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Armed Forces Day 2022 - Forces training produces some of the country's best security officers

Armed Forces Day 2022: Forces training produces some of the country’s best security officers

As a security company with a social mission that directly relates to veterans, you can imagine the significance of Armed Forces Day to our whole team. A day where the country focuses on the great sacrifices our forces colleagues make to protect our country and countries around the world.

Our social mission is to provide meaningful employment to the people who have served our country and to help them reintegrate into civilian life. This has been the case since the company’s formation over 160 years ago. Forces personnel make exceptional security officers. Here is why.

Reintegrating into Civilian Life

It is difficult to understand the challenges that face forces personnel as they reintegrate into civilian life. I am a veteran myself, so I know first-hand the pressures that face our servicepeople as they leave the familiarity and security of their Forces family. For some, this transition can be paralleled with physical and mental health issues too, depending on the post that they are departing.

The most significant change for forces personnel is the loss of routine, procedures, structure, and discipline. However, these are the skills that align perfectly with roles in security services, something our founder realised when forming Corps of Commissionaires and remains the backbone of our social mission to this day.

Veteran’s influence security services with their transferable skills

Corps Monitoring is licensed by the Security Industry Authority (SIA) and expected to follow strict rules and guidelines. Our team is also required to understand, follow, and achieve certain British Standards for security that require motivation, discipline, robust procedures, and accurate reporting.
These traits are synonymous with the training of all Forces personnel. The similarities between security and the roles in our armed forces mean that learned skills are easily transferable and can provide security providers, such as Corps Monitoring, with access to a skilled workforce that have a positive impact on the development of the security industry in the future.

Understanding assailants

Another highly transferable skill from active service to CCTV and monitoring services, is understanding the behaviour of an assailant. Our team monitors thousands of live CCTV streams and are the first responder when there is an intruder, fire, and significantly and importantly a potential threat to life. Responding to such risks requires calm, to ensure accurate and concise reporting to those in danger on the ground.

Couple that with a deeper understanding of the reactions of the assailant – where they might hide and what their next course of action might be, can protect the lives of those under physical threat. For a veteran, this skill is engrained into their working lives and will therefore require much less intense training as they transition to security services.

Supporting the wider veteran community

At Corps we understand how daunting it is for veterans as they return to civvy street. Therefore, we have partnered with specialist organisations such as Combat Stress – who offer support to the wider veteran community who may face mental and physical health issues and/or struggling following their departure from the forces. Our partnership with Combat Stress offering veteran support not only helps the individual, but when they are ready to take on new employment, they know Corps are there to support them and provide meaningful roles in the future, should they wish.

Corps’ future for veterans

Corps will continue to forge relationships across the wider veteran support community, including the MoD and forces leadership, charities, and local organisations across the UK to continue to grow our veteran workforce. Admittedly, not all forces personnel will have the inclination to work in security. But for those that do, our mission remains to ensure every veteran is aware that they have a place in the Corps family.

We hope the country never forgets the sacrifices that have been made by our Forces personnel and veterans, and our loved ones in danger right now across the globe protecting innocent civilians every day. We hope you will join us in solidarity and support this Armed Forces Day.

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Artificial Intelligence In Security; There’s Nowhere To Hide
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Artificial Intelligence In Security Monitoring; There’s Nowhere To Hide

Technology has been at the heart of modern security for decades. From the launch of the first integrated CCTV system in the 1980s, to fingerprint and retina scanning used in modern day systems. The desire to protect our businesses, assets, homes and of course our families, has driven three decades of mind-boggling technological innovation in the security sector.

A modern piece of technology, that has already become a fundamental part of contemporary life and is fast becoming the most exciting future for security, protection and even law enforcement, is Artificial Intelligence.

No, the robots aren’t rising!

If you are over a certain age and you hear reference to the term Artificial Intelligence (AI), your mind is likely drawn to films depicting shiny reflective robots, with undefined faces and odd personalities. To dispel that myth immediately, we are not talking about robots patrolling your premises, approaching a trespasser, or driving your company vehicles. In modern practice, AI is an intelligence demonstrated by a machine to perform tasks like humans, and as in the case we are about to raise, to learn, adapt and improve these tasks and services accordingly.

