Well, I wasn't prepared for the response Ive had from Mr Coaker, although I should have expected it, being from the Home Office after all.
It was less than enthusiastic to say the least.
All he has done is quote the Private Security Act 2001, and the self-defence 'reasonable force' laws.
I might have just as well got some random person off the street to comment on the letter I sent, I probably would have had a better response to be honest.
The full response from Mr Coaker will be available on the new APSO site once it is back up and running.
Showing posts with label security industry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label security industry. Show all posts
Thursday, 24 July 2008
New home, new beginnings?
The main APSO site has moved home.
It is no longer on my own personal webspace, but at www.apso.org.uk, kindly donated to us by one of our members.
Its hoped that with the new address will come a new stage in the campaign for a better security industry, with the ability now to hand out to officers a simple web address, rather than a long laborious one, in the hope that more will join our cause and increase our ability to make a difference in this country.
It is no longer on my own personal webspace, but at www.apso.org.uk, kindly donated to us by one of our members.
Its hoped that with the new address will come a new stage in the campaign for a better security industry, with the ability now to hand out to officers a simple web address, rather than a long laborious one, in the hope that more will join our cause and increase our ability to make a difference in this country.
Sunday, 6 July 2008
Slight update...
Well, its a new month, and yet I see that security officers are still being attacked, and the government only seems to care about officers who work as cash in transit officers.
Im not saying they shouldnt be considered for increased protection etc, but at the same time, we have to put up with attacks as they do.
Obviously attacks against the rest of us are less frequent as we dont carry large amounts of cash around, but we still get attacked, and they are becoming more frequent as time goes on.
Have I received any kind of response from Mr Coaker? Nope.
Am I expecting one in the next few weeks? Nope.
Am I surprised? Not in the slightest.
Ive had some more interest from individual officers of late.
Hopefully this will increase, but unless it does, all of our efforts will be completely pointless.
We'll just have to see really.
Im not saying they shouldnt be considered for increased protection etc, but at the same time, we have to put up with attacks as they do.
Obviously attacks against the rest of us are less frequent as we dont carry large amounts of cash around, but we still get attacked, and they are becoming more frequent as time goes on.
Have I received any kind of response from Mr Coaker? Nope.
Am I expecting one in the next few weeks? Nope.
Am I surprised? Not in the slightest.
Ive had some more interest from individual officers of late.
Hopefully this will increase, but unless it does, all of our efforts will be completely pointless.
We'll just have to see really.
Sunday, 15 June 2008
I should have posted this the other day...
... but I've had family things to deal with.
As you will notice in my previous post, I emailed both Jacqui Smith MP and David Davis MP, however, Mr Davis has now left his post as both Shadow Home Secretary and Member of the Conservative Party.
So Im now left with a bit of a dilemma: Do I wait to see who is taking his place as Shadow Home Secretary and email them, or do I wait to see if I get any kind of response from the Conservatives first, as they may forward the email onto someone who would be able to comment further on it.
Politicians huh!
As you will notice in my previous post, I emailed both Jacqui Smith MP and David Davis MP, however, Mr Davis has now left his post as both Shadow Home Secretary and Member of the Conservative Party.
So Im now left with a bit of a dilemma: Do I wait to see who is taking his place as Shadow Home Secretary and email them, or do I wait to see if I get any kind of response from the Conservatives first, as they may forward the email onto someone who would be able to comment further on it.
Politicians huh!
Monday, 9 June 2008
Let battle commence!
I have, JUST emailed both Home Secretary Jacqui Smith MP via my local MP, Helen Goodman, and Shadow Home Secretary the Rt Hon David Davis MP, with regards to the state of the Security Industry.
Wonder who will respond first?
I have a funny feeling its going to be the Conservatives....
Wonder who will respond first?
I have a funny feeling its going to be the Conservatives....
Monday, 26 May 2008
More support
I have had a few people recently come to me and offer their names as supporters of the campaign, for which I am grateful, the more the merrier I say.
But today (Sunday 25th) I have spoken to the manager of a local company, Praetorian Security ltd, based here in Bishop Auckland, who has given permission to put him down also as a supporter of the campaign.
