Tag: Security Industry Authority

Security operatives face realistic terror scenarios in George Street nightclub exercise

The Security Industry Authority (SIA), the regulator for the private security industry, ran a safety resilience exercise at the Shanghai Club in Edinburgh’s George Street on Sunday.

The SIA organised the exercise in partnership with Police Scotland counter-terrorism officers, Scottish Ambulance Service and City of Edinburgh Council.

The training event at Shanghai Club confronted security staff with a series of real-time simulations, involving volunteer actors, of possible emergency scenarios. These included an attack with a bladed weapon, an acid attack, a suspect package and a marauding terrorist attack taking place outside the club.

Security teams from Edinburgh and the surrounding area were in attendance to observe.

Ronnie Megaughin, the SIA’s Head of Compliance and Inspections, said: “These realistic scenarios are an excellent method for training security operatives and gives them an ideal opportunity to put their training to use.

“Security operatives may be the first people on the scene in an incident. Yesterday’s staged terror incidents enabled security operatives to take part and deal with the scenario, and then receive an instant debrief from counter-terror experts.

“We know from experience that operatives, and their managers, really appreciate what they learn from these events and find them worth their while. Any of these security staff could find themselves as the first responder at a serious incident, and this exercise could literally be the difference between life and death.”

John Sandlin, SIA Senior Manager Compliance and Inspections, said: “The main aim of exercises like this is to increase public safety in the night-time economy by working with venues and security staff.

“It’s also to showcase best practice by putting the Action Counters Terrorism (ACT) security e-learning package, which we’ve been recommending to all SIA-licensed operatives, into practice. We’re really pleased with the commitment that all the security staff put into the exercise at the Shanghai Club.”

This emergency planning exercise at the Shanghai Club continues a programme of similar exercises and follows on from events in Chesterfield, London, Glasgow and Leicester.

PICTURES: Ross Parker / SNS Group

Manchester arena attack: message of remembrance from the Security Industry Authority

Today our thoughts are with the people of Manchester. We remember in particular the families who lost loved ones and those who were injured and had their lives shattered because of the Manchester Arena attack on the 22 May 2017. Five years on you are still very much in our thoughts.

We remain committed to playing our part to strengthen public safety. We continue to work with the private security industry, the police, and the Home Office in the pursuit of this goal. We will continue to do so in support of greater public safety for everyone.

Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the tragic events at Manchester Arena, at this time.

Heather Baily, Chair, Security Industry Authority

Michelle Russell, Chief Executive, Security Industry Authority

Security operatives face realistic terror scenarios in nightclub exercise

A counter-terrorism emergency planning exercise in Glasgow yesterday saw security operatives dealing with realistic terror scenarios presented by actors.

The Security Industry Authority (SIA), which is the regulator for the private security industry, ran the safety resilience exercise at Kokomo on Glasgow’s West Regent Street. The SIA organised the exercise, which is the first of its kind in Scotland, in partnership with Police Scotland counter-terrorism officers and Glasgow City Council.

The training event at Kokomo confronted security staff with a series of real-time simulations, involving actors, of possible emergency scenarios. These included a mass stabbing, an acid attack, a marauding terrorist attack taking place outside the club, and a suspect package.

Ronnie Megaughin, the SIA’s Acting Director of Inspections & Enforcement, said: “Putting these security operatives into realistic terror scenarios is one of the best ways to prepare them in the event of a real-life incident.

“We stage a terror incident, watch how they deal with the scenario, and then provide an instant debrief from counter-terror experts. We know from past experience that operatives, and their managers, really appreciate what they learn from these events and find them worth their while.

“Any of these security staff could find themselves as the first responder at a serious incident, and this training could literally be the difference between life and death.

Lee Crofts, the SIA Criminal Investigation manager who co-ordinated the event, said: “The main aim of exercises like this is to enhance public safety in the night-time economy by working with venues and security staff.

“It’s also to showcase best practice by putting the Action Counters Terrorism (ACT) security e-learning package, which we’ve been recommending to all SIA-licensed operatives, into practice. We’re really pleased with the commitment that all the security staff put into the Kokomo exercise.”

This emergency planning exercise at Kokomo continues a programme of exercises and follows on from events in Chesterfield and London in autumn 2021. A pilot event took place at Buxton in Derbyshire in October 2019.

The Security Industry Authority is the organisation responsible for regulating the private security industry in the United Kingdom, reporting to the Home Secretary under the terms of the Private Security Industry Act 2001. Our main duties are: the compulsory licensing of individuals undertaking designated activities; and managing the voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme.

For further information about the Security Industry Authority visit www.gov.uk/sia. The SIA is also on Facebook (Security Industry Authority) and Twitter (SIAuk).

Hate Crime: tackling abuse of night time workers

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) have partnered with Police Scotland in support of their new Hate Crime campaign, which is focusing on workers in Scotland’s night time economy in an effort to encourage more victims of hate crime to come forward. Continue reading Hate Crime: tackling abuse of night time workers