Tag Archive for: Corps Security

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Corps’ Innovation Fund: RISK Metal Detectors

Walk into most major venues today, and the security process is the same. There is often a line for bag checks, leading to a quick pat down, and on occasion, further investigation. We rarely see metal detectors in these spaces, and we often associate them with airports or high-profile institutions instead. But what if they were more widespread?

In areas where knives, concealed weapons or contraband items are considerable threats, there is a growing need for metal detectors. These devices can be used in spaces like schools or concert halls, but they carry challenges. Detectors need to function alongside other security measures, including physical bag checks and officer presence, to give security teams actionable information. This layered approach keeps queues moving while offering thorough screening.

At Corps Security, we’ve partnered with RISK Metal Detectors to bring effective screening solutions to our clients.

Developing a partnership

The partnership with RISK came from our innovation steering committee, who review the challenges our clients face and explore where Corps can bridge vulnerabilities in their security solutions. One clear issue we were seeing was knife crime and the risk of carrying contraband items.

RISK detectors offer a sleek approach to security screening. Unlike traditional detection systems, the RISK P1 Portable Arch is designed with flexibility in mind. It weighs 50kg, so it can be quickly disassembled and transported to different sites. This reduces installation costs and allows teams to efficiently deploy them for public events.

One of the device’s standout features is the three-zone detection system. Rather than lighting up completely when metal is detected, the panel isolates and lights up the specific zone where the metal is found. This precision speeds up the screening process and reduces disruption for those passing through. As well as knives and firearms, the arches can detect vapes, phones, and other metal contraband like screwdrivers.

RISK’s outlook and scope were clear, its team was responsive, and we’d already seen its detectors perform effectively on sites. We made the decision to purchase two P1 Portable Arches to trial them with clients and events.

Case study: Supporting schools facing heightened anti-social behaviour

One successful implementation of the arches was at a group of colleges across London. We have worked with this partner previously, but it faced complex socioeconomic challenges when multiple sites were consolidated, which brought together hostile groups from different areas of the city.

This change led to heightened tension and risk. After one serious incident, the potential for weapons being brought onto campus posed a daily danger to students, staff, and our officers.

We worked closely with the college group to install permanent RISK detectors across its sites and worked with leadership to show them how these measures were implemented. We also developed a comprehensive safety approach by introducing stab vests and body cameras for officers.

This approach has significantly reduced the number of hostile incidents, and feedback from the local community has been positive, with students expressing appreciation for the screening process and its contribution to their sense of safety.

Events implementation

Metal detectors are vital in event spaces, too. We recently trialled RISK detectors at a cricket match, which meant navigating large crowds through entrances in a short period. The lightweight RISK detectors were temporarily installed at all entrances, allowing crowds to easily access the site after they were checked, and officers to maintain the flow of the crowd.

Preparing for the future

Looking ahead, we’re exploring expanded capabilities for the detectors and paired devices. We originally trialled body wands and decanting trays alongside the arches, and they were great additions. Clients are asking for expanded capabilities, including narcotics and explosives swabbing. We’re trialling these options and exploring other tools such as small portable X-ray machines. The key is balancing thorough security checks with maintaining the flow of people, particularly during peak times.

These solutions will also support clients ahead of the expected implementation of Martyn’s Law in 2027. The legislation will place heightened security standards on venues through a tiered system that identifies their classification and legal requirements.

Though not finalised yet, it’s important for organisations to review and tighten their security approaches now, through renewed training, standardisation of procedures and comprehensive bag and security check plans. By building a portfolio of solutions now, we can help clients prepare before Martyn’s Law comes into effect.

Careful implementation

We are taking a targeted approach with our metal detector implementation. Introducing security measures always has the potential to feel intrusive, but arches can seem particularly alarming if they are not introduced carefully. That’s why we are focused on helping clients grow comfortable with the technology and build confidence through education.

Each new implementation allows us to refine our approach and demonstrate the value of layered security measures. With the right technology and training, we can create environments where people feel safe throughout their journeys – from schools and colleges to music and sporting events, and beyond.

If you are interested in exploring security solutions at events and venues, please read more about our services or get in touch with our team.

