SIA Licence Training Courses in London Increased

Aug 10 • News • 3432 Views

Good news for those looking to pursue their SIA licence training in East London.

Managing Director of the PTTC Training Company based in East London has announced the increased availability of a comprehensive range of SIA approved security and safety orientated courses, specifically designed to address the needs of individuals employed within the ever growing UK security & events industries.

The company is offering a wide range of courses, including the popular SIA Door Supervisor course, SIA Security Guard Course and the CCTV operator course, inside their dedicated training facilities in London. PTTC boasts purpose built facilities designed specifically for the training of tomorrow’s security personnel.

In a recent press release from Managing Director Mario Garcia, he states that “Our company ethos is to provide the learner with the highest quality training and service delivery, irrespective of our candidate’s background, skills or experience. We ensure that our programs will always be up to date, and delivered by sector qualified, competent and experienced trainers for the best possible learning experience.”

The company has a good reputation in the area of professional training, having been in the game for over 10 years.

Whilst their main focus is on training solutions to the public, they currently expanding their client base to include training security companies.

Mr Garcia has worked in the security sector for over 30 years. The original reason he set up the company was to raise the standards of SIA licence training, with particular emphasis on private security and event stewarding. In his opinion, the quality of the training for door supervisors and security guards at that time, was not as it should be.

Since then the SIA has obviously been established with its underlying impact across the security training as a whole.

PTTC have continued to grow and now offer a wide range of training courses including first aid, fire awareness, health and safety and manual handling.

To find out more about the company, their new facilities and courses in the East London area, head here.

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Security Guard Assualted While working in Tesco

Aug 8 • News • 7244 Views

Yet another story that sees someone working in the field as a security guard being attacked for no reason at all. This does highlight the potential danger you place yourself in, every time you put on the uniform and go to work.

In a Tesco Express store in Colliers Row, a security guard was punched repeatedly after he approached a couple in the store.

The incident took place on May 28, at around 9pm. The couple where exiting the Tesco store when the guard, who was on duty at the time asked them to stop.

The pair began shouting abuse at the guard, and the man pushed him up against the glass door.

A second man then joined in with the assault, kicked against the door with enough force for the glass to crack.

The first man continued to assault the security guard by repeatedly punching him in the face and stomach. The guard also received cuts to his hands.

The news story broke yesterday, as police have now released CCTV footage of the couple and the second male. The police are looking to speak to the 3 of them in connection with the assault, and have asked if anyone knows of the identity and whereabouts to come forward.

The woman is described as 5ft 8in tall, in her thirties, and has should length black hair.

Both males are described as European-looking and are around 5ft 10in tall with short black hair.

If anyone lives in the area and has information they think might be useful they can call: Romford Police’s Community Safety Unit on 01708 779 110 quoting 5407942/14 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Unfortunately assaults like this are a common occurrence for security guards, (more so than on policeman, as those that carry out the attacks see guards as an easier victim). Anything we can do as an industry to help prevent such attacks should be looked into.

Is the current SIA training of the standard to cope with such brutal ferocity when it occurs. As a security guard yourself, what would you have done differently?

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Security Guard attacked in Basingstoke

Jul 30 • News • 4070 Views

A cash-in-transit security guard in Basingstoke was attacked yesterday, (July 29^th) while delivering money to a cash machine.

The attack and robbery took place at 8.20am morning at the Basingstoke Leisure Park. With it being during rush hour, police are hopeful that there were some witnesses to the scene and are obviously keen for anyone with information to come forward.

The robbery was successful, with the security guard being attacked, the cash box grappled from his person and the offender being driven away in a car.

Police have given a statement that the security guard suffered minor injuries.

Officers are appealing for witnesses to the robbery, particularly to passengers on a bus that was in the area when it took place.

Albeit the developments in cash-in-transit security, robberies of this nature are still an alarmingly regular occurance. Our news story yesterday was all about a guard who was attacked last year and recently received an award for his bravery. (In that incident the assailant did not manage to pry the cash box from the security guards hands)

Cash in transit officers will continue to be a target for would-be robbers, who see the crime as an easy way to make some fast money.

