Who can grit paths, footpaths and car parks, and clear snow, from commercial premises in the Basingstoke and Hook, Hampshire, areas?

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It’s that time of year when shops proudly displaying Christmas advent calendars, chocolate selection boxes and gift cards.

And now, whilst the delights of the summer sunshine are still fresh in our minds, Britain has been warned of the possibility of the UK facing the coldest and snowiest winter for a generation.

Climate change does not mean that there will be no severe cold weather conditions during the winter months; it means that the weather will be less predictable and that there may well be greater extremes.

Now, temperatures are forecast to drop to below average for the time of year over the next few months.

Last Thursday night (21st September) temperatures dropped below 0C for the first time since mid- May. In Scotland, air temperatures dropped to -1C and road temperatures hit 0C. On some roads in Tyndrum, Stirling a hoar frost was visible on the roads. Then on Friday night 14 road sites dropped below 0C, most in Scotland and a few in the uplands of northern England. The lowest air temperature was recorded at Abington, South Lanarkshire at 06:50am on the 23rd when it dropped to -1C.

These temperatures are unusually low for the time of year. In comparison to 2012 the first ground frost in 2011 was on 14th October and in 2010 on the 17th October.

Basingstoke-based Hampshire Snow Clearance is reminding Facilities Managers and commercial property managing agents about the perils of snow and ice, especially with changes in legislation relating to prevention of slips and falls.

Hampshire Snow Clearance (www.hampshiresnowclearance.co.uk) operates a specialist snow clearance and early morning gritting service for commercial premises, retail parks, industrial estates, private schools and car parks in the Basingstoke, Odiham, Camberley and Hook areas of Hampshire.

Hampshire Snow Clearance Managing Director John Hicks explained, “Last winter caught out many Facilities Managers when the unexpected snow and ice put the safety of staff and customers at risk, caused inconvenience to many and resulted in loss of working days”.

“However, it is too late to start thinking about gritting paths, ice removal and snow clearance when waking up early one morning to find slippery ice on the pavements and roads. So we urge Facilities Managers to think about booking services now.” John added.

Hampshire Snow Clearance service also offers a gritting supplies and off-site storage facility so that businesses do not have unsightly grit and salt stocks occupying valuable car parking spaces.

Give Hampshire Snow Clearance now a call on 01256 220561 for a free site survey and quotation – don’t wait until the big freeze returns! Call now and help keep your staff and visitors safe, and help guarantee business continuity in adverse weather conditions.

Horse owners increasingly being targeted by thieves

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“Horse owners are also being asked to be vigilant in case this is an emerging trend.” So what are Lincolnshire Police warning horse owners about?

Well, anecdotal evidence suggests that horse box and trailer theft is on the increase.

 John Hicks of rural crime prevention and rural security solutions specialists, Rural Property Watch (www.ruralpropertywatch.co.uk) said: “With horse boxes being worth anything up to in excess of £100,000 horse box theft is a serious problem for horse owners. Stolen horse boxes are often hidden for many months before being re-sprayed and resold, then more often than not being shipped overseas.”

 “The issue is how can I prevent my horse box from being stolen, or help it to be found if it is stolen?” John added.

From stopping theft of tack from livery stables or thefts of horse boxes and trailers through to stopping people unlocking gates or, worse still, imposing physical harm on your defenceless animals, Rural Property Watch  are here to help.

Rural Property Watch have worked with manufacturers and developed a range of alarms and detection systems specifically for use in rural situations, in areas where power and communication lines are hard to reach. Systems use a dual beam technology to significantly reduces false activations by animals and weather and can be wirelessly located at key remote entrances giving you peace of mind at all times.

Rural Property Watch farm and rural area alarms can be fitted with various accessories to fit any situation and have been approved by the UK Police, accredited with a Secured by Design™ certificate. In addition, for high value items secret horse box trackers can be fitted allowing it to be located to within a few feet of its current location!

Rural Property Watch offer a free site survey to help you identify the issues and to recommend affordable solutions.

For more details on how Rural Property Watch can secure your farm, remote outbuildings or barn, or give you early warning of an intruder or arson attack, call on 0845 862 0844 (local call rate) or e-mail info@ruralpropertywatch.co.uk

New store security guidelines welcomed by FRL Retail Security Services

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Retail security company, FRL Retail Security Services, welcomed The British Retail Consortium (BRC) new best practice guide for retail employers, which aims to increase awareness of the impact that violence against staff has on employees and to challenge the perception that abuse of shop workers is acceptable. The guidelines called ‘Tackling Violence Against Staff’ are endorsed by trade union Usdaw. These include having clear policies against violence and abuse, robust store based risk assessments, appropriate store layout, security and preventative measures, good staff training and reporting procedures and providing support for staff after incidents.