He too agrees that there needs to be reform in the industry, starting with the SIA as he has had to lay off many lads and lasses due to the SIA's huge delays in resolving their backlog from last year, one lad has been waiting for about 6 months sofar, and still no badge.
So come on people, put your names down, if there aren't the numbers we will never get taken seriously enough to make a difference.
Yeah, Mike Wilson has recognised we are in existance, but we need to get the rest of the 'powers that be' to recognise us, or else our efforts will be wasted.
But today (Sunday 25th) I have spoken to the manager of a local company, Praetorian Security ltd, based here in Bishop Auckland, who has given permission to put him down also as a supporter of the campaign.
He too agrees that there needs to be reform in the industry, starting with the SIA as he has had to lay off many lads and lasses due to the SIA's huge delays in resolving their backlog from last year, one lad has been waiting for about 6 months sofar, and still no badge.
So come on people, put your names down, if there aren't the numbers we will never get taken seriously enough to make a difference.
Yeah, Mike Wilson has recognised we are in existance, but we need to get the rest of the 'powers that be' to recognise us, or else our efforts will be wasted.
Tuesday, 20 May 2008
I really must keep this updated
Sorry for the delay in an update here, been having a few issues with my laptop.
There's not really much to say, still going through an email to Jacqui Smith MP, to get her views on the issues that affect all security personnel in the UK.
Incidentally, I would like to ask officers who work in areas other than Door Supervision and site/retail security to come forward and tell us what issues they have to put up with, people like CViT officers, CCTV, everyone who works in the industry really, so that we have a broader view of what needs to be done to make our industry better and safer for us to work in.
You dont have to post comments here if you dont want, just drop me an email, tell me what you have to put up with, and we'll see where we can go from there.
There's not really much to say, still going through an email to Jacqui Smith MP, to get her views on the issues that affect all security personnel in the UK.
Incidentally, I would like to ask officers who work in areas other than Door Supervision and site/retail security to come forward and tell us what issues they have to put up with, people like CViT officers, CCTV, everyone who works in the industry really, so that we have a broader view of what needs to be done to make our industry better and safer for us to work in.
You dont have to post comments here if you dont want, just drop me an email, tell me what you have to put up with, and we'll see where we can go from there.
Wednesday, 30 April 2008
Better late than never...
I should really have posted this when I got the letter, but I have finally had a response from the SIA's Mike Wilson via my local MP Helen Goodman.
I posted the letter on the main APSO site here for all to see.
I posted the letter on the main APSO site here for all to see.
Thursday, 17 April 2008
Update, kinda...
Ok, so I haven't been updating the blog lately, but there really hasn't been anything to put here.
I still haven't received any reply from my MP. All I have had was a breif email from her secretary saying they were awaiting replies from the SIA etc and would get back to me once they had received them - I know the SIA can drag their heel with things for us, but come on, this is the deputy leader of the house of commons. You'd think they'd have gotten back to her in a matter of days, not months.
I dunno, just getting a bit sick of the entire situation. The SIA are basically a waste of time and space that needs a complete rethink, sooner rather than later.
I still haven't received any reply from my MP. All I have had was a breif email from her secretary saying they were awaiting replies from the SIA etc and would get back to me once they had received them - I know the SIA can drag their heel with things for us, but come on, this is the deputy leader of the house of commons. You'd think they'd have gotten back to her in a matter of days, not months.
I dunno, just getting a bit sick of the entire situation. The SIA are basically a waste of time and space that needs a complete rethink, sooner rather than later.
Friday, 4 April 2008
Self defence?
Ok, so I'm bored. I've just been re-reading the response from Downing Street regards the petition to allow security personnel the use of batons/sprays and handcuffs as standard, to which they basically gave a big no.
I came across a section on the use of reasonable force:
Under the law as it stands a person is entitled to use reasonable force in self-defence, to protect another person or property, to prevent crime or to assist in the lawful arrest of a criminal.
What constitutes `reasonable force' will depend upon the circumstances of each case and is a matter for the courts to decide. The courts have held that if a person does only what he honestly and instinctively thought necessary to defend himself or prevent a crime, then that would be potent evidence that only reasonable defensive action had been taken.
Now, the way I read that, if your first instinct when someone pulls a knife/whatever on you whilst not on duty is to punch them full-force in the face, breaking their nose/jaw/whatever else you come into contact with, that would be reasonable force. So in theory, this would be the same if we were on duty at the time this happened, wouldn't it?