In the Basingstoke case the police, nor the bank or security company have stated anything about the nature of the cash stolen, ie how much, and what protective measures may have been in place within the cash box.

Ink infusion, or the exploding glue mechanisms may have been deployed, therefore destroying the money inside once the box is tampered with.

Lets hope that the authorities manage to catch the criminals soon.

If you are cash-in-transit officer, stories such as this really do remind you just how important it is to be aware. No one can have eyes in the back of their head, but with the number of attacks showing no signs of abating, it is necessary to be as careful as you can be while on the job.

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Cash-in-transit Security Guard Receives Award

Jul 29 • News • 3667 Views

It is always good to celebrate and bring attention to those that act above and beyond the call of duty while working as a security guard

Earlier this month, security guard Nick Lyons was presented with a prestigious award from the British Security Industry Association (BSIA)

Mr Lyons received the award due to his bravery following an incident where he was attacked while on duty as a cash-in-transit courier.

Nick had been working for Loomis when the incident took place, and had been working there for a number of years. The attack occurred in the spring of 2013, during a routine cash drop.

The assailant approached the cash in transit officer from behind, before assaulting him.

In an act of extreme bravery, Nick maintained his grab on the cash box through out the attack.

Nick finally managed to break free of the offender and placed himself and the cash box into a position of security. At this point the offender had no choice but to flee empty handed.

Head of Risk for Loomis UK Limited, Robert Johnson, had nothing but praise for Nick’s conduct throughout the attack. “Thankfully, Nick was not injured during the attack and to some extent this is due to his previous experience when under attack, the ongoing training that is delivered to our crews and his quick thinking in bringing the incident to a satisfactory conclusion.

“Nick is a very experienced and solid member of the team that always acts in a professional manner. He is a respected by managers and colleagues alike, works well under pressure and has proven that he can be relied upon during the most stressful and traumatic of situations.”

Baroness Smith of Basildon presented the special award to Nick. The ceremony was held at the British Security Industry Association’s Annual Luncheon, earlier this July in London.

After receiving the award, Nick said “Thank you very much for recognising me for this award. Raids are part of the job – they are something I’ve learnt to deal with, otherwise I wouldn’t still be doing the job 25 years on”.

And we couldn’t agree with his comments more. Raids are part of the job, and anyone pursuing a career in cash in transit needs to be aware of this. Nevertheless, this does not detract from the bravery that Nick exhibited in the midst of such an experience.

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A Reason to Keep Your CCTV Equipment up to date

Jul 28 • News • 3093 Views

If you are a security company and your CCTV infrastructure is out of date, or maybe you are a CCTV SIA trained operator, and working in conditions where the technology clearly needs up dating, take heed of this particular news story and sort the situation as soon as you can.

Today, Police in Kent have reported that an investigation into a theft from a station car park has been obstructed by the fact the CCTV footage was recorded onto VHS.

The now extremely out-dated technology meant that all footage from cameras monitoring Headcorn petrol station and its surroundings was of too poor a quality to be used in the investigation.

The situation came to light after company director David Hart reported the spare wheel on the back of his Land Rover had been stolen.

If you have CCTV equipment on your premises it is vital you keep it up to date

After reporting the crime, the police obtained the CCTV footage only to discover that it was mostly unviewable.

Although Mr Hart was not worried about the stolen spare wheel, he did state concern at the fact the CCTV was in the state that it was. If something more serious had occurred, such as an assault or worse, the CCTV security in place would not have helped at all.

“You are under the impression you are safe because of these cameras but you are not. It is a joke.” Mr Hart said.

In a reaction to the report, and public reaction, a Southeastern spokesman has said an up-to-date DVR – high quality digital – is due to be installed in the coming weeks.

The spokesman also said: “We are currently in the process of updating CCTV across our network.”

“While Headcorn has yet to benefit, we are confident the system in place captures footage that can be used to help investigations, and that the presence of the cameras provides a more secure environment.”

