Speaking at his last Annual Luncheon as chief executive of the Association, David Dickinson said: “The Cash-in-Transit couriers that we are recognising today have demonstrated outstanding levels of courage when faced by extremely violent and traumatic situations. Their ability to remain level-headed is testament to both their training and strength of character, and we should all roundly applaud them for their achievements.”
The couriers’ identities must be protected due to the sensitive nature of their work, but i4s can reveal the levels of bravery they have displayed to merit their trophies.
Speaking about the Awards, Mike Wilson (the SIA’s chief executive) commented: “The SIA is proud to be associated with this award and is grateful for the opportunity to recognise publicly the commitment of these ten officers. In doing so, we acknowledge there are many ordinary people across the industry who, in the course of their jobs, show extraordinary loyalty and bravery. Regulation has been an essential tool in reassuring customers, enforcement partners and the public that the industry is professional and capable of delivering a service fit for the 21st Century. These awards highlight the tremendous quality of individuals in the private security industry, and its commitment to the job of helping to maintain community safety.”
Citations for the winners
- Five Loomis CVIT crew members and vault custodians were recognised for their calm actions and the application of correct procedures when the bay in which they were unloading a high value consignment was ram-raided by several armed offenders. The crew members were able to secure the bullion cage they were unloading within the branch before locking themselves into their vehicle, while the vault custodians raised the alarm.
- One G4S Cash Services surveillance officer was recognised for his brave actions when he prevented an attacker from escaping with a cash box by using his own vehicle to block-in the getaway car. He then confronted the attacker, removing the cash box from him. After a struggle the attacker fled the scene, but the officer was alert enough to have assessed the situation and gave excellent information to the police service, allowing them to later apprehend the assailant.
- Another G4S Cash Services courier was given an award for his quick-thinking response during a delivery when approached by an armed attacker. The courier was able to secure the cash box in the vehicle before confronting the attacker. The assailant broke free following a tussle and ran towards a getaway vehicle. The courier then raised the alarm.
- A G4S Cash Services courier was rewarded for his brave actions when faced by an attacker armed with a metal file while he was removing a coin container from a telephone kiosk. The assailant shut the courier in the kiosk and threatened him. A struggle ensued, during which the courier was struck on the back with the file. Commendably, the courier managed to keep hold of the container, the attacker ran away and the police were then called. Thanks to the information provided by the courier, the assailant was apprehended extremely quickly.
- A Post Office CVIT courier was honoured at the BSIA Annual Luncheon for an incident during which he remained calm when an armed attacker not only threatened him with a gun, but also said he would start shooting members of the public if the cash box wasn’t handed over. The courier’s decision to yield a cash box potentially saved the lives of innocent passers-by.
- Another Post Office courier was rewarded for his quick-thinking actions while under attack only two days into a new role, and just a few months after undergoing a triple heart bypass operation. During a violent attack, he was sprayed with petrol and the assailant threatened to set him alight. The courier attempted to prevent the robbery and, though unsuccessful at doing so, he was able to provide significant evidence to the police.
Mapleson’s bravery honoured by the Association
A member of the general public who was injured when he tackled an armed robber during a Cash-in-Transit attack received a Special Award from the BSIA in recognition of an act deemed by the Association to be of Outstanding Service and Courage.
The award was bestowed upon John Mapleson for his actions at Rayleigh Railway Station in Essex back in May last year. Mapleson witnessed an armed man threatening a female Cash-in-Transit courier with a gun and robbing her of the cash box she was carrying. Adam confronted the man and, after a struggle, the assailant then shot him in the chest. This left Adam with life-threatening injuries. He subsequently underwent major surgery that required a 16-pint blood transfusion. Thankfully, Adam has since made a full recovery.
Speaking from the podium at the BSIA’s Annual Luncheon, David Dickinson said: “Adam’s bravery when faced with an armed robber is an inspiration to us all. It’s testament to his heroism that he has said that if he were to be faced by a similar situation in the future his actions would be no different. I would also like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to detective superintendent Mick Field and detective inspector Ian Trantum from the British Transport Police who worked on this case. Their team put in a great deal of effort to secure a conviction.”
Crime Reduction Charter pays dividends
The partnership work driven as a result of the Cash-and-Valuables-in-Transit Crime Reduction Charter has reaped real results, with a 25% drop in Cash-in-Transit attacks from June 2007 until May this year when compared with the same period for the previous year.
The BSIA has been a driving force in the implementation of the Cash-in-Transit Action Plan first published in June 2007. This bound together all key Stakeholders in a framework for action which is now starting to deliver tangible results. Stakeholders include the police service, the GMB Trade Union and, of course, the security, banking and retail sectors. The initiative is strongly supported by Government ministers, not least Vernon Coaker (the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Home Office who gave the Keynote Address at this year’s Annual Luncheon).
The industry-led intelligence operation that is SaferCash has certainly come into its own. It is now pivotal to the exchange of information between the industry and police forces, dealing with 2,600 suspicious incidents over the past 12 months alone. Over one million e-text messages have been issued to crews alerting them of suspicious activity in their vicinity. SaferCash works on a co-operative basis from day-to-day in line with the Post Office’s own Operation Grapevine.
In spite of all this good work, BSIA chairman Stuart Lowden stressed: “The Association is conscious that the battle against Cash-in-Transit attacks has yet to be won. All of the key Stakeholders working within SaferCash are determined to achieve a further significant reduction in attacks.”