How can AI improve my security monitoring and protection?

When was the last time you did a full review of your site security? For many, it is so long it is hard to remember. Whilst burglar alarms and 24-hour recorded CCTV are standard in businesses, and becoming equally as popular in our homes, many of the systems are outdated, or much of the functionality is underutilised.

External CCTV monitoring makes use of the alarm features on modern CCTV DVR systems to provide an additional layer of proactive protection with live surveillance, or sensor activated monitoring. The external provider reacts immediately to alarms, engages with any intruder, and can activate emergency services before you even know there is an issue. You can read more about our Corps Monitoring services, here.

You may ask yourself, why then do we need AI? Surely a human-centric service, supported by contemporary technology, offers all the protection you need?

AI and Humans Working Together

AI in security is not intended to replace any human activities, let’s make that clear. AI is used to enhance monitoring services, whilst building on our ability to identify threats, deter criminals and see more than a human eye is capable.

Any savvy businesses or individual who benefits from CCTV monitoring can access Corps Monitoring’s analytics and AI solutions. As one of the first UK security companies to adopt the technology within our ARC monitoring centre, we have catapulted the accuracy of our monitoring, positively influenced the capture and conviction of criminals, and have joined a worldwide community that is collecting data to learn and adapt to the ever-changing, and often coordinated security threats faced by the modern world.

Benefits of Analytics and AI

A skilled colleague: Whilst human beings are the most intelligent life on the planet, we have limitations. The analytics and AI systems we operate are designed to provide a solution to what humans cannot do, leaving us to focus on what we can influence with human interaction.

A seeing eye: The analytical data stored within the system can use the existing technology, such as CCTV, to identify gender, stature, height and can even identify if an intruder or visitor is left or right-handed. In addition, the system relies on movement, not light, which means hidden figures in shadows, unseen by the human eye, are identified quickly and highlighted by the system.

A first responder: The AI can also filter false alarms and real emergencies. Using specifically designed algorithms, built to learn, and adapt, the computer can separate false alarms caused by environmental factors such as strong wind, birds and other wildlife, and real threats such as an intruder.

A student: AI systems are permanently learning. Using cloud-based technology, every second of every day is recorded by the system and uploaded securely. The data is analysed by sophisticated algorithms which the software uses to adapt its programming and enhance its own possibilities.

A worldwide community: Our cloud-based AI solution provides a secondary benefit. Every company or individual using the system uploads data to a central cloud source. This data is analysed by sophisticated algorithms to recognise trends in criminal activity, and, as time goes on, create a data point of lawbreakers that could revolutionise their identification across the globe.

Analytics and Monitoring for the price of a client lunch!

You would expect that all this specialised technology would cost an eye-watering amount of investment – especially for a 24/7 service. In fact, it, costs less than a client lunch a week.

Not bad considering the positive impact your UK business can have on worldwide security and law enforcement for generations to come.

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Andy Topp
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Andy Topp Joins Corps Security

Corps Security has appointed Andy Topp as its new sales director.

Topp will work with executive director Mark Rogers and the rest of the senior leadership team to broaden the company’s approach and develop new market sectors – particularly those interested in a more ethical approach to procurement now that Corps is a social enterprise.

Andy will work closely across the Corps Security organisation, including our Corps Monitoring division which provides CCTV monitoring systems and services, fire alarm monitoring, personal protection services, and intruder alarm monitoring.

Topp has more than 20 years’ experience in the security and facilities management industry, having held senior roles with Reliance Security Services, Securitas Security Services and ISS Facility Services where he was most recently national sales director – single service for 10 years.

Andy Topp said: “I am thrilled to be joining Corps Security. As the only major social enterprise in the security sector, it is completely unique, and I look forward to helping to grow the organisation and thereby increase its positive impact on the local communities in which it works.”

Mike Bullock, CEO of Corps Security commented: “I’m delighted that Andy is joining us and bringing with him a wealth of senior experience in our sector. His ability to work at both a strategic and tactical level to deliver results will be a significant boost to the team.”

