of another court challenge, this time regarding the money they made as a result of their illegal business practice. We will seek appropriate confiscation of the monies earned during contracts where unlicensed security officers were supplied.”

In conclusion, Salmon stated: “I would like to offer our thanks to everyone who supported the investigation and prosecution of this case.”

The Shield Group hosts Summer Security Conference 2014 aboard HMS Belfast

Corporate security, technology, manpower and business leaders from across London attended the recent Summer Security Conference hosted by The Shield Group, the UK’s largest independent Total Security Solutions provider.

The event, which aimed to address key issues facing the security industry, was held on Wednesday 11 June on board HMS Belfast, now a museum ship but originally a Royal Navy light cruiser now permanently moored on the River Thames and operated by the Imperial War Museum (IWM).

Chaired by Ken Stewart (The Shield Group’s corporate risk director and a former Detective Chief Superintendent at the City of London Police), over 100 senior customers and guests joined The Shield Group’s team of experts for an afternoon of networking and presentations delivered by dynamic speakers from the public and private sectors. Presenters spoke on a wide range of important and prominent themes in the business security sector.

Tony Porter (Surveillance Camera Commissioner for England and Wales at the Home Office) discussed the importance of surveillance cameras and the challenges in using such technologies.

Porter began his career at Greater Manchester Police and was subsequently appointed head of CID for South Manchester. In 2008, he was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal in the New Year’s Honours list for distinguished service to policing.

Tony Porter: the UK’s Surveillance Camera Commissioner

Porter moved from policing in September 2012 and took the role of vice-president and head of physical security intelligence for Barclays Bank.

In his new role as Surveillance Camera Commissioner, Porter is currently responsible for encouraging compliance with the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice, reviewing the effectiveness of the Code and providing advice on the appropriate and transparent use of surveillance camera systems (all of which he discussed at the Summer Security Conference).

Using CCTV for tackling crime and terrorism

Detective Chief Superintendent Jeff Davies (head of crime and counter-terrorism at the City of London Police) spoke about the importance of CCTV surveillance in tackling crime and terrorist threats.

In his current role, Davies provides briefings and advice on a range of topics including personnel, employment screening, cyber security and protective security against terror and domestic extremism.

Jeff Davies (head of crime and CT at City of London Police) addresses the audience

During his presentation, Davies shared details of the Project Griffin scheme. Introduced in April 2004, Project Griffin was established to strengthen the partnership between the City of London Police and security chiefs within the City’s business community. It’s a revolutionary initiative aiming to co-ordinate the resources of the police, the emergency services, local authorities and private sector security.

The Shield Group’s CEO John Roddy is also a member of the Project Griffin Committee.

Tim Strofton: head of museum services and security at IWM

Pressing security issues facing the UK

Speaking about the event, The Shield Group’s Ken Stewart said: “The Shield Group Summer Security Conference was yet another fantastic opportunity to emphasise the most pressing security issues currently facing the UK and territories overseas. As The Shield Group is the leading independent Total Security Solutions provider in the UK, we are able to organise such an event which brings a real focus to protecting people, property, assets and brands.”

Ken Stewart of The Shield Group (left) with Jeff Davies on board HMS Belfast

John Roddy added: “I’m proud of the quality and quantity of our guests as it reflects our reputation in the industry and interest in our business. It demonstrates that we are changing as a business and that we’re ready to reshape the industry with our unique position in the market.”

The decision to host the event on board HMS Belfast was also directed by the fact that The Shield Group was recently awarded the visitor services and security contract at IWM. That contract includes IWM’s flagship branch that’s transforming with new First World War Galleries and Atrium space opening on Saturday 19 July 2014 to mark the Centenary of the First World War.

It also embraces IWM North (housed in an iconic award-winning building designed by Daniel Libeskind), IWM Duxford (a world-renowned aviation museum and Britain’s best preserved wartime airfield), the Churchill War Rooms (housed in Churchill’s secret headquarters below Whitehall) and the Second World War cruiser HMS Belfast.