SSAIB News

Places of worship in England and Wales are able to apply for funding for extra security against hate crimes through the Government and SSAIB-registered firms are on hand to help complete the work.

Churches, gurdwaras, mosques and temples that have been subjected to – or are vulnerable to - hate crimes motivated by racial prejudice or hostility will be able to apply for funds through the Government Hate Crime Action Plan, which will help provide added security measures to deter any future incidents of this kind from occurring.

However, these places of worship would need to contribute 20% of the total costs themselves and the Government will only accept bids for this security funding scheme until 5pm on May 29 2017.

As part of the guidelines for funding, the security work must be carried out by a company that has accreditation from a certification body like the SSAIB. Click here to find a SSAIB-registered firm in your area.

Funding must be used for security equipment – such as, but not limited to; CCTV, perimeter fencing, window locks, intruder alarms, security doors, external lighting and access control gates – and cannot be put towards the cost of hiring security personnel. The amount paid out by the Government would also include the cost to install the security equipment, but the applicants will receive no financial help with any service charges, maintenance or one-off connection or monitoring fees.

Please note that the Jewish community is not eligible for this scheme – as the Community Security Trust offer a similar commitment to fund Jewish community sites through grants.

For more information on the Places of Worship: Security Funding Scheme and how to apply, go to https://www.gov.uk/guidance/places-of-worship-security-funding-scheme#approved-security-installation-companies

Due to record demand, this year’s SSAIB Installers Forum is now fully booked – after all of the places were claimed within 36 hours.

Seats for the BT Redcare-sponsored event – which takes place at the BT Tower on Wednesday May 3, 2017 - became available on Monday, but our registered firms wasted no time in registering their interest. After just a day and a half, the last few remaining places were all snapped up - meaning that SSAIB have had to create a reserve list to cope with demand.

Should any of the successful applicants then drop out prior to the event, these places will then be filled up from the reserve list on a first come, first served basis.

The programme for the day will start at 9.30am and will include; an SSAIB update from chief executive Alex Carmichael, a BT Redcare update, a talk on cyber security from an industry expert and an introduction to the new Trailblazers apprentice scheme for the fire and security industry.

The event will then finish with a short open forum, followed by lunch at 12.30pm in the revolving restaurant that stands at 189 metres high.  With unparalleled views of London, the BT Tower is a unique venue and SSAIB are delighted to be welcoming our members to this event.

Once companies have had their places finalised, they will receive the final details for the event - including access requirements – and, for security reasons, attendees must register in advance for this event and it is essential that they bring some form of identification on the day – a passport or driver’s licence, for example. It is not possible to send a substitute representative on the day.

Anyone who missed out on a place is advised to register for our reserve list as soon as possible, but SSAIB cannot guarantee how many – if any – of these firms will be successful in securing a place. To add your name to the reserve list, please contact sales executive Victoria Barker on 0191 296 3242.

SSAIB are delighted to announce that we have successfully attained certification for the Cyber Essentials Plus scheme.

In doing so, the SSAIB has become the first certification body within the security industry to achieve Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation.

A government-backed and industry supported scheme, Cyber Essentials is used to help organisations protect themselves against common cyber-attacks and is available to any firm of any size.

Within an organisation’s IT system, the scheme covers the basics of cyber security and implementation of the controls suggested can significantly reduce the risk of prevalent but unskilled cyber-attacks.

The Cyber Essentials Scheme summary states: “For many organisations - especially those with significant information assets or who are exposed to a wider range of threats - Cyber Essentials will become a practical component of a wider ranging cyber security posture.”

Following the news that the company’s IT facilities now meet Cyber Essentials Plus standard, SSAIB chief executive Alex Carmichael remarked: “It’s great to see the SSAIB awarded with Cyber Essentials Plus – as it shows that we are committed to IT security.

“We’ll also be passing useful information about cyber security and what can be done to prevent attacks onto our registered firms through our various channels of communication, in an effort to help them become more self-aware of the threats that cyber-attacks can bring.”

For more information on the Cyber Essentials scheme and how to apply for it, please visit https://www.cyberaware.gov.uk/cyberessentials/.

SSAIB inspectors usually take the lead during annual audits of our registered firms, but Jim Suttie was literally forced into it recently – after he turned up at an inspection just after a litter of puppies had been born.

Prior to the arrival of our scheme manager for CCTV and access control systems, Billy Bingham of SSAIB-registered firm Signature Security Solutions had spent the previous night and morning helping Minnie give birth to eight young pups.

The two-year-old’s octuplets comprised of five boys and three girls and were born at the home of the East Lothian-based sole trader. In fact, Billy had just finished aiding his cockerpoo – a cross between a cocker spaniel and a poodle - when Jim arrived to conduct his inspection for intruder alarms systems.

“They were born during the night before and in the morning of the inspection, so I was literally just finishing when Jim turned up at 8:30-9am,” Billy explains. “It was quite an experience and I think it was an experience for Jim as well, because the house was upside down when Jim came through the door.

“It was fine really. I just had to explain to Jim what had happened.

“The worst thing was the lack of sleep, but four cups of coffee were all I needed and I was sorted. It wasn’t a problem.”

A night spent delivering puppies might have been far from ideal ahead of an important SSAIB inspection, but Billy was delighted with how well it went and had nothing but praise for Jim during – and after – his visit to the Scottish firm.

Billy said: “It was a really good inspection and Jim was really helpful as well. In fact, Jim was excellent and he has been after it as well.

“He’s sent me a nice couple of emails since then, asking if everything is still ok and stuff like that.”

SSAIB scheme manager Jim added: “Obviously, the poor guy was tired after being up half the night sorting out all of his new doggies. Billy’s a nice lad though and he did really well to go straight from that into an inspection, so hats off to him for that.”

Despite the upheaval, it turned out to be a successful inspection for Signature Security Solutions – as they are now an intruder alarms systems (ACPOS) accredited firm with SSAIB.