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How CCTV Monitoring Can Keep Your Business Secure During Quieter Periods
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How CCTV Monitoring Can Keep Your Business Secure During Quieter Periods

With a ‘work from home directive’ still in place, key decisions made by business leaders around this time of year is whether to keep their office or workplace open.

What are the overhead savings versus potential revenue lost? How badly do my staff need to take a break? What are we really going to miss out on by closing for a few days? These are the sorts of questions that company bosses will be weighing up.

While reasons exist to support both approaches, many will be closing their doors to let their employees recuperate and enjoy times with their loved ones.

That means leaving corporate premises unoccupied. Once that decision to close has been made, the next most important question is, how do I ensure my workplace is secure? A question to which there are many answers.

Let someone else do it for you

Indeed, some firms may be located in buildings which have their own security setups and protocols for holiday periods. Others, meanwhile, may hire some form of temporary security presence to keep watch while staff are away.

Another option is to tap into the benefits of remote monitoring. The dynamics of security are already changing to the extent that CCTV monitoring, CCTV live surveillance, and remote monitoring are becoming increasingly relevant. COVID-19 has led to occupancy levels reducing in many cases, leaving buildings less well attended than they were previously.

Remote monitoring represents a cost effective and consistent solution that doesn’t take time off. These systems involve cameras which signal alerts to an external monitoring centre, whose staff can issue immediate alerts to on-site staff or dispatch their own response personnel.

Everything happens in real-time through intuitive and comprehensive dashboards, voice activated commands and with the backup of full logistical and human resource management.

Furthermore, if your organisation is spread over multiple sites, remote monitoring solutions are easy to scale up (and down) depending on the number of sites that need protecting – it is far easier to adjust security requirements with this sort of setup than it is to move and adjust operations purely comprised of on-the-ground staff.

Peace of mind

Manned guarding, especially on a 24/7 basis during periods of low occupancy, can also present a prohibitively expensive option to companies.

Moreover, the risk of working through the night in certain places may outweigh the benefits, and organisations may also be housing highly sensitive data that makes them reluctant to station outsourced personnel on-site by themselves.

In all of these cases, CCTV monitoring, CCTV live surveillance, or remote monitoring should be considered as a financially viable, safe alternative which is able to rapidly notify the relevant authorities without the need for any human security officer on site.

Of course, we hope that no alerts need to be made. Often, the presence of cameras and lighting alone is often enough to deter any would-be intruders or trespassers.

Whatever option business leaders take to protect their premises, it is critical they ensure it balances both their security and financial needs.

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Looking Back Looking Forward
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Looking Back & Looking Forward

The pandemic has meant there’s been no such thing as ‘business as usual’ this year and we are no exception.

As a result of COVID19 and the work from home mandates, many sites have been left vacant and the demand for CCTV monitoring services and intruder and fire alarm monitoring has grown. Sites that were ordinarily being monitored overnight and at weekends were often monitored 24/7.

We’ve seen an increase in petty theft incidents, particularly on construction sites. This is likely due to a combination of sites being unattended, as many workers were furloughed or construction was paused, and there being supply chain issues experienced by construction material providers.

Through the easing of lockdowns, there has been a consistent shift in customers’ requirements and their perception of CCTV monitoring has changed. Those who had perhaps been resistant to change had their hand forced when it was either not safe or not practical to have manned security presence on site, either because of economic drivers or because of manpower challenges.

As businesses have been under mounting financial pressures, we’ve seen a greater migration from manned guarding to CCTV monitoring services which has generated significant cost savings for clients. Our security savings calculator has proven very popular this year. CCTV monitoring services have also relieved some of the burden of security recruitment difficulties.

Continuous improvement in AI and deep learning software has resulted in CCTV monitoring technology being more accurate and reducing the number of false alarms. This increased confidence means it has become a more attractive option.

COP26, which took place only a few miles from the Corps Monitoring Centre in Glasgow, focussed minds about how we can all conduct ourselves and our business in a more sustainable manner.  The use of appropriate monitoring technology in place of mobile patrols, or manned guards who must travel to sites every day, has an instrumental part to play in reducing the carbon footprint of the security industry.

