Securi-Guard Arc Services | News Archive

Hi-Tech Euro-Tracking scheme gives Securi-Guard the edge

Securi-Guard has launched a major international scheme which re-thinks the rules on incident management for vehicle and asset tracking – saving customers time and money.

One of the UK’s leading independent Secure Operating Centres (SOC) for vehicle tracking, Securi-Guard has invested heavily in state of the art computer software for its innovative Securi-Track initiative which also removes the problem of any language barriers should the driver not speak the language of the country where the incident has occurred.

Under the initiative, it has secured agreements with security firms across Europe to provide a European Police Response Service to incidents of vehicle theft or hijacking abroad.

Currently, it is commonplace for tracking companies reporting incidents of vehicle theft or hijacking abroad to alert a third party company who then have to call a service provider in the country where the crime has taken place.

But Securi-Guard’s high tech software takes the third party service out of the equation and links directly to any one of a specially recruited team of partners - highly reputable security companies in key European countries.

The system means both Securi-Guard and its network of European security specialists (partners) are sharing a common computerised incident management platform that can be regularly updated and reviewed, thus speeding up incident responses.

Pete Stanley – Head of Telematics at Securi-Guard - has spent the last 12 months working with top Austrian net services company Denkmaiers to fine tune the computer system, as well as seeking the services of highly reputable security firms in the Republic of Ireland, France, Spain, Germany, Portugal, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Italy, Holland, Denmark, Belgium and the Czech Republic.

“We streamline the service by taking out the middle man, which means as well as being able to speed up the response to an incident, we can also pass on a significant cost saving to the customer,” said Pete.

UK victims of theft or hijacking abroad alert Securi-Guard’s monitoring team in its Secure Operating Centre (SOC), where details of the incident are logged on the Securi-Track system.

The security company based where the incident has taken place are then given a secure passcode, unique to that particular theft or hijacking, as well as access to the system.

It gives them access to up-to date positional mapping and they can display all the information in either their own language or English – at the touch of a button. Any updates added to the incident can be viewed instantly by both Securi-Guard staff and the response company staff abroad.

Once the incident is closed it is archived on the system and can be called up if information is subsequently needed as evidence in a criminal prosecution.

Securi-Guard has carried out extensive trials of Securi-Track over the last few months, which have proved very successful, and has launched a separate website for the service.

The company believes it has huge potential and can lease out the operating system to any of the participating partner countries to enable them to develop their own version of the service.

“We believe this is one of the most exciting developments in the field of incident management for vehicle, asset tracking in recent years and will mark out Securi-Guard as a major player in our industry.” said Pete.

Securi-Guard has the Golden touch yet again

Securi-Guard has become one of only two security companies in the UK to be awarded a gold standard for its vehicle tracking service.

The National Security Inspectorate (NSI) accreditation means that Securi-Guard Monitoring now has four NSI Gold accreditations for its wide-ranging ARC services.

The award has also been praised by research centre and leading vehicle security specialists, Thatcham.

Mike Briggs, Vehicle Security Manager at Thatcham, said "Securi-Guard is one of the market leaders in providing effective, high quality vehicle monitoring and this accolade is reward for the dedication and professionalism they bring to this very important security service.”

It is also a particularly satisfying accolade for Securi-Guard as the firm was instrumental in helping police authorities and other industries in developing the standard over the past five years.

Pete Stanley, Head of Telematics at Securi-Guard said: “This industry standard is recognised by every police force in the country and we are delighted to have attained it.

“The fact we played such a key role in developing it is testament to the knowledge and expertise we have in vehicle tracking – both here and in Europe.”

The award is a new UK Gold standard for high security vehicle tracking and Securi-Guard had to meet tough monitoring criteria to attain it.

Scott Boyd, Managing Director (Operations) said: “To now hold four NSI Gold accreditations for our ARC is a considerable achievement and truly reflects the hard work and dedication of all the staff here at Securi-Guard Monitoring.

“NSI approval means we provide a service that meets the highest recognised industry standards which can only give all our customers confidence in our ability.”

The company already holds gold awards for its Intruder Alarm Monitoring, Fire Alarm Monitoring and CCTV monitoring.

As the leading approvals and certification body, the NSI
is tasked with safeguarding the highest possible standards in the security industry.

NSI accreditation means Securi-Guard meets criteria including highest performance standards and providing a high level of staff training and supervision to industry best practice standards.

Gold status means the company also meet specific Quality Management System standard and offer a high level of insurance specification and preferment.

Promotion for finance director who helps drive strategy

Securi-Guard Financial Controller Richard Musson has been promoted to Finance Director in recognition of his wide-ranging work to help develop the company.

