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Taxis and Private Hire vehicle, taxi, PHV, Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, Security, Personal Security, Security Services, A&R Security Services

Staying safe in Taxis and private hire vehicles

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Whether it’s travelling to the airport or getting home from a night out in Cardiff, Swansea or Newport, you will most likely hire a taxi. With private hire vehicles such as uber, it is easy to make bookings.

Since 2017 the number of taxis and private hire vehicles increased by 1.7% in England and Wales, which is quite a large increase, as it’s the highest since they were first recorded in 2005.

But like any industry, there is a downside, with crimes in recent years committed by drivers leading to a consultation launch on the taxi and private hire industry in the hope to implement stricter rules on licensing drivers to protect vulnerable people.

If you’re planning to travel by taxi or private hire vehicle, follow some simple tips on how to stay safe.

 

Wait near well-lit areas and CCTV cameras

In the UK, only a small group of licensing authorities require taxis and private hire vehicles to have CCTV installed (however this could change to all taxi’s and PHV’s to require CCTV) Until this new law is put into effect, waiting in Taxi ranks which have CCTV installed will allow people to trace where passengers are being picked up in an event of an emergency situation. Criminals are less likely to target passengers who will have evidence of them being attacked. Also standing in well-lit areas when it is dark will make you more visible to passers-by and to taxi’s/ PHV picking you up

 

Let someone know when you are travelling

Telling someone that you are on your way to meet them, or someone who you have just left will reassure people that you are safe. When travelling, make sure that your phone has enough charge and if it hasn’t, have a portable charger so that you will be able to get in touch with someone in an emergency.

 

Plan your journey

If you are travelling to somewhere that you are unfamiliar, it is best to plan your journey. Outlining your route will give you peace of mind that you will be travelling to your destination in good time and show others that you are safe. Try and familiarise yourself with the location in advance and keep relevant information at hand, including an emergency contact.

Have find my phone installed

Having apps such as Find my phone or find my device will help locate your smartphone if it is lost or stolen. Too often, many people who go on a night out will get into a taxi and realise that their phone is missing. In the UK 183 phones were stolen with the majority being iPhones. So, it may be a good idea to install these apps to trace your phone.

 

Be alert

If you are travelling alone, stay vigilant and aware of your surroundings. If you are on your own trying to travel back at night, hail a taxi in a well-lit area where there is plenty of people and traffic. No matter what, it is important that you are visible to plenty of people so there are witnesses who can help you in an emergency.

If you are in a taxi or a Private Hire Vehicles, check that the direction you’re going in is familiar to you. If it is not, check on maps on your smartphone that you are travelling in the right direction. If you feel that you are in danger, don’t hesitate to ask the driver to stop at the nearest opportunity – if they do not stop, stay calm and call 999.

 

A&R Security Services offer comprehensive security solutions to commercial properties in Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, South Wales and the South West. To find out more about our security solutions visit our website or to arrange a free quotation call us on 01656 713950

 

Christmas party, event security, event, security, security services, office christmas party, office party, christmas

Top tips on running a safe and successful Christmas Party

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With Christmas coming careering towards us, many offices in Cardiff will be organising the Office Christmas party. Celebrating everyone’s hard work is certainly a lot of fun but having everything in place for a great night of festivities is no easy task. When organising a Christmas party, there is a lot that you need to consider – and the most important one is ensuring your colleague’s safety.

When organising its important that you take precautions and stick to good event security and safety practises (especially if you want everyone to have a good night but also stay safe at the same time). By sticking to these you can keep everyone safe – except embarrassing themselves with bad dancing and some dodgy karaoke or comedy.

 

Be alcohol safe

When the bosses have a free bar going and the drink starts flowing, it can be easy to misjudge and get carried away with the festivities. However, from an organisers point of view, alcohol can cause more issues than just embarrassing incidents.