Usdaw’s Freedom From Fear campaign against violence and abuse of shop workers was launched ten years ago and has sought to raise the profile of the issue with employers, Government, police and others. While there have been significant breakthroughs in key areas to help prevent and reduce incidents, the Union’s last survey conducted in 2010 still showed that in the previous 12 months, 6 per cent of retail staff had been subjected to violent attack, 37pc had been threatened with harm and 70pc had suffered verbal abuse.

British Retail Consortium Head of Crime, Catherine Bowen, said: “Retailers invest considerable resources in protecting their workers, stock and property. Protecting staff from violence means taking many factors into account, from the positioning of in-store CCTV to how those who do carry out attacks are prosecuted. Companies are doing a lot to prevent trouble occurring in the first place, for example by giving customer service staff training in how to avoid conflict.”

“Our new guidelines will help businesses be sure they’ve done all they can to prevent staff from being attacked or abused. The question that remains is whether the police and criminal justice system are doing all within their power to protect the country’s three million retail employees. Those who are violent or threatening towards our staff are as guilty of a crime as anyone who behaves that way on the street. The police response needs to reflect that.”

John Hicks of FRL Retail Security Services (a specialist division of Facilities Resource Limited – www.frl-group.co.uk) said: “Threats and verbal abuse of retail staff, as well as theft and robbery, are on the increase and we welcome the guidelines which will also serve to highlight the issues involved. It is no longer just a case of reviewing shop and retail cctv systems, how you tackle shoplifters or address the rise in shoplifting. ”

The BRC’s ten-page ‘Tackling Violence Against Staff – Best Practice Guidelines for Retailers’ is available online.

 

Rural Property Watch unveils new newspaper advertisement

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Rural Property Watch, a specialist division of FRL Group (Facilities Resource Limited www.frl-group.co.uk) which offers rural communities across the UK security solutions designed to meet their particular needs have unveiled their new newspaper advertisement.

Reinforcing the message that the security company has recently launched a new portable, self-powered, wireless cctv unit, the campaign is running across the south and south west of England.

Rural Property Watch offer a wide range of security solutions but the most popular with rural communities, especially farms, horse owners and equestrian centres, is battery operated wireless intruder detection alarm which does not need telephone connection or electricity – ideal as remote outbuildings and barn intruder, fire and flood alarms.

Further information can be found via the Rural Property Watch website www.ruralpropertywatch.co.uk

 

Vacant Commercial Property Management Good Practice

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Vacant commercial property security specialists, FRL Group (www.frl-group.co.uk) welcomed the launch of a new Good Practice Guide to Vacant Property Management.

The British Institute of Facilities Management (BIFM) and vacant property contractor SitexOrbis recently launched the BIFM Good Practice Guide to Vacant Property Management. The 24-page guide aims to provide information to facilities managers who have empty buildings to manage as part of their property portfolio. It was launched at the Facilities Show, the facilities event in May at the NEC Birmingham, beside IFSEC. The guide is available online at www.bifm.org.uk/gpgs.

The guide explores the reasons why a number of commercial buildings are becoming empty, highlights some of the key problems facing vacant properties, and explains how facilities managers can close buildings and manage empty properties on a long-term basis keeping them safe, secure, in line with their insurer’s expectations and ready for reoccupation, sale or demolition. The A5 document, written by Mark Cosh, director of SitexOrbis and sponsored by the organisation, was peer reviewed by Allister Smith, property risk manager, Commercial Property Underwriting – Strategy at insurers Aviva.

The guide includes original data from the vacant property management survey of BIFM members in autumn 2011, conducted by SitexOrbis and the proposed contents received feedback from delegates at the British Institute of Facilities Management 12th quarterly training day at Bristol.

John Hicks of FRL Group said: “Security for vacant commercial premises is advancing almost daily with the new technologies becoming available. We already offer flexible portable wireless alarm systems which do not require electricity or telephone connection – either for short term hire or outright purchase. Now, we have added wireless cctv camera units which, when triggered, take still photographs and send them as MMS messages to the client’s mobile phone or our central alarm monitoring station.”

FRL Group, part of Facilities Resource Limited, offer their clients a  fully-insured key holder and alarm response service in addition to traditional mobile patrol visits out-of-hours, static guards, cctv and traditional access control and intruder alarms systems.

Uniquely, FRL Group also offer a service called FRL Guardians. Here, the UK based security company will place SIA-licensed security guards, who have been carefully vetted, to reside in unoccupied residential or hotel premises to deter intruders. They will also undertake basic maintenance to ensure that the condition of the premises do not deteriorate without the landlord’s knowledge.

 

 

Spate of burglaries in Clacton – advice from Clacton Security

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There have been a spate of 13 burglaries in Clacton, many of which have been where intruders entered the property as back patio doors have been left unlocked and cash and small items have been taken.

