The run-up to Christmas and the New Year sparks heightened concern about Cash-in-Transit crime at what is a very busy time of the year. Attacks on security vehicles carrying cash and valuables pose a major risk, endangering not only security personnel but also members of the public who find themselves caught up in these violent incidents.
Every day, the security industry transports well over GB pound 1 billion in cash in a fleet of over 3,500 vehicles. This presents an attractive target for organised, professional criminals for whom the potential rewards often justify – in their eyes, at least – the use of extreme violence.
The Christmas shopping season has seen a number of police initiatives launched to ensure that the use of police force resources provides maximum impact to target, deter and disrupt the activities of professional criminals responsible for such attacks.
In November, the Greater Manchester Police (GMP) announced its pre-season initiative to safeguard Cash-in-Transit vehicles during delivery and pick-up times thanks to a variety of tactics including armed police vehicles escorting high-risk security vehicles as they carry out their normal deliveries, the use of overt and covert CCTV monitoring and patrol cars.
In addition, the Force helicopter has been shadowing vehicles from the air during collections or deliveries, enabling any activity to be monitored. The latest forensic marking technology is also hidden in vehicles.
Another initiative – aptly titled ‘Follow That Van’ – keeps potential robbers guessing whether a cash delivery van is likely to receive a police escort. This initiative is the major focus of the West Midlands Police, who have renamed their own campaign ‘Follow That Van, Watch That Delivery’.
The West Midlands campaign takes the original initiative one step further by involving Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) and officers who are on foot patrol who will now stand, patrol or engage in normal duties while in the vicinity of any cash deliveries.
These initiatives will aim to maximise the visibility of police where Cash-in-Transit vans are travelling between deliveries as well as making them, by providing visible deterrence and maximising the amount of intelligence gathered.
The Metropolitan Police Service has also been involved with a pre-Christmas Cash-in-Transit initiative to combat crime. This has seen an enhanced approach, building on the force’s already successful Vanguard initiative which has been running on a long-term basis.
Speaking exclusively to SMT Online about these initiatives, Dick Hanks – the BSIA’s national police liaison manager – explained: “Police operations like these are part of dedicated work nationwide to reduce Cash-in-Transit crime, and protect couriers from violent attacks. The sustained effort of the security industry and its partners means that it’s becoming increasingly more difficult to perpetrate a Cash-in-Transit attack. The criminals will not know when they’re being watched.”
For more information on Cash-in-Transit crime, visit www.bsia.co.uk/cvitcrime (click on the dedicated link on the right hand panel of this page)
The Big Issue (by Mike Sussman)
Carbon footprint and green issues are increasingly being talked about. Meeting the requirements of any environmental legislation will be high on most companies’ agendas.
All homes and offices in England and Wales, for example, are being encouraged – and in some instances required – to issue Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs). An EPC has been required for all commercial premises bought, sold or let from October 2008. In addition, certain public buildings must show a Display Energy Certificate (which is similar to an EPC).
Reducing the carbon footprint can also have significant financial benefits for the majority of businesses. These reductions are beneficial for most Boards of Directors at any time, but most crucially at this point in the economic cycle given the present commercial climate.
An Integrated Security Management System (ISMS) can provide the necessary reductions in energy use that will cut back on your company’s carbon footprint, and make those all-important efficiency savings that will have an effect upon the bottom line.
One way of reducing energy use is to control the heating and lighting in premises directly from the access control system. When a room is occupied, the lights can automatically be switched on and the heating turned to the occupied temperature. As soon as the last person leaves, the lights can be automatically turned off and the heating lowered by a few degrees with a significant impact on energy costs.
The Energy Saving Trust predicts that by the year 2010 around GB pound 11 billion and 43 tonnes of CO2 will have been wasted, with the majority of this generated by leaving electrical appliances on standby or heating and lighting switched on when not required.
By adopting an ISMS, businesses will not only benefit in terms of savings from a financial perspective but also a reduction in energy usage which will have an overall impact on CO2 usage as a whole. In today’s climate every saving made will have a positive impact on a company’s Corporate Social Responsibility.
Mike Sussman is chairman of the BSIA’s Access Control Section
Sustaining links overseas
The BSIA’s Export Council recently hosted an International Export Colloquium, during which an Industry Briefing Course was held in conjunction with the UKTI’s DSO and the fire, security, safety and police sectors.
The Industry Briefing Course aimed to inform commercial officers from around the world about the capabilities of UK plc in these sectors, in order to better promote, represent and source leads for UK companies.
As part of the Industry Briefing Course, the International Export Colloquium day also allowed members of the FIA, the BSIF, the BSIA and APPSS to come together in order to hear commercial officers outline the market opportunities in their countries. The countries represented included Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Finland, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Jamaica, Libya, Mexico, Morocco, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Trinidad and Tobago and Vietnam.
The BSIA Export Council’s next exhibition will be at Intersec 2009, which takes place in Dubai next month. Once again, the BSIA will host a UK Pavilion – this being the largest BSIA-organised overseas event. Intersec will showcase the product and services of BSIA member companies operating overseas.
For more information on the work of the BSIA Export Council, visit www.bsia.co.uk/exporting (again, see our dedicated link on the right hand panel of this page)