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Corps Monitoring Bolsters Management Team In Glasgow

Corps Monitoring Bolsters Management Team In Glasgow

Corps Monitoring, a division of certified Social Enterprise, Corps Security, is pleased to announce the appointment of Andy Mounsey as Monitoring Technical Director and the promotion of Ross Doolan to Monitoring Control Room Manager. These strategic changes reflect Corps Monitoring’s commitment to leadership excellence and continuous improvement, while demonstrating its commitment to being the employer of choice in the security monitoring sector.

Andy Mounsey brings with him a wealth of experience, having served as Operations Manager at Orbis Protect for the past 14 years. His responsibilities included overseeing the Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) and supporting the integration of new products and technologies. With 18 years in the security industry, Andy’s decision to join Corps was motivated by the unique opportunity the company presented.

Upon his appointment, Andy commented: “I could see so much potential for growth in monitoring and to make the most of the excellent facility in Glasgow. Corps’ values and ethos clearly demonstrate what is important to the business and I was immediately attracted by the team’s principles and its focus on delivering the best possible service to clients.”

As Monitoring Technical Director, Andy will be working to maximise the potential of the NSI Gold Cat II accredited Corps Monitoring Centre (CMC) in Glasgow. As part of his role, he will be responsible for exploring new avenues and technologies, and use his experience to support and develop the team in the ARC.

Ross Doolan, who has been with Corps for almost six years, has steadily risen through the ranks. Starting as a CCTV Operator in 2018, he has since held roles such as Engineering Support, Technical Administrator, and now Monitoring Control Room Manager.

Following his promotion, Ross said: “I am incredibly proud to be leading the Monitoring Control Room team. Since joining Corps, I have felt like I belong to a family, and not just a business. In Corps, you are not ‘just a number,’ but instead, you’re able to build great relationships with colleagues and clients. It helps us work to the same goal: delivering a critical service to the highest possible standards and being indispensable to our clients.”

As Monitoring Control Room Manager, Ross will now take on responsibility for supporting the team of operators in the ARC, while ensuring the correct handling of alarms in line with NSI guidelines and meeting customer needs at all times.

Corps Monitoring provides 24/7, 365 day CCTV monitoring, intruder and fire alarm monitoring, personal protection services, key holding and more from its ARC in Glasgow. The team works in partnership with the country’s leading servicing and installation partners, and offers a 360 degree view of its customers security with in-depth and transparent reporting solutions.

To meet the rest of the team at Corps Monitoring, simply click here.

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Tackling Labour Issues And Security Efficiency With Technology

Tackling Labour Issues And Security Efficiency With Technology

Businesses are facing a perfect storm this winter. Rising costs, reduced consumer spending and labour shortages across many sectors remain issues that many are still addressing. When looking to cut organisational costs, FM – specifically soft services – are typical areas many will be driven to review.

Security is one of those areas. However, much of the need for security stems from required assessments based on industry or the organisation’s requirements, alongside insurance companies’ demands to ensure the total value of property and assets are covered.

But times have changed. In fact, security advancements can sometimes change quickly. It has been slow, but the move to technology-led solutions has allowed insurance companies, local authorities, and regulators to provide more flexibility and ingenuity to save time and money for a business. In recent years, what began as a slow adoption of technology, has accelerated dramatically.

Tackling the labour shortage

Since the pandemic and Brexit, the UK has been seeing skilled labour shortages across many sectors, with security being one of the most prominent. Highly trained and experienced workers left in their thousands and have yet to return. Therefore, our sector must adjust and look for efficient and effective ways to secure your businesses.

Technological advancements have provided new solutions that work alongside manned guarding, sometimes as a safer alternative. A typical two-man contract can easily be supplemented by technology that will reduce the requirement to just one officer on site at a time. These new technologies reduce the need for an officer to engage directly with assailants, improve the possibility that a criminal is caught, and collect practical data a human would find hard to recall when faced with a dangerous situation.