As a private citizen, we could defend ourselves in that way and it would be called self defence, however, whilst on duty whether it be in a pub or club, or a retail site, or even in some remote building site, we are seen as having a position of authority, and if we did this to defend ourselves on duty, we would be considered as thugs who beat up people rather than attempt to disarm them without having to resort to violence.
It's a very grey area, but until it is clarified we are going to be constantly on a knife-edge (no pun intended) if someone tries to attack us in any way shape or form, wondering if we would be sued etc if we seemingly go too far.
Gordon, get your ass into gear and allow us all to defend ourselves properly. The criminals use weapons on us, so why can't we use 'defensive' weapons on them?
I came across a section on the use of reasonable force:
Under the law as it stands a person is entitled to use reasonable force in self-defence, to protect another person or property, to prevent crime or to assist in the lawful arrest of a criminal.
What constitutes `reasonable force' will depend upon the circumstances of each case and is a matter for the courts to decide. The courts have held that if a person does only what he honestly and instinctively thought necessary to defend himself or prevent a crime, then that would be potent evidence that only reasonable defensive action had been taken.
Now, the way I read that, if your first instinct when someone pulls a knife/whatever on you whilst not on duty is to punch them full-force in the face, breaking their nose/jaw/whatever else you come into contact with, that would be reasonable force. So in theory, this would be the same if we were on duty at the time this happened, wouldn't it?
As a private citizen, we could defend ourselves in that way and it would be called self defence, however, whilst on duty whether it be in a pub or club, or a retail site, or even in some remote building site, we are seen as having a position of authority, and if we did this to defend ourselves on duty, we would be considered as thugs who beat up people rather than attempt to disarm them without having to resort to violence.
It's a very grey area, but until it is clarified we are going to be constantly on a knife-edge (no pun intended) if someone tries to attack us in any way shape or form, wondering if we would be sued etc if we seemingly go too far.
Gordon, get your ass into gear and allow us all to defend ourselves properly. The criminals use weapons on us, so why can't we use 'defensive' weapons on them?
Friday, 21 March 2008
Sorry for the quietness....
I know I appear to have not been updating the blog, but there hasn't actually been anything to put on here lately.
Im still awaiting a further response from my MP, as I understand she is awaiting responses from those she wrote to last month. So once I have the responses, I will put them here, but until then, we just have to wait.
Something I will mention, is that I have started to gather increasing interest from both individual guards and security companies alike, however, as this is still only a fledgling idea, they are reluctant to show their support by being listed on the main APSO website - something that I can understand.
Anyways, like I say, once I have information to put here, I will do.
Im still awaiting a further response from my MP, as I understand she is awaiting responses from those she wrote to last month. So once I have the responses, I will put them here, but until then, we just have to wait.
Something I will mention, is that I have started to gather increasing interest from both individual guards and security companies alike, however, as this is still only a fledgling idea, they are reluctant to show their support by being listed on the main APSO website - something that I can understand.
Anyways, like I say, once I have information to put here, I will do.
Sunday, 2 March 2008
Security Officer killed on duty
In the early hours of yesterday, 1st March, a security officer was killed whilst on duty at a bowling alley in Bristol. The following story is taken from the this is bristol website:
SEVEN people have been arrested after a security guard was killed in an incident at the Bowlplex bowling hall and bar in Longwell Green in the early hours of this morning.
The 27-year-old security guard was in the foyer of the building, which is part of the Aspects Leisure Park, when the incident happened.
Police have sealed off the foyer and are expected to be at the scene most of the day carrying out inquiries to establish the full circumstances surrounding the man's death.
It was not clear how he was killed.
Detective Inspector Richard Budd said: "We know there were in excess of 100 people using facilities at Bowlplex during the early hours of this morning.
"It is important that we speak to those people to help us piece together the circumstances surrounding the man's death.
"Officers are this morning studying CCTV footage and speaking to people who were either working or visiting Bowlplex at around the time of the incident."
Police have arrested seven people in connection with the death. They were being held at a Bristol police station.
The dead man worked for Wotton-under-Edge-based Stuart Leisure Security which has a contract with Bowlplex to provide security guards.
