South West London’s Kingston University stands tall in the Higher Education sector for the way in which it has positively embraced security to achieve an open and safe campus environment. As Guy Ferguson explains, the institution has done so thanks to salient guidance and support from the Metropolitan Police Service and Police Crime Prevention Initiatives

[Read More]

WITH 20-PLUS years of events sector experience to date, Rachael Shattock was appointed Group event director at the Nineteen Group (with responsibility for International Security Expo, International Cyber Expo and International Disaster Response) in early 2020. Here, in conversation with Security Matters, Rachael focuses on the necessary pivot to all three events running under one banner in the online domain.

[Read More]

MANY BUSINESSES have been able to make the transition from on-site to remote working, but the time will come when the focus is back on the office environment. Alistair Enser outlines why security companies need to help their customers address the changes in their risk profiles and assist them to navigate the potential shift from cyber security threats to civil disturbance, for example, and from commercial theft to on-premises abuse or even violence.

[Read More]

PARTICIPATING IN a mentoring relationship can be greatly beneficial for an individual’s professional development, whether that be as a mentor or mentee. There’s a good deal to be gained from having a trusted mentor at all stages of the professional journey. Equally so, mentors can also grow and learn through a mentoring relationship. Here, in this exclusive thought leadership article for Security Matters, Angela Vernon-Lawson examines her own mentoring journey involving The Security Institute.

[Read More]

THE BRITISH Security Industry Association has been working tirelessly behind the scenes in a determined bid to underpin and embolden the private security industry in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Among other things, that work has involved lobbying Government in a bid to see security personnel recognised for what they are (and always have been): key workers. Mike Reddington offers a progress update.

[Read More]

GATE SAFE was established in 2010 in the wake of the tragic deaths of two children crushed by automated gates in separate accidents. The charity’s aim is simple – to put a stop to any further accidents or fatalities occurring as a result of unsafe electric gate/barrier installations. Security Matters interviews founder Richard Jackson (pictured) about the myriad achievements realised to date.

[Read More]

MUCH HAS been written about the current increase in home working as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. While remote working simply isn't an option for many companies and their myriad employees, for others business is at least continuing even though it's not a case of 'business as usual'. Here, Mike Hurst examines the impact of home working on the security profession.

[Read More]

THE RECENT theft of Van Gogh's Spring Garden painting (which dates back to 1884) from a Dutch museum in the town of Laren serves as a timely reminder that the robbery of such artefacts with a view to their subsequent trade on the black market remains a prolific form of criminality. Here, Peter Houlis outlines the various ways in which security management policy and today's security systems can assist in the protection of priceless works of art.

[Read More]

INNOVATIVE DEVELOPMENTS in materials and advanced processes together with new applications ensure that commercial holography continues to feature in the front line fight against counterfeiting, identity theft and brand piracy. Here, Dr Paul Dunn considers security and authentication holography and the new developments aimed at protecting brands and sales.

[Read More]

PROFESSIONALS INVOLVED in the planning, design and ongoing management of public spaces and streetscapes must consider and address a number of factors when looking at site security and safety. Here, Mark Lester explores the key issues involved and the solutions available to mitigate against potential terrorist threats without altering the overall landscape.

[Read More]

SECURITY TEAMS at UK universities are playing a key role in the battle against COVID-19, dealing with fast-changing risks on a daily basis and, in parallel, planning for strategic challenges in the longer term. Some heads of security are already focusing their attentions on the next big question facing their institutions: how they’ll recover and rebuild after the lockdown. Security Matters reports on current thinking.

[Read More]

IN THESE extremely troubling times it has been truly inspirational to witness the efforts of organisations throughout the construction and security sectors in building the NHS Nightingale Hospital at London's ExCeL. As an integral part of this massive collaborative project, Wilson James has been using its extensive security and logistics expertise to help create a facility that will treat those seriously ill with Coronavirus. Security Matters reports.

[Read More]

Managing hostile attacks is becoming more challenging as vehicles are used as weapons by terrorists and organised crime groups. Debbie Heald looks at the options to heighten security.

[Read More]

The evolving methods of terrorists, organised crime and opportunistic hackers and intruders have led to leaps in technology, which perversely means some of the perimeter protection and security industry are now part of the problem, argues Richard Huison.

[Read More]

The Mythical silver bullet is something which every business owner and security adviser are constantly in search of as a single weapon which will solve all of retail crime, says Lee Wallace.

[Read More]

Powered gates and barriers are an increasingly important part of multi-faceted security systems used to protect car parks, delivery areas and private entrances, explains Graeme Hazlewood.

[Read More]