For us, the launch of our Corps Secure reporting portal in mid-2021 has given our customers a powerful view of their security operations– providing a real-time dashboard overview of their monitored sites, backed up by the ability to drill down to granular detail like where incidents have been identified or to see billing information.  This functionality and level of transparency is unique in our sector and has been well received by our customers.

Looking forward

Electronic security has certainly proved its worth in terms of reliance and cost savings during the pandemic and it’s a ‘go to’ now for many businesses looking to secure premises whether they are occupied or vacant, and save costs.

The significant uplifts in the Government’s National Living Wage rates, as well as a 1.25% increase in National Insurance contributions for both employers and employees will without doubt mean that many more organisations will re-examine how security is delivered to their business.  It’s highly likely that the increase in wage-related costs, along with the industry-wide challenge of the security labour shortage will result in more companies opting for an integrated security model utilising a blend of manned security backed up by robust technology.

The reduction in the number of manned security hours delivered provides cost savings which enable customers to reinvest back into their staff by improving pay rates and ensuring more fruitful recruitment and retention rates, whilst improving the overall effectiveness of their security model.

The UK’s public switched telephone network (PSTN) will be switched off in 2025 and every phone line in the UK will be digital routing all calls over Internet Protocol. This affects businesses and homes and doesn’t just affect phone lines either. It affects everything connected to PSTN or ISDN lines like alarms, EPOS machines, door entry systems, CCTV, and faxes. Everybody will need to prepare for this so this will generate a flurry of activity for the security monitoring sector in 2022 as people prepare. As a remote monitoring company, we are ready to provide all the support and guidance our clients need.

Looking ahead, 2022 is already set to be a busy year and change is a given. Our learnings over the past 18 months have made us ever more resilient as a business. Our senior management team is always thinking outside the box and looking for ways to innovate and challenge the status quo in remote monitoring. 2022 will be no exception.

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Corps launches diversity and inclusion initiative
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Corps Launches Diversity And Inclusion Initiative

Corps Monitoring has formally launched Corps Together, a comprehensive campaign to improve equality, diversity and inclusion engagement across our organisation.

The programme, which began over a year ago, aims to create a culture where heritage and differences are valued and celebrated while building an organisation which treats inclusion as an expectation not an aspiration.

A group of volunteers, known as guardians, were recruited from within the business to take personal responsibility for the six protected characteristics: age, sex, religion, disability, gender and race.

The initiative includes the introduction of an ED&I charter which sets out our company level commitment to each Corps colleague and underpins the Corps value Everyone Matters. The senior team reviewed all Corps policies, procedures and recruitment processes to ensure ED&I best practice, introduced a Corps Together website, a short video and a quarterly magazine to engage people with the initiative together with a dedicated helpline/ email line to deal with any issues and panel support for HR issues or grievances so people feel supported if they’re raising a ED&I issue. There is also annual mandatory E&DI training for everyone in the business which is now undertaken using MOONHUB’s innovative virtual reality training platform.

The guardians also created a calendar of key dates across the six protective characteristics including faith festivals, LGBTQ History Month, Pride month and Black History Month and organise celebratory events for some of these key dates as well as social media activity.

The campaign is already having an impact. Corps’ annual Your Voice Matters colleague survey in summer 2021 demonstrated a growing understanding of ED&I issues thanks to the Corps Together initiative but with clear room for improvement. More than 60 percent of people are aware of Corps Together, just over 40 percent are aware of their guardian team members, almost 70 percent feel Corps proactively promotes equality diversity and inclusion and a similar number feel they can approach Corps if they have an issue relating to equality, diversity and inclusion.

“These results show that even where people aren’t aware of Corps Together, the majority feel Corps actively promotes equality, diversity and inclusion,” says Seetan Varsani, director of major accounts and strategic development at Corps Security, who leads the campaign. “We will measure and hope to see a year-on-year improvement in these scores.”

The guardians are also planning an annual ED&I awards scheme and want to use the official launch to get more engagement from site-based colleagues. “We want people to feel not just included but a sense of belonging,” adds Varsani.

Corps is also exploring the adoption of ISO 30415 – the new business quality standard in ED&I – with the aim to achieve this in 2022.