Commercial director of Bowlplex Marena Hyatt-Willis said: "We are liaising with the police completely on this and trying to find out what happened.
"Our immediate concern is for the young man's family. He was only 27."
She said the company would issue a statement later today.
The Bowlplex has a late bar which is open until 1.30am on Fridays and Saturdays and also runs a disco, pool room and video room.
Now, correct me if Im wrong, but the last comment there, is that just a blatant advertisment or what? Someone died, and they are listing what facilities they have there.
I have just left a comment on that site, but not mentioning either this or the main APSO site, as it would probably not be shown.
Lets just see what happens in the next few days, as come tomorrow it will probably hit the main news rather than just the local papers, and hopefully someone from the government will sit up and take notice, as we have just had the response from them regarding the recent petition to allow security personnel to carry batons and sprays to be able to defend ourselves effectively, to which they gave a resounding NO.
SEVEN people have been arrested after a security guard was killed in an incident at the Bowlplex bowling hall and bar in Longwell Green in the early hours of this morning.
The 27-year-old security guard was in the foyer of the building, which is part of the Aspects Leisure Park, when the incident happened.
Police have sealed off the foyer and are expected to be at the scene most of the day carrying out inquiries to establish the full circumstances surrounding the man's death.
It was not clear how he was killed.
Detective Inspector Richard Budd said: "We know there were in excess of 100 people using facilities at Bowlplex during the early hours of this morning.
"It is important that we speak to those people to help us piece together the circumstances surrounding the man's death.
"Officers are this morning studying CCTV footage and speaking to people who were either working or visiting Bowlplex at around the time of the incident."
Police have arrested seven people in connection with the death. They were being held at a Bristol police station.
The dead man worked for Wotton-under-Edge-based Stuart Leisure Security which has a contract with Bowlplex to provide security guards.
Commercial director of Bowlplex Marena Hyatt-Willis said: "We are liaising with the police completely on this and trying to find out what happened.
"Our immediate concern is for the young man's family. He was only 27."
She said the company would issue a statement later today.
The Bowlplex has a late bar which is open until 1.30am on Fridays and Saturdays and also runs a disco, pool room and video room.
Now, correct me if Im wrong, but the last comment there, is that just a blatant advertisment or what? Someone died, and they are listing what facilities they have there.
I have just left a comment on that site, but not mentioning either this or the main APSO site, as it would probably not be shown.
Lets just see what happens in the next few days, as come tomorrow it will probably hit the main news rather than just the local papers, and hopefully someone from the government will sit up and take notice, as we have just had the response from them regarding the recent petition to allow security personnel to carry batons and sprays to be able to defend ourselves effectively, to which they gave a resounding NO.
Thursday, 28 February 2008
Ive had a response...
After emailing my local MP around 5 weeks ago, I have had a reply in the form of an official letter from her through the House of Commons, which states:
Dear Mr Watson,
Thank you for your recent emails concerning the problems you have been experiencing with the Security Industry Authority (SIA). I apologise for the delay in replying.
I appreciate the importance of this issue, and I understand your frustration at being unable to receive a satisfactory response from the SIA.
I have therefore written on your behalf to Mike Wilson, Chief Executive of the SIA, and Meg Hillier MP, Parlimentary Under Secretary of State for Identity at the Home Office, and I will write to you again when I receive a reply.
With regard to the problems you have experienced updating your address details, I have had success contacting the SIA on similar problems in the past, and would be happy to do so on your behalf. Please contact my constituency office if you would like me to make any such representations.
Yours sincerely
Helen Goodman
Step one - Make local MP aware: Complete
Step two - Make a difference: Pending
Dear Mr Watson,
Thank you for your recent emails concerning the problems you have been experiencing with the Security Industry Authority (SIA). I apologise for the delay in replying.
I appreciate the importance of this issue, and I understand your frustration at being unable to receive a satisfactory response from the SIA.
I have therefore written on your behalf to Mike Wilson, Chief Executive of the SIA, and Meg Hillier MP, Parlimentary Under Secretary of State for Identity at the Home Office, and I will write to you again when I receive a reply.
