Latest Legislation News

New Code of Conduct leave employers within the security sector at risk of having to pay out huge sums
posted on 16/07/2009

While the new Code of Conduct is supposed to encourage early resolution of disputes in the workplace, there is a sting in the tail. New rules designed to simplify employment tribunals leave employers within the security sector at risk of having to pay out huge sums, according to an industry expert. Phil Brown, Managing Director of Youmanage, explained: “Tribunals now have the power to increase payouts by up to 25 per cent if they find an employer has ‘unreasonably’ failed to follow the Code. In a sex or race discrimination case, where payouts are unlimited, an extra 25 per cent could prove to be very expensive indeed.” “The Code of Conduct sets out guidelines as to how disputes should be handled from the outset and it is vital that managers are familiar with it. Particularly in a recession, no business ever wants to incur totally avoidable costs like these, just because managers are unaware of the law.” A simple method of ensuring front-line managers are up-to-date with current leg... [more]

Information Commissioner could impose penalties on companies that fail to protect their data
posted on 16/07/2009

ISACA (formerly the Information Systems Audit and Control Association) applauds plans to significantly increase the powers of the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) later this year. "Last July, in his outgoing report, Information Commissioner Richard Thomas criticised the EU data protection directive - which underpins the UKs Data Protection Act - for effectively showing its age," said Vernon Poole, CISM, Member of ISACA’s Information Security Management Committee and Head of Business Consultancy for Sapphire "Reports now suggest that the UK Government will enhance the powers of the ICO, allowing it to raise penalties against data controllers, under Section 55A of the Data Protection Act," he added. According to Vernon Poole, under Section 55A of the Act - which the Ministry of Justice has reportedly set an internal target for implementation on for later this year - the Information Commissioner will be able to impose penalties on companies that fail to protect their data, when... [more]

Licensing requirements will not be extended to include in-house security guards
posted on 15/07/2009

The Security Industry Authority has announced that licensing requirements will not be extended to include in-house security guards. An SIA review, involving wide consultation with the security industry, found insufficient substantiated evidence of risk or threat to the public to support in-house licensing. The assessment took into account that regulation should only be targeted where action is needed, and that regulation should only intervene where there is a clear case for public protection. Following detailed discussion with SIA Chairman Baroness Ruth Henig and SIA senior management the Home Office approved the recommendation, requesting that the subject be revisited in three years time. SIA Acting Chief Executive Andy Drane said: “During the review, no evidence was provided by the industry that would justify extending licensing to in-house security guards. While stakeholders are welcome to comment and provide feedback, there are no plans to re-visit the issue until 2012 – unl... [more]

Councils must review their security procedures now to meet the CoCo regulation
posted on 14/07/2009

The deadline for Government’s Code of Connection (CoCo) compliance, which is a set of standards for the future of communications between local and central government, has recently been moved to September 30th, 2009. Deepnet Security has issued a stark warning to councils, that they face data loss and ID theft by failing to act on the Government’s Code of Connection (CoCo) standards. Deepnet is warning that councils must review their security procedures now to meet the regulation, which requires local authorities to implement rigorous security processes and ICT controls, as well as provide secure access to data through multi-factor authentication. Yurong Lin, CEO, Deepnet, comments: “Achieving compliance can appear complex and confusing, but councils must address this head on by reviewing security processes, so that they have enough time to implement any necessary changes before the deadline arrives. “One simple way that we can help is to provide a unified authentication platform... [more]

Checks at bars and clubs in Grimsby and Cleethorpes find 100 per cent compliance with licensing regulations
posted on 22/06/2009

By law, all door staff must hold a frontline SIA licence and display this while working. Recent checks at bars and clubs in Grimsby and Cleethorpes found 100 per cent compliance with licensing regulations. Investigators from the Security Industry Authority and officers from Humberside Police ran random compliance inspections at 15 bars and clubs. 47 door staff were checked and all held valid licences. Nigel Davis, an SIA Head of Investigation said: “This exercise follows on from work carried out earlier this year testing compliance with SIA licensing regulations so I am pleased with the results. “Grimsby and Cleethorpes attract a high number of holiday makers and weekend trippers so with the summer holidays approaching, we want to ensure that individuals working in positions of trust are doing so legally and hold SIA licences.” Inspector Tom Shaw said: "We work in close partnership with local door staff as they are integral to a safe night time economy for our community. It is... [more]

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