Alcohol can lower our inhibitions and alter our sense of risk meaning that people who have one too many may be tempted to do things that they wouldn’t normally do – like dance on tables, take part in drink competitions or even get into fights. If you’re trying to avoid such situations try and keep an eye on how much your guests are drinking and intervene when you think someone has had too much.

 

Keep a guest list and plan seating

When organising an event and inviting guests, it is important to have up-to-date records of who is coming and who isn’t. If you’re allocating people to tables, make sure you have thought about who is sitting where and whether the people sitting next to each other have things in common. If you have a new member of staff – sit them with someone who will be able to keep the conversation going.

For guests to know where they are sat, place guests lists at the venues entrance or the restaurants front of house so that uninvited guests are unable to enter your party. If the venue doesn’t have extra staff to monitor who is coming to the party, hire extra security staff that are able to monitor who is coming in and out of the venue and ensure that no unwanted guests try to crash the party.

 

Theft

Although thefts may seem like an unlikely thing to happen during a Christmas party, bags and coats left on chairs or at the side of the room can give opportunists the chance to swipe valuables whilst everyone is busy busting out dance moves. So when guests arrive, make sure that they know where the cloakroom is and ensure that security staff are positioned close-by.

 

Dietary requirements

When organising an event such as an office party, it is important that everyone’s dietary requirements are catered for. So, before the big event, make sure that your guests have informed you of any food allergies, intolerances and dietary requirements.

Epilepsy/Hearing/Sight impediment

For any event, it is important to heed advice from anyone suffering from Epilepsy or other impairments relating to hearing or sight. Precautions such as reduced strobe or LED lighting, considering music volume or planning for people with guide dogs can go a long way.

Here at A&R Security Services can help you run a safe Christmas office party by providing guards that are fully trained in First aid and Health & Safety. Having properly trained security at your party means that help is on hand straightaway if a situation arises.

 

Car parking

If your party is in a hotel, restaurant or club, make sure that there is a carpark close by or there are designated parking spaces for guests who want to stay sober and drive home. If you are expecting guests with mobility issues, make sure that there is disabled access such as disabled parking, lowered curbs, ramps and power-assisted doors and enough space to move around freely inside the venue.

When choosing a venue as well, it is a good idea to look at where the venue is in relation to guests – how will the get to and from homes? If you choose a venue that is quite far from work, check what public transport is available.

 

Enjoy yourself!

When you are the person organising the Christmas party you want everything to go perfectly and without a hitch but it’s important that you can ley your hair down and relax. Make sure to drink responsibly, eat well, dress to impress and give yourself a pat on the back for a successful and safe Christmas party! Just make sure that you don’t drink too much and tell your boss something that you may regret on Monday morning when you’re back in the office.

 

A&R Security Services can provide comprehensive security solutions to event organisers in Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, South Wales and the South West. To find out more about our security services visit our website or call us for a free quote on 01656 713950

 

Security, Security Services, Inhouse, In-house, Outsourced, In-house v Outsourced, In-house Security, Outsourced Security, Newport

In-house vs Outsourced Security Services: What’s the difference?

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Nearly every business in Newport needs some form of security.

However, it can be a bit of a minefield to know what the best security solution for your business is – whether that is having an in-house or an outsourced security team.

Here we look at the benefits of having a professional outsourced security team over an in-house security team.

Reliability and expertise

When looking for security for your business, you want a reliable security team that can protect your business from criminals. Employing your own security team allows you to gauge if that person is best suited to your business, reliable and have the expertise that you are looking for. However, finding the right person for your business can take a lot of time and effort which could be used to run your business.

Employing an experienced and accredited security provider provides your business with more than just a security solution.  Professional Security providers such as A&R Security Services will have years of experience and knowledge and can provide advice and support for your business, ensuring that it is properly protected.

Professional Security providers will be aware of the threats that your business will face, and this allows them to input tailored security measures to your business’s requirements. This not only keeps the cost down; it guarantees your business will remain secure.

 

Time-Saving and Cost-effective

When creating and maintaining an internal security team, it can be an expensive and time-consuming process. For guards to work in the security industry, they must hold a valid SIA license – which can cost over £200. Add to this uniform, equipment, insurance and other additional costs, creating an in-house security team can quickly mount up.