A British Transport Police spokesman said: “Unfortunately, we have experienced issues with the CCTV at Headcorn station, and were unable to view footage from this incident.

The lesson to learn here, is that if you do not keep your CCTV equipment up to date, it is more or less the same as not having any CCTV equipment at all.

The police require usable footage that is as clear as possible. With today’s CCTV technology you can certainly obtain superior security footage that can be used in a police investigation to successfully secure a conviction. Coupled with the operation of a qualified CCTV security officer, and you can have a sophisticated security monitoring system.

VHS recording does not have a place in this equation anymore. As this event so plainly demonstrates.

For more information on this story, head to Kent Online:

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New Close Protection Course & Training in Birkenhead

Jul 25 • News • 4759 Views

Primarius Ltd has announced earlier this month that they will be offering people in the North West of England the opportunity for close protection training.

For those interested, the new course will begin on the 15th of September 2014 and will run 7 days a week until the 4^th October 2014. A total of 19 days for the intensive close protection course, taking place in Birkenhead.

Primarius is an SIA approved training provider based in the area. Both directors of the company have a background in close protection. With combined operational experience in Afghanistan, Iraq, Africa, South America, Europe and the UK, Primarius certainly have the expertise to deliver on the new course.

The training will take place in their new offices in Hamilton Street in Birkenhead, making it very convenient for those living Wirral and Merseyside area.

Like all good close protection courses, the programme is designed to give students the grounding and knowledge they will need to be successful security operatives working in the field.

The Directors have also stated that women are most welcome on the course, “as there is currently a big demand for female security personnel.”

A number of key areas are covered within the course. These include:

• Operational Planning
• Venue-based security
• Threat and risk assessment
• Surveillance awareness
• Close protection teamwork
• Close protection foot techniques
• Route selection
• Close protection vehicle techniques
• Search awareness
• Law and legislation
• Incidents and dilemmas
• Communication and conflict managing skills.

For further information on the modules available head here.

After successfully completing the course, the normal procedure applies and students will be able to apply their close protection licence from the Security Industry Authority (SIA)

The BTEC and EdExcel-accredited programme costs a total of £2,250, and is payable in advance. (Payments can be made before the course in installments, however the balance must be paid prior to the start of training.)

For more information on Primarius close protection course and training, and to find out how to enrol, you can contact the company on 07760 631571 or email harry.g@primarius.co.

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Security Guard Catches Baby at Airport

Jul 24 • News • 3357 Views

Okay, so this is an old news item, however the video deserves a link on the Hub.

Whatever was this guy thinking, balancing his baby on the edge of the table like that.

Anyway, this just goes to show that you never know when you might be called into action as a security guard. It is clear that this particular security guard must have been watching the baby in order to react that quickly. He had seen that there was potential for the baby to fall, and he was ready to act if when the baby fell.

You can take this philosophy to your own job as a security guard. That element of being ready for anything, to be aware of your surroundings and to finally to be in the right place at the right time.

The dive to catch the little one is most impressive, it’s a pity the CCTV camera wasn’t better positioned, (were they remote control? Could the CCTV operator have been witnessing the action too?)

It is a wonder how the footage made the local news, (and then global news after a few networks picked up on it).

The event actually took place in Katowice Airport in Poland at the end of 2013, (like we say, we realise this is old news now).

The security guards name was Grzegorz Paczko. Apparently he had never played rugby in his life, or cricket for that matter. However, he was certainly nimble enough to get to the baby fast enough.

He stated that a financial reward to end up his way for saving the baby like that. His response was that it was all in the line of duty as a security guard. Congratulations to Grzegorz – an inspiration to all security guards out there.

If you know of any incidents where a security guard has done something quite spectacular, or you may be a guard yourself and have an interesting incident that goes beyond what you normally come across, then please send us the details.

Security guard training can only go so far – there certainly isn’t a module on catching babies. However, the training is designed to prepare you for the unexpected.

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