Securicor Cash Services, one of the UK's leading Cash-in-Transit service providers to the private sector, has reported a "high incidence" of criminal attacks on its vehicles and staff during the last five months.
Securicor's assertion is backed up by the latest figures from the British Security Industry Association (BSIA), which report a rise in attacks on personnel from 467 in 1999 to 631 by the end of 2000. Until last year, attacks had been decreasing year-on-year from late 1996.

The BSIA attributes this unwelcome rise to a series of factors. For one, enhanced levels of security within financial houses have made 'robbery on the public highway' a more attractive opposition for thieves, while the sheer volumes of cash and valuables 'on the move' have shot up by around 10% each year.

The Association is now urging Cash-in-Transit firms – including Securitas CIT and the Royal Mail's own CashCo – to review and ramp up cash transfer procedures on client premises.

Securitas CIT has also been prone to a spate of nasty attacks. Only recently, one of its officers was stabbed in London's Oxford Street by a man who then tried to make off with the cash box.

In spite of this, the company claims that revised procedures have indeed led to a significant decrease in attacks during the last six months.

Source

SMT