Whilst having an in-house security team in your business is fine, they would need someone to manage them so hiring experienced, dependable and hardworking staff can sometimes be difficult and costly. Also finding additional staff to cover sickness absence or leave can be quite difficult.

Refresher training – especially around health and safety, first aid, fire safety – can prove to be expensive as well. However, if your staff are not properly trained in these areas, you risk exposing your business to threats.

When you choose a professional security provider, all training, management, equipment, uniform, insurance and recruitment costs are eliminated. Plus, if their staff are off sick or on annual leave, they will have the staff to cover on short notice.

 

Guaranteed quality service

The UK Security industry is tightly regulated to ensure that companies do not put their customers at risk with low-grade security solutions. However, when creating your own in-house security team, you won’t be subject to these regulations.

Unless you have previous experience or knowledge about how to implement effective security, your internal security team is unlikely to meet the standards that private security providers are expected to achieve. This can be dangerous as any security incident that occurs will be entirely your responsibility – whether that’s legal repercussions, maintenance costs or other consequences of failing to protect your business or staff.

If you chose to hire a professional security provider, you can be rest assured that the service you receive will meet all legal requirements, that all staff will be properly trained and vetted and not only would security incidents be far less likely to occur, you won’t be left to pick up the pieces on our own.

 

Flexibility and growth

Any business will eventually begin to grow and expand. As your business grows, the security measures that you have in place will change to coincide. If you have outgrown your old office and are moving to a new office space in Newport, it can throw up a whole set of new security issues.

If your business grows and you have an internal security team, it can take a long time to find extra staff and this can leave gaps within your security. Also, as your in-house security team grows, so do the costs which could result in channelled resources being moved away from core projects which could have a knock-on effect of the growth of your business.

Choosing a professional security provider allows you more room to either scale up or down your security needs. Having this ability ensures that your business is protected throughout your transition and that your resources are allocated effectively.

Also, a professional security provider will be able to cover any temporary security requirements that you may have during your growth.

 

Additional Solutions

The word ‘Security’ Covers a large range of activities. From CCTV monitoring and secure key holding to manned guarding and mobile patrols. And the list goes on.

As your business grows and changes so will your business security requirements over time. For example, if you open second office space in Newport City centre, you may require CCTV monitoring, secure key holding and alarm response. However, implementing these security measures can be difficult. Having additional security for a second location requires purchasing equipment such as alarm and CCTV systems and hiring additional guards to provide key holding services.

This often makes it difficult for businesses to implement the security solutions that they need and unfortunately results in businesses letting their security lapse as they struggle to find the right security providers, purchase new equipment, research and hire and/or train new staff.

A professional security provider will have expertise in each of these areas. This means that they can provide any additional services quickly saving you time and money, as well as ensuring that you are still receiving a high-quality service.

 

If this has changed your mind from employing an in-house security team but not sure what to look out for when hiring a professional security provider then take a look at our guide here.

A&R Security Services provide comprehensive security solutions to businesses in Newport, Cardiff, Swansea and South Wales. If you would like further information about our services, visit our website or give us a call on 01656 713950 to arrange a free quotation.

A&R Security Services, A&R Security, Security, Mobile Security, Mobile Patrols, Security Services, Cardiff, RCT, Newport, Bridgend, Swansea

SIA Accreditation: Why is it so important?

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When making the decision to invest in security for your business, you’ll want to be able to rely on a trustworthy provider and have a clear idea of what you are getting.

One way to ensure that you are getting value is to hire fully trained and vetted SIA Security Guards, like those at A&R Security Services.

But why is it so important to have SIA licensed guards?

Quality that you can trust

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) was created by the government to protect your business. It helps regulate the private security industry effectively where businesses have seen reduced criminality, raised standards in services and personal and a clear picture of a high-quality service.