With regard to the problems you have experienced updating your address details, I have had success contacting the SIA on similar problems in the past, and would be happy to do so on your behalf. Please contact my constituency office if you would like me to make any such representations.
Yours sincerely
Helen Goodman
Step one - Make local MP aware: Complete
Step two - Make a difference: Pending
Monday, 25 February 2008
Petition Time
There is a new petition on the 10 Downing Street website, asking for an investigation into the Security Industry Authority, due to the fact that applications are taking longer than they should, being unable to contact the SIA by any means, and the fact that because of these and other issues the SIA is creating unemployment in the industry.
Ive signed it, as have others already - I fully recommend that every single security officer in the country sign it, as unless large numbers of officers do so, it will go unheard like every other attempt at getting the government to investigate the industry sofar.
Click here for the petition
Ive signed it, as have others already - I fully recommend that every single security officer in the country sign it, as unless large numbers of officers do so, it will go unheard like every other attempt at getting the government to investigate the industry sofar.
Click here for the petition
Saturday, 23 February 2008
I forgot to tell everyone I have a poor memory....
I knew there was something I was supposed to do yesterday.
I emailed my MP, Helen Goodman about the lack of contact I've had regarding both emails I have sent to her, advising that I was given a timescale for a reply by the person I spoke to at her constituency office, so I expected a reply, and have yet to receive one.
But I forgot to mention it on here. I know it's only a day late, but if I start forgetting to post, this page will go quiet, and the information wont be kept updated - I know what I'm like for things like this.
Whether this will speed up the process or not is a completely different matter.
I emailed my MP, Helen Goodman about the lack of contact I've had regarding both emails I have sent to her, advising that I was given a timescale for a reply by the person I spoke to at her constituency office, so I expected a reply, and have yet to receive one.
But I forgot to mention it on here. I know it's only a day late, but if I start forgetting to post, this page will go quiet, and the information wont be kept updated - I know what I'm like for things like this.
Whether this will speed up the process or not is a completely different matter.
Tuesday, 19 February 2008
I heard it through the grapevine...
..aka securityoracle forums lol.
I've heard today, whether it's just rumour or not I'm not fully aware, although it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest, that when The SIA moved their callcentre operations from Newcastle-upon-Tyne to Liverpool at the end of 2007, they reduced the number of incoming call lines to the callcentre staff because 'if there are less lines, then less people will be on hold, removing frustration at being on hold for so long'.
Now, having worked in a callcentre in the past as a calltaking spacemonkey, thats just bad practice.
If the account I worked on (can't mention what one, still covered by official secrets act) had that approach, the callcentre would have lost the contract within weeks. As it was, calls kept on hold, even if we were placing them on hold to find out some information, were charged to our company by the second, so if we had put people on hold for as long as we have been kept on hold with the SIA since its inception, the bill would have run into the millions by now.
I've just had a quick google for information on this, and instead I found the press release from the SIA regarding the £23 Million 4 year contract they signed with BT in 2003 for them to create the original callcentre and application processing centre in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, but lo and behold, nothing about the move to Liverpool.
Something else I have just found is some House of Commons questions from June 2006, stating that the callcentre used to average around 1000 calls per day, but during March 2006 the callrate was four times that, increasing to around 8000 calls on 20th March 2006. The result of this was the increase of incoming call lines, and employment of more operators.
So what the hell happened?
We went from having few callcentre staff, to having more than enough (if we go by the House of Commons report), then they move sites and REDUCE the amount of incoming lines, to 'remove frustration'.
Where do they get these people!?!
If anything, it increases frustration at not being able to get through in the first place, then once we're on hold we're on for a minimum of half an hour before getting through to someone who hasn't got a clue.
Ok, rant over.... for now, but it's just going to raise it's head more and more.
I've heard today, whether it's just rumour or not I'm not fully aware, although it wouldn't surprise me in the slightest, that when The SIA moved their callcentre operations from Newcastle-upon-Tyne to Liverpool at the end of 2007, they reduced the number of incoming call lines to the callcentre staff because 'if there are less lines, then less people will be on hold, removing frustration at being on hold for so long'.
Now, having worked in a callcentre in the past as a calltaking spacemonkey, thats just bad practice.