An experienced business manager, Richard’s new role will involve him overseeing all the company’s client accounts, as well as helping to drive the overall strategy of Plymouth-based Securi-Guard.

Richard’s past business experience as both a managing director and a sales and marketing professional means he also plays a key role in Securi-Guard’s commercial negotiations.

Scott Boyd, Managing Director (Operations) said Richard’s promotion was well deserved and wished him luck in his new role.

“This promotion is recognition of the key role Richard has played in many facets of our business,” said Scott.

“He brings a wealth of business experience to Securi-Guard and has played a pivotal part in many of the commercial successes we have enjoyed as a company in recent years.”

Richard, aged 56, has spent the last 25 years in management roles for medium sized businesses in a variety of sectors, including jewellery, textiles, automotive and manufacturing.

He started working in the Manchester area where he grew up before moving to Plymouth in 1991, joining Securi-Guard in December 2002.

“I am very proud to have received this promotion, which I feel comes at a very exciting time for Securi-Guard as we look to develop new business opportunities both here in the South West and further afield,” said Richard.

Securi-Guard recently signalled its intention to expand across the UK with the appointment of experienced security industry professional Paul French, who is covering the whole of the country selling the company’s fast growing fire and security systems monitoring services to installers.

Paul’s key role is at the heart of a new drive to raise the profile of Securi-Guard’s Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) which monitors intruder/fire alarm and CCTV systems across the UK and vehicle tracking devices and lone worker alarms, both here and in Europe.

buddi, the world's leading gps personal tracker, appoints Securi-Guard Monitoring to man new 24 hour response

buddi, the world’s leading GPS personal tracker with emergency support, has appointed security specialists Securi-Guard Monitoring to provide 24-hour emergency support to all buddi customers.

The Securi-Guard team will act as the first response in the event that the emergency buttons on the buddi unit are pressed. The emergency call will alert the Securi-Guard team who will then be able to locate the wearer via GPS, inform the customer’s pre-chosen guardians and, if necessary, refer the incident to the relevant local authority or the police.

The fully trained staff will be based in Securi-Guard`s“Cat II level” response centre, which is quality assured to British Standards and registered with every police force in the UK.

buddi provides GPS accuracy to within three metres (10ft) worldwide and uses the latest assisted satellite technology which gives an instant location on a map accessible via a laptop or pc, mobile phone or Blackberry.

buddi is the brainchild of entrepreneur Sara Murray who developed the device after her daughter went missing. It is currently being used by a number of local councils in the UK for its lone workers and the vulnerable, such as the elderly or those with dementia, and has been adopted by NHS Trusts for midwives and nurses on home visits.

Sara Murray, CEO of buddi, said: “buddi is the world’s leading GPS personal tracker, which is why we are delighted to appoint Securi-Guard to monitor the buddi system. They are established experts and will help contribute to the outstanding level of service which buddi customers have come to expect.”

Scott Boyd, Managing Director (Operations) for Securi-Guard, added: “Through our state of the art Alarm Receiving Centre in Plymouth, we are an established company at the forefront of lone worker monitoring, as well as vehicle tracking, fire and intruder alarm and CCTV monitoring.

“The buddi is one of the leading devices on the market and we are delighted both to endorse the product and play such a key role in helping to protect those who use it.”

Alarm staff help to jail a burglar - 200 miles away!

Alarm Operators in the ARC helped to put a prolific burglar behind bars more than 200 miles away - after he tried to claim he hadn’t actually broken into a house.

Surrey Police identified David Howard from forensic evidence found at the scene and he was arrested and charged. He later attempted to convince police and the court he hadn’t actually entered the property.

But thanks to the sophisticated nature of the security system protecting the house, the prosecution was able to prove the offender had gone inside – and even which rooms he had entered.

Alarm Centre Manager at Securi-Guard, Adrian Baker, supplied a detailed statement to police and it proved crucial in helping to convict 43-year-old Howard, who was sentenced to four years in prison at Guildford Crown Court earlier this month.

Securi-Guard was monitoring the system on behalf of the installers, Sector Alarm UK, which is based in Chiswick, London.

“When we checked the log of the alarm system we were not only able to prove this chap had actually got in the house, but thanks to the individual sensors, we could also track his movements through the house,” said Adrian.

“In this case, the technology used in the system was vital in giving us the information we needed to help the police. We are delighted we were able to help bring this man to justice”

The alarm system – A Visonic Powermax Plus - alerted police to the raid at a large detached house in Banstead in June this year, but although police arrived within minutes, the offender had already fled.

He admitted he had been at the property but gave an account, which denied he had actually entered the house, hoping he could get away with a lesser offence.