When having a guard that holds an SIA license, you can be sure that they are fully trained and vetted to complete their job.

Fully licensed SIA guards will have been trained to respond to any situation that they may experience out in the field. Training for SIA licenses is broken down into three core areas. Trainees begin by learning the essentials of common security industry knowledge including awareness of the law in the private security industry, health and safety, fire awareness, emergency procedures and communication with customer care.

Following this training the SIA will develop this initial training into specialist sections where training officers have the opportunity to learn the following services in-depth: patrolling, access control, technology and systems in the security environment, security officers, the law and communication, reporting and record-keeping: all of which are essential as guards will need a basic understanding of each when they are out in the field protecting your business.

Accommodating business demands

The private Security Industry Act was brought in to regulate the private security industry in England and Wales in 2001 which was later implemented in Scotland in 2007 and Northern Ireland in 2009. Since then they have been a number of changes to the accreditation and despite scrutiny of its effectiveness it remains, and businesses can see the clear benefits of hiring security guards that are fully trained and hold an SIA license.

Here A&R Security Services we are proud to provide SIA vetted security guards to effectively protect your business from criminal activity. For more information or to arrange a free quotation call us on 01656 713950 or visit our website.

Construction Site, Construction Security, Construction, Construction Security Services, A&R Security Services, Security Services

How to properly protect your construction site

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Poorly protected Construction sites in areas in and around Cardiff can be rich pickings for criminals looking to steal valuable equipment and materials to make ‘easy money’

Many construction and building sites in and around Cardiff don’t properly protect themselves from criminal activity such as theft and can result in thousands of pounds worth of loss. A recent survey that was conducted revealed that 92% of sites claim to be affected by crime with a further 21% of sites saying that they are stolen from on a regular basis.

However, there is some light at the end of the tunnel and there are some easy cost-effective strategies that can help protect your construction site from further criminal activity.

So, what is construction security?

Construction Security is an umbrella term that refers to a range of security services and measures that can be used to protect a construction site.

These services and measures may include:

  • Physical guards
  • Alarm installation and monitoring
  • CCTV Surveillance
  • Access control
  • Staff training
  • Guard Dogs.

However, securing a construction site would require different security measures compared to retail or corporate environment. So, when construction site owners are looking to create or have effective security measures, they will need to know what security measures will be appropriate for them.

Also, security measures that should be prioritised should be determined by your sites specific requirements such as location, local crime rate and values of onsite materials/equipment and emergency response times.

In order to figure out the security measures which will be most effective at your site and where you should put them, you will first need to conduct a thorough security assessment.

To ensure your construction site remains protected from criminal activity – it’s important to know some essential techniques (with many not costing anything). However, by ensuring you implement these techniques will go a long way in protecting your site.

Create and maintain an up-to-date inventory

With so much equipment and material on-site, it’s possible for criminals to take advantage of you with you even noticing it is happening. To ensure you know what is exactly on or off your site, you should maintain an up-to-date inventory log of all tools, equipment, machinery and materials you have.

You should fill in our inventory log at least weekly to give you the best chance of spotting and quickly responding to theft. After all emergency services such as the police have a better chance at returning stolen good when they are reported missing quickly.

Maintain a clear zone around your perimeter fence.

Thieves will always look at ways to minimise the risk of them being caught and as a result, will target site which they believe will offer larger and easier pickings. For a thief, the less time they spend actively involved in a crime the better.

If you have a perimeter fence already installed on your site it can make it more difficult for criminals to steal from your site as this makes it difficult for them to see what is actually on your site – meaning they will have to cross the site itself in order to reach your belongings and making the chances of them being spotted greater. It is suggested that you should have a clear zone of between 5 to 10 meters. However smaller sites may not have the ability to do this – in which case it would be best to make as large of clear space as possible.

 

Mark equipment

For criminals, equipment such as mini diggers, generators, heavy drills and other tools can be very easy targets and are often stolen. Marking equipment can make it much harder for thieves to sell on anything they’re able to take.