If the account I worked on (can't mention what one, still covered by official secrets act) had that approach, the callcentre would have lost the contract within weeks. As it was, calls kept on hold, even if we were placing them on hold to find out some information, were charged to our company by the second, so if we had put people on hold for as long as we have been kept on hold with the SIA since its inception, the bill would have run into the millions by now.
I've just had a quick google for information on this, and instead I found the press release from the SIA regarding the £23 Million 4 year contract they signed with BT in 2003 for them to create the original callcentre and application processing centre in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, but lo and behold, nothing about the move to Liverpool.
Something else I have just found is some House of Commons questions from June 2006, stating that the callcentre used to average around 1000 calls per day, but during March 2006 the callrate was four times that, increasing to around 8000 calls on 20th March 2006. The result of this was the increase of incoming call lines, and employment of more operators.
So what the hell happened?
We went from having few callcentre staff, to having more than enough (if we go by the House of Commons report), then they move sites and REDUCE the amount of incoming lines, to 'remove frustration'.
Where do they get these people!?!
If anything, it increases frustration at not being able to get through in the first place, then once we're on hold we're on for a minimum of half an hour before getting through to someone who hasn't got a clue.
Ok, rant over.... for now, but it's just going to raise it's head more and more.
How long does it take?
So as of tomorrow, Wednesday 20th, it will be 4 weeks since I first emailed my MP, Helen Goodman about the state of the UK security industry, and have I had a reply? NOPE!
The only confirmation I've had that she even received the email, was when I telephoned her office about my personal problem with the SIA, which will be 2 weeks ago on Thursday, and if you remember rightly, I was told I would receive a reply within the week.... long week this isn't it!
I think I'll be sending a follow-up email on Thursday, to find out when I will be receiving a reply, if at all.
The only confirmation I've had that she even received the email, was when I telephoned her office about my personal problem with the SIA, which will be 2 weeks ago on Thursday, and if you remember rightly, I was told I would receive a reply within the week.... long week this isn't it!
I think I'll be sending a follow-up email on Thursday, to find out when I will be receiving a reply, if at all.
Monday, 11 February 2008
Well...
.. I'm not building my hopes up just yet.
I emailed my MP, Helen Goodman earlier today, with regards to the personal problems I've had with the SIA over the last 16 months, and seeing as I am yet to receive any form of reply from her for the email I sent to her 3 weeks ago on wednesday, I'm not going to get too hopeful just yet.
All I want is someone to turn around and say 'yeah, we've screwed up with this, sorry' but I can't see it happening to be honest.
I emailed my MP, Helen Goodman earlier today, with regards to the personal problems I've had with the SIA over the last 16 months, and seeing as I am yet to receive any form of reply from her for the email I sent to her 3 weeks ago on wednesday, I'm not going to get too hopeful just yet.
All I want is someone to turn around and say 'yeah, we've screwed up with this, sorry' but I can't see it happening to be honest.
Thursday, 7 February 2008
And so it begins....
Around 20 minutes ago, I received a phonecall from the office of Helen Goodman, my local MP.
I telephoned her office yesterday to speak about the problems Ive personally been having with the SIA, and to confirm the receipt of my email about the state of the security industry as a whole that I sent to her 2 weeks ago.
I was told, that the email is being looked into and that I would receive a reply within the next week, and that my problems with the SIA should be put to her as a letter of complaint about the way I have been treated by them over what is actually a trivial matter, but its the way they have gone about it, and the principal of the thing that annoys me the most.
So, here is where it begins.
Within the week I will have a reply from my local MP as to what her views are on the problems we in the security industry are experiencing, and hopefully something may be looked into by the powers that be for a solution to it all.
Lets just wait and see....
I telephoned her office yesterday to speak about the problems Ive personally been having with the SIA, and to confirm the receipt of my email about the state of the security industry as a whole that I sent to her 2 weeks ago.
I was told, that the email is being looked into and that I would receive a reply within the next week, and that my problems with the SIA should be put to her as a letter of complaint about the way I have been treated by them over what is actually a trivial matter, but its the way they have gone about it, and the principal of the thing that annoys me the most.
So, here is where it begins.
Within the week I will have a reply from my local MP as to what her views are on the problems we in the security industry are experiencing, and hopefully something may be looked into by the powers that be for a solution to it all.
Lets just wait and see....
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