Three new categories were introduced this year, namely Best Team, Best Use of Technology and Best Newcomer.
The 38 regional winners will go on to the final judging round, and national winners will be presented with their awards at the BSIA's Annual General Meeting in July.
The 2001 Regional Winners
Best Team
The security team at Pilkington Glass in St Helens has won the prestigious title of North West Security Team of the Year. The team of officers from Reliance Security Services won the award for their work in preventing and detecting theft. In December last year, they notched up their 100th intruder arrest.
Meanwhile, the security team at the Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer legal partnership in Fleet Street has won the title of London Security Team of the Year. The 22-strong team of officers from Whitehall Security Services won the award for their work over the last 20 years in protecting the law firm's properties and thousands of employees.
Outstanding Act
Security Officer Everton Allen has been awarded the title of North West Security Officer of the Year. 46-year-old Everton, who works for Galago, was commended by the judging panel for containing a major spillage of resin at a building technologies plant in Swinton, where he has been based for two years.
The Midlands Security Officer of the Year Award goes to Michael Birch of Reliance Security Services, who showed courage and quick thinking when he prevented a double- decker bus being stolen from the town's Centro bus station. Despite being assaulted by the wrong-doer, 53-year-old Michael prevented him from driving out onto the public highway.
Initial Aviation Security's officers Matt Rochel and Frank O'Hanlan share the title of South Wales Security Officer of the Year. 45-year-old Matt and 55-year-old Frank managed to prevent a man from committing suicide at Cardiff International Airport, where they have been based for five months.
Brian Wadman of The Shield Guarding Company takes the London Security Officer of the Year Award for containing a fire at the Nomura International Building in the City, where he has been based for ten years.
Best Use of Technology
The CCTV operators at Corby Borough Council share the title of Midlands Security Officer of the Year. The team, all employed by The Corps, was nominated for the award following a series of crime fighting successes. Thanks to the team's efforts, Corby's town centre crime rate has dropped by 32%.
CCTV operators based at King's Cross Police Station have shared the London Security Officer of the Year title. Employed by The Corps, the guarding team won the award for their consistent vigilance in helping to detect and prevent crime on the streets.
They have also used CCTV cameras for a range of public safety purposes, including keeping the Highways Department fully informed about road maintenance problems.
Best Newcomer
The London Security Officer of the Year Award in this category goes to Scott Yeates of Whitehall Security Services. 27-year-old Scott has been recognised for both his organisational ability and supervisory skills.
Service to the Customer
Store detective Abderrahman Souguir takes the title of London Security Officer of the Year for his work over a 14-month spell at the James Selby Department Store in Islington, north London.
Abderrahman, 34, who works for guarding contractor CIS Security, was recognised particularly for his efforts during the past year – he has made 329 arrests, and recovered £20,000 worth of stolen goods.
Best Team
- BBC Scotland – Galago (Scotland)
- BP Oil UK's Coryton Refinery – Legion Security (South East)
- Cooper's Square Shopping Centre – Securitas (Midlands)
- Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer – Whitehall Security Services (London)
- Kingsway Shopping Centre – Reliance Security Services (South Wales)
- The Mall Shopping Centre – Chubb Security Personnel (South West)
- Nestle Fawdon Factory – Group 4 (North East)
- Pilkington Glass – Reliance Security Services (North West)
Outstanding Act
- Brian Wadham – The Shield Guarding Company (London)
- Donald Kennedy – Reliance Security Services (Scotland)
- Eric Chapman – Securicor Guarding (South West)
- Everton Allen – Galago (North West)
- Gary Barker – Elite Security Guarding Services (Yorkshire)
- Matt Rochel and Frank O'Hanlan – Initial Aviation Security (South Wales)
- Michael Birch – Reliance Security Services (Midlands)
- Robert Johnstone – Reliance Security Services (South East)
- Wilfred Brown – Galago (North East)
Best Use of Technology
- Bristol Project Security Team – The Corps (South West)
- Corby Borough Council CCTV Team – The Corps (Midlands)Graham Brass – Securicor Guarding (North East)
- Gerrard McVeigh – Securicor Guarding (Northern Ireland)
- Gerry McCann – Securicor Guarding (Scotland)
- King's Cross CCTV Team – The Corps (London)
- Peter Stevens – CIS Security (South East)
- Richard Bamford-Mason – The Corps (South Wales)
Service to the Customer
- Abderrahman Souguir – CIS Security (London)
- Allan Such – Reliance Security Services (South East)
- David Johnston – Securicor Guarding (North East)
- David Stewart – Securicor Guarding (Yorkshire)
- Garry Harding – Initial Security (South West)
- Mike McDade – Initial Security (South Wales)
- Prince Gaddu – Galago (Midlands)
- Robert Carson – Group 4 (Scotland)
Best Newcomer
- Anthony Donnelly – Group 4 (N Ireland)
- Brian Burke – The Corps (South West)
- Jamie Gilbert – Reliance Security Services (Midlands)
- Michael Almond – The Watch Security (South East)
- Scott Yeates – Whitehall Security Services (London)
Royal Assent for Regulation
The Private Security Industry Act received Royal Assent on 11 May. The Act will establish a regulatory authority – the Security Industry Authority (SIA) – to license all security officers. Managers, directors and partners of contract manned security companies – as well as door supervisors, wheelclampers, security consultants, private investigators and keyholders – will also be subject to licensing, and a voluntary ‘approved companies scheme’ introduced. Minister of State Charles Clarke has stated that the SIA should be up-and-running by the end of 2002. Although the BSIA is delighted that regulation has finally become law, it does have some concerns and will continue to lobby Government to ensure that regulation is structured and applied in the most effective way. The Act is largely a framework document, and there will be considerable scope for amendments and additions. Indeed, Charles Clarke has said that the Act ‘contains provisions’ to convert the voluntary company scheme into a compulsory one, and to introduce licensing for in-house officers and the alarms industry once the SIA is in full operational mode.Criminal Records Bureau
At a recent meeting of the Criminal Records Bureau User Forum, the process by which the higher level criminal record certificates (ie those that will be exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act) will be obtained was explained in detail. The higher level certificates (Enhanced Criminal Record Certificate and Criminal Record Certificate) will be available from January 2002. The lower level Criminal Conviction Certificate will be available to all members of the public by direct application to the Bureau from August 2002 onwards. At present, the security industry relies on police criminal record checks to undertake vetting of individuals. Due to concerns about the continuing availability of this service until the Bureau is in operation, the BSIA will be lobbying the Home Office, ACPO and individual Police Forces.The Big Issue, by Catherine Park
Source
SMT