Most tools that are used on construction sites are comprised of metal so engraving sections of metal with your company logo or a small symbol can easily deter criminals. Engraving machines are cheap and are easy to use, but the amount of money they will save you, in the long run, could be substantial. To ensure that your tools are effectively marked,  engrave them in multiple places especially on places that can be removed such as tool bits like drills and chisels.

 

Reduce access points

Construction sites such as yours should be surrounded by a secure perimeter fence to prevent intruders accessing your site. So, it should be robust and impenetrable but of course, workers and any other people who are required on-site will need to be able to enter.

Although it may be tempting to create multiple points of entry with a large site to allow workers and vehicles to flow out of your site, it is essential that you keep access points to a minimum.

Any access point you create is a potential vulnerability and this is especially true when you have a second access point where security may be lacking. To reduce the potential for illegal entry, reduce your access points and position manned guards, CCTV cameras and security lighting at these access points.

 

Train your staff

Maintaining an effective security team is an effort. It only takes one person to lose focus for your site to become vulnerable to criminal activity. So, to prevent your staff from losing focus it is important that they understand how important security is and what their role requires them to maintain proper protection. Particular duties may include signing in and out of your site, locking up tools and vehicles, maintain the clear zone and reporting suspicious activity.

But no matter how comprehensive your plan is if your team fails to follow it, it is pretty much useless.

 

A&R Security Services provides comprehensive security solutions to construction sites in Cardiff and South Wales. To request a free quote call us on 01656 713950 or visit our website for further details.

A&R Security Services, Security Services, Halloween, Halloween Security, Security, Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, RCT, Bridgend, South Wales, South West, Business Security

How to protect your business this Halloween

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Halloween is the spookiest time of the year. With many of us dressing up as vampires, witches, zombies and ghosts and trick or treating the night away. However, there are ghoulish people out there that plan to play tricks on your business.

although some crimes during Halloween are petty and aren’t serious, there are some incidents that are serious and can result in damaged businesses. A spokesperson from a security firm states ” Halloween is great fun for kids, but it can be an extremely expensive time for business owners. Every year there is a surge in crimes around business premises by youths looking for bonfire materials. everything not nailed down is fair game, from tyres and pallets to expensive building materials and even oil theft. warehouses, construction sites, yards and unoccupied businesses are particularly vulnerable”

So, what can you do to keep your business safe this spooky Halloween?

Keep the perimeter of your business well lit:  With the autumn nights drawing in – this presents the perfect opportunity for criminals to break into your business. Using security lighting will help deter criminals from breaking into your business. installing motion-activated lights will accomplish the same goals while conserving energy.

Limit access to your property: Sometimes businesses in built-up areas will stay open to hand out treats to trick or treaters. However, when doing this ensure that the back of your building is secure – with all windows and doors securely shut and locked. If your business is closed during Halloween, ensure that only certain people have a set of keys. Also, make sure that bins and outdoor equipment are in well-lit areas.

Review your current security: Ensure to test your security alarms regularly and review your security system annually. Your system may not be as effective compared to newer models.

Train employees to be vigilant: Criminals like to watch a business first before making an attempt. make sure your employees know what to look out for when people are inside or outside your business and have a plan in place to deal with these individuals.

Celebrate safely: If your business is hosting a Halloween party for staff or customers, ensure that your fire protection is effective and operating properly. Be certain that fire extinguishers are in place and fire exits are clearly marked and don’t hang decorations from sprinklers.

Here at A&R Security Services, we provide comprehensive security solutions for businesses in Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, South Wales and the South West. To arrange a free quotation call us on 01656 713950 or visit our website for further details.

 

A&R Security Services, Keyholding services, secure keyholding services, Security Services, Keyholding services, keyholding

5 reasons for outsourcing your keyholding responsibilities.

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It’s all well and good giving an extra set of keys to your business either to a close friend or work colleague. But if an alarm goes off in the middle of the night you don’t really want to put them in a potentially dangerous risk (especially if there is a threat still at your business).