Protect Duty increases need for officers

To add to the perfect storm for businesses, a new piece of legislation will be enshrined in Law in 2023 and will increase the number of companies which will require a manned security presence. Martyn’s Law, more commonly known in the industry now as Protect Duty, is a new piece of legislation which has been campaigned for since the Manchester Arena terrorist attack. You can hear more detail of this from Figen Murray, mother of Martyn (who the Law was named in honour of), who was killed in the attack, here.

Whilst many companies, like Corps Security – our parent company – have already begun recruitment drives to attract more people into the industry, this takes time when efficiencies can be researched immediately. With public spaces of 100 or more people requiring new risk assessments and potentially new or higher security provisions, this will only compound the labour shortage. Without the guards to perform the roles, many of these businesses will find it extremely difficult to find the services they need when they need it – to be within the Law.

Efficiency, but with a ‘People First’ approach

Firstly, we are not advocating the wholesale removal of manned guarding and replacement with technology as being the panacea.  After all, a security threat assessment that has established a need for a physical security presence has generally done so for good reason. All security assessments should always have a ‘People First’ approach. People are vastly more important than any building or asset, so their safety remains paramount.

But that doesn’t always require putting someone else at risk to protect another. You are simply doubling the risk. In a not-too-distant past, as an example, a four-man guarding team on a large site would have been a minimum requirement by an insurer. However, since that last review or when renewing insurance, it could be that modern and reliable technologies could handle some of the work undertaken by that team. Monitored camera systems – that alert external monitoring services to support a reduced onsite team; or vehicle recognition software that can operate entrance and exit points, reducing the requirement for a permanently positioned officer. These technologies already exist and allow officers to concentrate on other impact areas.

Review now, before it is too late

Many businesses are educating themselves on Protect Duty right now, and before long, security providers will be inundated with enquiries in preparation for the law change. In turn, if the labour shortage does not improve, officers will become hot property, and competition will strengthen between companies to offer better pay and benefits to entice them over.

All this at a time when we all need to be reducing costs. So now is the time to act.

We are inviting our clients to review their security right now. Would you like one too? You do not have to be a Corps customer to get some initial advice. As one of the UK’s only private security companies to offer Manned Guarding and our own Alarm Receiving Centre, our unique experience and guidance could provide efficiencies you have never considered or ever thought possible.

With just one call or email, you could have found yourselves the Perfect Guardians through the Perfect Storm.

To discuss your concerns or for some expert initial advice, please call us on 0141 847 2026 or email sales@corpsmonitoring.co.uk

Corps Monitoring is a division of Corps Security – the UK’s longest running security company. Corps Monitoring offer a range of technology solutions including CCTV Monitoring Services, CCTV Sensor Activated Monitoring, CCTV Live Surveillance, Fire Alarm Monitoring, Intruder Alarm Monitoring, Personal Protection Services, Key Holding, Call Centre Monitoring, Lone Worker Monitoring and more.

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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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Rob Hill

Spotlight Interview: Rob Hill, Managing Director, Corps Monitoring

Rob Hill has worked for Corps Security since 2011 in a range of business development and commercial roles. He’s been Managing Director of Corps Monitoring since September 2019.

There are plenty of misconceptions when it comes to monitoring. What do you actually do?

We monitor a wide range of devices  – typically CCTV intruder or fire alarms, personal attack alarms, or even the detection of water or gas leaks, but really anything with a sensor that can transmit a signal over IP. We can patrol a site remotely using cameras and even confirm questions like whether the site’s broadband is working correctly. We also support organisations to grant remote access to buildings or sites.

The signals will come over the internet to our Alarm Receiving Centre in Glasgow and our specially-trained officers will receive an associated alarm and respond in accordance with a strict protocol which is specific to the site and the type of event. There’s a perception that it’s just people staring at walls of TV screens and live CCTV images. That’s how it used to be. Now it’s more about sensors, video analytics and artificial intelligence. Most camera systems will detect movement, and then communicate the signal to us, however some are now so sophisticated that they can tell the difference between a fox triggering an alarm (which we don’t have to worry about) and a person walking across a site, which might be cause for concern.

Our customers are both security installers (people installing camera and sensor equipment for an individual or organisation who need us to monitor them) and end-users (the individuals and organisations who already have cameras and sensors and want us to monitor them).