“As a social enterprise, people are at our very heart. Corps Together demonstrates that we value each and every one of our more than 3,000 people and want to celebrate our diversity,” says Rob Hill, managing director of Corps Monitoring.

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Corps Monitoring Launches New Website
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Corps Monitoring Launches New Website

Corps Monitoring is delighted to announce the launch of our new website.

We wanted a site which reflected our own technology-led ethos, and one which offered the ultimate user-friendly experience. It features improved navigation and functionality while allowing customers to witness the complete product portfolio in action via a series of videos.

Each high-definition video provides a clear demonstration to site visitors on exactly how each Corps Monitoring service works, such as CCTV Monitoring Services, Intruder & Fire Alarm Monitoring, Personal Protection Services and Keyholding. Each video is underpinned by an up-to-date narrative that reflects Core Monitoring’s values and aspirations.

We are proud of our rich heritage and our ability to combine the experience of the past with the needs of the present and future to give our customers an unrivalled level of service that always delivers first-class quality, and that shines through in our new website design.

Rob Hill, Corps Monitoring Managing Director, comments: “We are absolutely thrilled with our new website which has already created positive reverberations throughout the organisation and from our customers. The combination of videos and voiceovers ensures that anyone visiting the site is given a thorough demonstration on how each service works and how it can benefit them.”

“The new website is a crucial channel which takes our stakeholders along with us on our own transformation journey. The home-page also ensures that any user visiting the site can quickly see that, whilst our HQ is in Glasgow, Scotland, we have a completely national reach throughout the UK.”

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Reporting And Transparency In Security Partners

Reporting And Transparency In Security Partners

When seeking a security partner, there are a number of things to look for but a high degree of transparency in both their work and reporting should be near the top of the list.

There are obvious reasons why transparency and accurate reporting are vital; you want to know that your security partner has your company’s best interests at heart, is charging a reasonable price, and is reliably meeting KPIs. But excellence in security today goes beyond this.

When looking to advise on monitoring solutions, installers will want to recommend a cost-effective and efficient solution. So, what should organisations and installers look for in their security monitoring provision?

The benefit of accessible and transparent reporting

 Leading manned guarding solutions today should have an accessible and intuitive customer portal through which clients can access relevant information about the services provided. Such portals are less common for remote monitoring solutions, but we believe that they should be one of the priorities of any provider.

These portals allow customers to access a host of information about the service in a single place. They make it easy for the client to get an overview of their premises and provision. The portals should be accessible on multiple devices, making access to information easier and faster. They will often allow clients to download their own reports rather than request them from the provider. This can streamline processes and improve customer service.

What to look for in a security portal

There are a number of elements that clients can hope for in a well-designed, well-performing security portal.

  1.  User friendly – Possibly the most important feature of a security portal is that it is user-friendly and easy to access. If the portal is not clear to use or certain features are not easily accessible, the client won’t use it. It should also be accessible on multiple devices including smartphones.
  2. Real-time data – Security today is data-driven. Portals are a place to collect and interpret that data. Elements such as site statuses and site use statistics can all be stored in one place and these should be regularly updated with real-time data to guide accurate decision-making.
  3. Current statuses – Alongside real-time data, the portal should show the current status of any onsite tech such as alarms and sensors. This can hugely simplify the process of checking in on what needs to be done. Currently, a faulty alarm or camera may trigger an email to all relevant people. If it is repaired or flicking on- and offline, this can result in multiple emails being sent. An online portal will immediately show the current status of the device, saving you from hunting through a series of emails.
  4. All the paperwork in one place – One of the biggest advantages of a security portal by far is keeping all relevant details in one place. Reports can be easily downloaded without having to send a request to the security partner. Invoices are collated in one place, and new equipment can be ordered with forms accessed through the portal.

When searching for a security provider, remember to look past the security itself. Communication and day-to-day planning have a huge impact on how well a solution will work for you.

 

 

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The Benefits Of Remote Monitoring
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The Benefits Of Remote Monitoring

Whether you are looking to secure a shop, office, warehouse, or any other premises, your security requirements have likely changed over the past year. Many premises have closed entirely, are open for much shorter hours or are functioning at much lower capacity.