Here are five reasons to outsource your keyholding responsibilities:

Staff safety

It is estimated that 5% of out-of-hours alarm calls are a result of a genuine break-in situation. If your keyholder is a work colleague or another member of staff, you are potentially putting them at risk should an intruder still be there.

A recent British crime study (2018) confirms the possible risk. It says that property crime accounts for 70% of crimes committed, of those 22% were deemed violent.

By delegating secure keyholding responsibilities to a third party such as A&R Security Services, you are safeguarding your staff. You are also ensuring that any alarm alerts are responded to by a trained security professional.

Corporate Safety

If your keyholder is a key member of your team they tend to be experienced, trusted and valued employees.  However, if such a person is attacked whilst responding to an alarm call, this can have a massive impact on your business. Having a key member of staff off sick can lead to your business operating ineffectively and that’s before you consider sick pay for their recovery period.

Injury in fulfilling work-related duties (even outside of work hours) could leave your company liable for damages. By outsourcing this responsibility, that risk is reduced.

Doubling up

Normally keyholders are paired up to respond to alarm calls, for reasons of personal safety. In real terms, one keyholder is always going to get there first and respond to the alarm, which can put them at risk. Even with two members of staff, their safety isn’t always guaranteed. After all, there is no way to know how many are involved in the break-in.

With third party keyholding services, key holders are already familiar with the possible risks. They can attend the property as a pair if need be and are fully trained security personnel.

Training

Some keyholders aren’t adequately trained to respond to alarm calls and this doesn’t mean dealing with possible intruders at your business (although that is important). Even switching off and resetting the alarm requires a thorough knowledge of the system.

Team morale

By hiring security professionals to act as your company keyholders you send a clear message to your staff. That message is that you value them and their safety. This can greatly boost employee morale as a whole. For keyholders, even if they don’t encounter a threat, it is a difficult role. False alarms in the middle of the night can be infuriating and disruptive. By outsourcing your keyholding responsibilities you’re showing that you care about your employee’s work/life balance.

 

If you’re a business in Cardiff, Swansea, Newport and Bridgend and in need of keyholder services, then get in touch with us. At A&R Security Services, we provide the best Secure Keyholding Services and Alarm Response. For a free quote call us on 01656 713950 or visit our website for more details.

rural crimes, rural crime, smash and grab, smash and grab burglary, bank, atm, Smash and grab, ATM theft, Farm Machinery, Farm machinery theft

Rural Crime: Why is it Increasing?

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In a recent BBC show, it has been reported that crimes in rural areas is at a 7-year high – costing the UK economy £50million a year.

One rural crime that has seen an increase in ATM’s (cash point) being torn out by stolen farm machinery. These ‘Smash and Grabs’ of ATM machines have seen businesses and banks become heavily damaged – making banks reluctant to replace stolen ATM’s or reopen their rural branches.

Great Shelford, Cambridgeshire has been one of the hardest-hit rural communities in the UK for smash and grabs on ATM machines, with the village seeing two of it’s ATM’s be ripped out by stolen farm machinery and never replaced.

In Britain, there were 1,000 smash and grabs involving cash points in 2018, with half happening in the countryside.  Rural communities such as Great Shelford rely on physical cash transactions rather than using card and these attacks on ATM’s have seen local shops see fewer customers and many businesses having to compensate with having to pay bank charges for card transactions.

But why are ATM raids on the rise?

Although there is a higher risk with stealing heavy farm machinery and tearing out ATM’s out of banks, there is a higher reward with some ATM’s storing up to £100,000 in cash. Many rural ATM’s will have larger sums of cash compared to ones in the city because they are refilled less often.

Another reason why ATM raids are on the rise is that police response times are double what they are in towns or cities, allowing criminals more time to steal an ATM machine.

To some, smash and grabs on ATM’s may look opportunistic but they are very sophisticated crimes. With criminals researching, looking for farms close by and looking for heavy machinery big enough to rip out ATM’s.

