Guardforce Security has re-launched its newsletter which is emailed to every member of staff. The newsletter contains up-to-date news, information on the industry and other important issues relevant to the security industry and the company.

The Security Industry Authority (the SIA) is being replaced with another organisation or regime which has not been named by the Government as yet but it is our understanding that the individuals' licences will continue in a stricter manner. Furthermore, the business licence will also be introduced which means that Security Companies will have to meet the criteria which will be set by the new regime. We expect that the requirements for both individuals and the businesses will be stricter and for any new companies to operate under the new regime they will require business licences; for more up-to-date information visit the SIA website - www.sia.homeoffice.gov.uk.

WHEEL CLAMPING

On 17 August 2010, the Government announced that wheel clamping on private land will be banned in England and Wales. The ban was put forward in The Protection of Freedoms Bill, which was introduced into the House of Commons on 11 February 2011. It will come into force when the bill gains Royal Assent, subject to parliamentary approval. Until the ban is in place, the current law applies to any person undertaking the licence activities of a vehicle immobiliser must hold and display a valid SIA licence.

FORMER RAF SITE, UXBRIDGE

Guardforce are pleased to be able to secure the former RAF site at Uxbridge. The site is still home for a few serving servicemen but many have been relocated elsewhere as the site will eventually be developed for private housing. We have a very positive feedback from our site contact that the duties performed by the team of Security Officers are of exceptional standards.

NEW UNIFORM

The Company is in process of introducing new uniform, and this will be phased in over a period of six months. The photographs of the new uniform, which is mainly black with a chequered band, can be seen on the photographs on this website.

THE SIA APPROVED CONTRACTORS SCHEME

The Approved Contractors’ Scheme by the SIA is fairly well recognised within the Security Industry, a lot of the end users are familiar with this scheme. The objectives of the Approved Contractors’ Scheme are to raise performance standards and to assist the Private Security Industry in developing new opportunities. This scheme gives the opportunity to those who achieve the ACS status to distinguish themselves as one of the best security providers in Great Britain.

The following statistics are updated every month on the SIA’s website and may not correctly reflect the accurate position; the total number of approved contractors in the guarding sector, as at the 31st March 2011 was 711. There is a scoring system in place and it is categorised on the size of the company; a company employing 0 to 10 employees are classed as a micro company; 11- 25 as a small company; 26 - 250 as a medium company and more than 250 employees as a large company. This year Guardforce achieved 60 score marks, which places us in the top 25% of the UK’s medium sized Security Companies. It is our Company’s target to achieve 80 score marks in our next year’s audit.

INTERNATIONAL THREAT LEVEL

Advice given by the security service MI5 & MI6 to every member of the public that they should always remain alert to the danger of terrorism and report any suspicious activity to the police on 999 or the anti terrorist hotline 0800 789 321. If the information does not relate to the imminent threat you can always contact the MI5 security service through their website. The current threat level for the UK is assessed as SUBSTANTIAL (at 11/10/11);

• Critical - an attack is imminent
• Severe - an attach is highly likely
• Substantial - an attack is a strong possibility
• Moderate - an attack is possible but not likely
• Low - an attack is unlikely