So monitoring is all about protecting property and assets?

Yes and no. Much of the work is about physical assets but we’re keeping people safe too – just like security officers in buildings do. We monitor several high net worth individuals, including TV and sports personalities who rely on the monitoring centre to not only to protect their homes but also keep their family safe. We also support people working alone who use personal attack alarms through our Corps Guard app. Through that we’ve helped people escape from very dangerous situations including an attempted kidnap and an attempted robbery.

You and your team must have experienced some memorable moments?

Yes, we’ve had almost everything you can imagine, both good and bad. On the more light-hearted side,  we’ve witnessed a drunk man falling over the wall into a site who then couldn’t get out. We had to inform the key-holder who went to site to let him out. Then there were some naked hippy types in Cornwall who were dancing through protected areas blowing kisses to the camera operators as they were issued audio warnings to leave the area. There was also an incident where a man armed with a rifle was seen on a customer’s site. We naturally reported it to the Police, who attended site with armed colleagues. He turned out to be a pest control officer commissioned by the customer to rid the site of unwanted pests. The customer had simply forgotten to tell us!

But our people also witness distressing incidences and we provide counselling support when this happens. One of our clients has a large cash and carry chain and we saw the staff being held at gun point with several armed masked men. We informed the Police and guided them into the site silently to ensure the safe release of the staff. Armed holdups are the most common incidence we come across and we work very closely with the Police across the country. But for us it’s about detecting potential offenders before they have the opportunity to commit crime so we can keep people and property safe.

How have you and the team adapted during Covid?

Customers’ working patterns have significantly changed. Many sites that were monitored only overnight are now unoccupied during the day so they need 24-hour monitoring. This has meant an increase in our workload whilst also having to ensure our team’s safety through social distancing and deep cleans between shifts.

What would you say to anyone looking to join the monitoring industry?

Join us! It’s a fast-paced industry that is always challenging but very rewarding. The single most valuable piece of advice would be to visit our Alarm Receiving Centre so we can show you what’s possible. You’d be amazed!

So, what’s the future of monitoring? Is there any new technology coming down the line?

All the time! There are constant improvements in cameras and technology. This is a sector which never stands still. Thermal imaging cameras, which can detect people with an unusually high temperature, are an example of technology being introduced into many buildings in preparation for the return to work post-lockdown. Over the past few years, we’ve also started to see automated access control around whether people are wearing the correct PPE, such as hard hats in construction sites, with signals notifying us if someone is flouting the rules. Analytics are also getting better all the time. We used to get lots of false signals for foxes, or tree branches in the wind. That’s much less of an issue today. Now our systems have learned to ignore people walking away from the camera but to focus on those walking towards a site or loitering. They’re becoming so intelligent and that’s where the future is.

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Corps Monitoring Awarded Carbon Neutral Status

Corps Monitoring Awarded Carbon Neutral Status

Corps Monitoring has achieved carbon neutral status after a drive to reduce carbon across the business while offsetting where carbon creation was unavoidable.

Carbon Neutral ­– also known as Net Zero Carbon – is used to describe the state of a company, service, product or event where carbon emissions have been balanced out by funding an equivalent amount of carbon savings elsewhere.  Over the past 12 months, Corps Monitoring has reduced its carbon in a number of different ways such as reducing its diesel fleet and air travel and cutting the use of paper. At the same time, Corps has funded green projects to offset its 477 tons of carbon. This includes a wind-based power generation project in Maharashtra, India which is helping to reduce reliance on coal while also creating more jobs. The project was suggested by Carbon Footprint, which awarded Corps Monitoring with its carbon neutral certification.

Corps Monitoring is also rolling out more electric vehicles and installing electric charging points at its Glasgow and London locations.

“Our move to being carbon neutral is to ensure we met the Streamlined Energy & Carbon Reporting scheme that came in last year. “But we wanted to go one step further and demonstrate that we’re carbon neutral,” said Mike Bullock, CEO, Corps Security. “As an organisation with a 160-year history, we take a very long-term view and we want to make sure the world is around for future generations to appreciate.”

 

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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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