As mentioned before farm machinery are often used for smash and grabs and stolen farm machinery is on the rise. Last year, farm machinery thefts cost farmers nearly £7.5million with many having to pay to replace them.

Although the police are taking measures and are working with local farmers to ensure that they are taking precautions to prevent the theft of vehicles. However, due to their nature farmers can’t close gates to their farms as they operate 24hrs.

Police in Norfolk have seen trends in these smash and grab crimes with Telehandlers being used to rip out ATM’s from banks and many of the crimes being committed by people living in rural communities and have experience operating farm machinery.

So, what measures can you take to prevent the theft of farm machinery?

  • Remove keys from vehicles if they are not in use: Although farms operate 24/7 it is important that any farm machinery that is not in use has its keys removed and is securely looked up day or night.
  • CCTV: Although it is a basic security measure having CCTV cameras located in areas where machinery is kept can provide a better visual on them and can be monitored 24/7. If machinery is stolen, the CCTV footage can be used to find out who the perpetrator is and use it for evidence in a court of law.
  • Security Lighting: Having security lighting in conjunction with CCTV is a very good security combo. Having security lighting that are censored can be an effective deterrent to criminals as if they attempt to approach your farm or vehicle, they will light up the trespasser making them feel caught.

If your farm or business is in need of extra security services, then get in touch with A&R Security Services. We can provide comprehensive security solutions to businesses across South Wales and the South West. To find out more call us on 01656 713950 or visit our website for further details.

A&R Security Services, Security Services, Security, Knife Crimes, Knife Crime, Serious Knife Crime, Serious Crime, Newport, Cardiff, Swansea, London, Birmingham, Manchester, Blackpool

Knife Crime- Fastest rising crime in the UK

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In recent news, it’s been reported that in the last 10 years knife crime has increased dramatically – with London and the boroughs surrounding the city having the highest crime rates.

However, data from 34 out of 43 police forces shows the rate of serious knife crime rising dramatically in areas outside of London in city boroughs like Manchester, Slough, Liverpool and Blackpool.

“We are suffering just as much as anywhere else,” said Byron Highton whose brother was fatally stabbed with a sword and an axe while he walked home in Preston, in 2014. “the whole country is suffering from knife crime, but small cities in the north like Preston get no mention”

The BBC asked all 43 regional police forces in England and Wales for detail about serious knife crimes in their area.

In Lancashire, figures showed that knife crime doubled in the past five years, rising from 455 offences in 2014 to 981 in 2018.

In recent years Manchester, Liverpool, Slough and Nottingham are all in the top 25 most dangerous places in England and Wales for serious knife crimes. The safest areas with less than one crime per 10,000 people include Dorset, the Cotswolds, Monmouthshire and the Malvern.

Although, Scotland police collect crime statistic differently so there are no separate records for knife attacks. However, knife possession has increased in recent years with more than 2,300 crimes reported last year.

Although men are usually the target for serious knife crimes, in Blackpool students Keeley 17 and Lauren 18 were both threated on an estate where they live with knives over not allowing a group of lads to play on their half of the pitch while both Keeley and Lauren played football.

In 2018, Blackpool had 14.3 serious knife crime offences per 10,000 people putting it in the top 25 most dangerous places in England and Wales for knife crime, of the 275 areas which gave data.

Drugs, gangs, school exclusion and expulsion rates, unemployment and cuts to services have all been blamed for the rise in youth violence in areas such a Blackpool and Preston. Last month, official figures showed that 8 out of 10 most deprived areas in England alone were in Blackpool.

In 2018, almost half of all suspects of serious knife crimes in England and Wales were aged 24 and under.

So, what does this mean for Cardiff and Wales as a whole?

Although Cardiff is relatively small compared to Manchester and London, it still has its fair share of serious knife crimes.

In July 2019 WalesOnline reported on how one of Wales’ largest hospitals University Hospital of Wales (Heath hospital) described that they were dealing with stabbings on a weekly basis.

