British Security Industry Association: partnership makes its mark on cash-in-transit attacks

British Security Industry Association: partnership makes its mark on cash-in-transit attacks. Figures released by the British Security Industry Association show a 28% drop in cash-in-transit attacks since the implementation of a proactive partnership initiative between the Police, the GMB trade union, and the banking, retail and security industries, which has been strongly supported by Government Ministers.

A Charter to tackle the menace of cash-in-transit robbery was signed at the Home Office on 11 May 2007 which led to a Cash-in-transit Action Plan being published in June. It was significant because it bound together for the first time all the key actors into a framework for action which is now starting to deliver results. Between January and June there were 617 attacks; between July and December, 442 were recorded.

BSIA Chief Executive, David Dickinson, comments: „For a number of years cash-in-transit attacks have blighted our industry with extremely serious consequences for couriers who are performing this valuable public service. This is now beginning to change. The latest figures show that our partnership initiative has already made a real impact in combating this crime. The last six months of 2007 have witnessed a 28% decrease in attacks compared to the first six months of the year.“

„The initiative has involved complex overt and covert Police operations in police forces across the country; considerable investment by the security industry in the introduction of new technologies to deter and detect attacks, the increasing implementation of best practice when dealing with CIT deliveries amongst the banking industry, and significantly increased communication and intelligence sharing between all the stakeholders. This has resulted in significant numbers of arrests of late and exemplary sentences have been passed on those convicted.“

„These actions have already achieved results over the past six months, but the battle against cash-in-transit attacks has yet to be won. All the stakeholders are determined to do everything they can to achieve a further significant reduction in attacks during 2008, offering continuing innovation and the deployment of significant resources. This work will be done for the benefit of the couriers, their families and the general public.“

Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker says: „It is great to see that a sustained effort by the key players, guided by the Cash-in-transit Action Plan, is driving down attacks. Intelligence sharing, improved site safety and focussed police activity have all contributed to the improvement during the second half of 2007. But there is still more to do and I am determined that the hard work will continue. I look forward to congratulating everyone in person at the next Home Office Round Table event.“

Gary Smith, GMB National Officer responsible for GMB members who work in the security industry, says: “There is a welcome drop in the figures, but it is coming down from an extremely high figure. There is no figure that is acceptable to GMB members. The resources being put into lowering the figures by the Government, Police and BSIA must be maintained to continue to bring the figures down.”

Contact:

British Security Industry Association,
Worcester, United Kingdom
Tel.: +44 845 389 3889
Fax: +44 845 389 0761
info@bsia.co.uk
www.bsia.co.uk