Security officers have been in high demand in front of house positions to enforce Covid precautions in premises that are in use. Security systems, particularly, have been important for vacant premises. Fire, gas, and flood warnings alongside many others have been vital. As we move out the pandemic, the importance of technology in security will not diminish. Alongside these systems, remote monitoring continues to be a core element of most security provisions.

Cost effective and consistent

Remote monitoring is the most cost-effective way to have eyes on your premises 24/7. Having cameras signalling event alerts to a monitoring centre rather than a security officer onsite means there are always multiple eyes on the alarm boards so there is no chance of missing anything. An officer onsite could have another task to complete or become distracted for a moment which increases the risk of something passing unnoticed. Utilising remote monitoring allows for onsite officers to focus on patrols and other tasks that make the most of their skills.  With the continued innovation and falling cost of technology, there is no need to compromise.

Scalable solutions

As organisations move out of this challenging time, many are looking to make adjustments by scaling down or adjusting opening hours, for example. These changes are likely to continue for some time to come as we see business practices settling into the ‘new normal’. Remote monitoring systems are easy to scale up and down, adjusting camera numbers and the duration of monitored periods according to need.

When manned guarding isn’t the right option

Often, combining manned guarding with technology is a great option for tailoring a security provision but there may be cases where manned guarding is not an option. It may be that 24/7 manned guarding is cost prohibitive, that the risk of working through the night in certain areas is not worth the benefit, or that the client works with sensitive technology or data and doesn’t want outsourced staff onsite. Here, remote monitoring is the ideal alternative.

Our central monitoring station model is particularly valuable where in such scenarios, allowing the relevant authorities to be rapidly notified even without an officer onsite.

An obvious deterrent

Finally, prevention is always better than mitigation. Visible security acts as a deterrent to opportunists, who more often than not will simply move on to the next premises with less prominent security measures in place. Cameras and lights can make a huge difference to the likelihood of a building being targeted.

The reality is, there are many options out there for a security provision and when talking about something so vital, this can become overwhelming. Remote monitoring has numerous advantages that should not be ignored. It can be an effective, standalone security solution or work in tandem with manned guarding depending on the environment. Work closely with your provider. Ensure they listen to your needs and create an approach that is tailored to you.

 

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Corps Monitoring Launches KeySafe integrated key holding solution

Corps Monitoring Launches KeySafe

Corps Monitoring launches KeySafe – an integrated key holding solution

Corps KeySafe, the latest innovation from Corps Monitoring, combines the sophistication of a Sentrikey safe with the convenience of a nationwide network of accredited service partners to ensure quick site access, all managed by Corps’ state-of-the-art remote monitoring centre in Glasgow.

Corps Key Safe provides organisations with a C1-rated key safe, the highest-level security rating internationally which is used by numerous high street banks to secure their branches. Access to the key safe is by smartphone app, or by entering a one-day passcode. It provides valuable data such as a full audit trail of who has been granted access, when, and how long they stayed on site helping the organisation to understand their estate and understand problem areas.

For organisations needing a rapid site response, Corps KeySafe also includes a nationwide network of ACS accredited service partners enabling organisations to access local security personnel wherever they are in the UK.

The Corps Monitoring Alarm Receiving Centre in Glasgow provides a single online platform, giving a detailed and consistent audit trail across an organisation’s sites, from which reports can be generated and trends analysed.

“Gone are the days when security officers would have to carry keys or collect them from a secure office which could be many miles away,” says Rob Hill, Managing Director of Corps Monitoring. “Now, organisations can have a sophisticated key safe on site which ensures a quicker response as we can despatch the nearest security officer, or even grant access directly to contractors or the emergency services. Supported by our Alarm Receiving Centre, Corps KeySafe provides a one-stop-shop for keyholding across the country.”

 

 

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About Corps Monitoring

Corps Monitoring provides a range of electronic security solutions including CCTV monitoring, intruder and fire alarm monitoring, personal protection services and keyholding, as well as environmental monitoring, call centre management and lone worker monitoring.

Corps Monitoring is a division of Corps Security, the UK’s leading independent specialist security solutions provider. The Corps group is a certified social enterprise.

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