The number of offences involving knife crimes has gone up more than 80% across Wales in the past decade. Police have said that teenagers as young as 15 are carrying knives.  Across Wales, in 2011 there were 741 incidents involving knives compared to 1,353 in 2018 – an increase of 83%.

Assistant Chief Constable Jackie Sebire, the national leader in tackling serious violent crime at the National Police Chief’s Council, blamed police funding cuts for the fall in charge rates.

“The large reduction in police funding since 2010 has meant that fewer detectives with less time and a bigger workload taking on long investigations, meaning it can be more difficult to get a charge”

“Some forces who have been given additional funding to tackle violence are using that to improve forensic capabilities, so even when the victim is unwilling to proceed, police can still progress a case.”

A spokesperson from the Home Office responded: “ We are taking action to tackle the violent crime which has such a devastating impact on our communities…. This includes supporting the police by recruiting 20,000 new police officers over the next three years, making it easier for them to use stop and search powers and investing £10m in additional funding to allow forces to increase the number of officers carrying Tasers.”

To read the full BBC article click here

A&R Security Services provides comprehensive security solutions to businesses in Cardiff, Newport, Swansea, Bridgend, South Wales and the South West. If you are in need of concierge services, mobile patrols or secure keyholding services then visit our website or call us on 01656 713950

 

 

 

Halloween, Trick or Treat, Cardiff,Newport, Swansea, RCT

How to stay safe this spooky Halloween

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Halloween is the best time of year for those who love everything spooky and want to let out their inner ghoul. For young children in and around Cardiff, it is a night where they can dress up and collect enough sweets to fill a whole sweet shop!

But even though Halloween is special to most, there is a much darker side. With the nights drawing in, children are twice as more likely to be hit by a moving vehicle and killed on Halloween than any other day.

Halloween is the busiest night of the year, especially for children – so steps need to be taken to ensure their safety and the festivities remain a happy memory.

So, here are some tips to keep your little ghouls safe:

Trick-or-Treaters

  • Plan your route – When searching for the best places for trick or treating, it can often take you many streets away from your home. So planning your route will ensure that you don’t get lost.
  • Stranger Danger – Any other time of the year, you wouldn’t knock on a stranger’s door and ask for treats. So, when knocking on a stranger’s door ensure that your children understand not to enter a stranger’s house.
  • Fire Resistant Costumes – Halloween Costumes can be a fire hazard; all it takes is your costume brushing up against a candle before it catches fire. Make sure when buying your children’s costume – they are fire-resistant.
  • Out of the Dark – in October the nights are long and dark, so it is likely that it’ll be dark when you are out trick or treating. When walking around make sure to light your way with a torch and to ensure that you are visible to other people and motorists.

Motorists

  • Pedestrians – In terms of people being out on the street Halloween is the busiest time of the year. Make sure to stay alert for children walking alongside main roads or in side streets.
  • If you don’t have to, don’t- if you can avoid driving at all, it will probably be safer to stay at home.
  • Drive Slow – Most residential areas in Cardiff and surrounding areas are 20-mph with speed bumps to ensure the speed is maintained. However, when driving ensure that you are driving below that on Halloween. This way if a small child walks or runs into the road, you can quickly stop your car.

Fire Safety

  • Decorations – with more and more of us decorating for Halloween, it is important to ensure that they don’t catch on fire. So, when decorating ensure that decorations are kept away from open flames such as candles.
  • Candles – Candles are great at making a spooky atmosphere, but they can also be a hazard. Try to use battery-operated ones to achieve the same effect or use glow sticks.
  • Smoke Alarms – many of use will be buying pumpkins to carve and to light ready for Halloween. However, pumpkins with open flamed candles inside them can be a potential fire risk. If you are planning to put candles inside of pumpkins this Halloween, ensure that your fire alarms are tested and fully working.

Here at A&R Security Services, we provide comprehensive security services to businesses in Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, Bridgend, and RCT. If you are in need of manned guarding or secure key holding services then get in touch with us on 01656 713950 or visit our website.