The burglaries happened in Wellesley Road, Jameson Road, Nien-Ooed, Ventnor Drive, Cotman Road, Raycliff Avenue, Lupin Way, Sillet Close, Pier Avenue, Daniell Close, Gilders Way, Neasden Avenue and Alvis Avenue, Jaywick.

Rob Davies of local Clacton security firm, Clacton Security, told Clacton Radio News: “The first line of defence for any property is to lock, and if possible double-lock exterior doors. The second is to fit an alarm system.”

Clacton Security offer affordable portable alarm systems, which are self-powered and operate independently of telephone lines, suitable for extensions and outbuildings. They will survey any property in the area free-of-charge and make recommendations for any security improvements.

Anyone with information about the incidents, which happened between April 6 and 12, should call Clacton Police Station on 101. 

Further information about Clacton Security Manned Guarding and Security Services can be found at www.clactonsecurity.com

Security guarding firms in Clacton, Essex

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Introducing Clacton Security

Clacton Security (www.clactonsecurity.com) is an Essex-based security firm providing manned guarding, static guards, retail security staff and event security throughout the Clacton-on-Sea, Frinton, Walton on the Naze, Great Holland, Jaywick and wider Essex area.

This local security business seeks to protect your assets, your property, your staff and your visitors in the CO postcode areas through offering:

* Manned Guarding by SIA accredited and fully trained security guards

* CCTV Monitoring

* Physical security works including barriers, security fencing, bollards, security lighting, access controls

* CCTV installation and maintenance

* Event Security

* Retail Security

* Security Receptionists and Concierge staff

Clacton Security is a specialist division of UK-wide commercial security management and security outsourcing consultancy, Facilities Resource Limited (FRL Group: www.facilitiesresource.com    www.frl-group.co.uk).

For further information about Clacton Security, please visit their website www.clactonsecurity.com

 

And please listen out for our commercials running on Clacton Radio www.clactonradio.com

 

 

Event Security Companies in London and south of England

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“Thank you for your help over the weekend, it went very well and everybody was happy with the way it went”   Event organiser

This is a typical response to events where Facilities Resource Limited’s FRL Group Event Security team provide the security and stewarding support – enabling the event organisers to focus on managing all other aspects which go towards making it a success.

From little details, such as providing walkie-talkie radios for the organisers to keep in touch with FRL Group Event Security managers through to advising, at the pre-planning stage, on traffic management, some of the pressure and headaches associated with a successful event are relieved.

With a wealth of experience across a huge range of events – from small VIP weddings to major public events, the FRL Group Event Security management has expertise which they can contribute.

Facilities Resource Limited (FRL Group) Event Security has a wealth of experience providing security and stewarding services for exhibitions, concerts, sporting events, weddings, media events, outdoor film location sets, product launches, private VIP parties and temporary commercial or leisure workplaces, across the UK.

Facilities Resource Limited (FRL Group) Event Security support event organisers with the detailed planning related to the security provision – including liaison with the licensing agencies and emergency services, emergency planning and training requirements – to ensure that the event is a success.

Often, the first contact your customers or stakeholders have with your event or organisation is with a member of the Security team so we ensure that they are smartly dressed (whether in white shirt or hi-viz jackets) and customer-care focussed.

Facilities Resource Limited (FRL Group) Event Security does not just provide ‘guards on gates’ we also offer the following security services:

• Event Security

• Safety Stewards

• Event Safety Management

• Event Safety Planning

• Event Car Parking

• Ticket Sales and cash-handling Staff

• Where alcohol will be on sale, Door Supervisors and, if required, Personal Licence Holders

• Celebrity guest and Artist personal protection

With FRL Group teams looking after the detailed operations on the ground – from keeping fire routes clear or deterring thieves overnight through to auditing ticket sales and protecting cash on site – event organisers can focus on their principal task of making the event a success.

Facilities Resource Limited (FRL Group) Event Security are one of the premier suppliers of SIA Approved, Event Security Solutions and Services in the UK, so please call us on 0845 862 0844 for an informal discussion about your needs.

Visit www.events-security.org.uk for more information.

Specialist Barn Arson Alarms Now Available For Remote Outbuildings

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Rural Property Watch announces the launch of a new self-powered alarm system to protect barns against fire, flood and theft.

 In an attempt to help rural communities fight the threat of barn arson, specialist security provider Rural Property Watch announced today the launch of a new self-powered wireless barn alarm system designed to reduce response times dramatically. Calling on years of experience in delivering niche rural security solutions, Rural Property Watch has witnessed first-hand the devastating consequences of fire in remote settings.

“When you’re in an industry like farming or agriculture, some of your most valuable assets are stored in remote buildings away from living space,” explains John Hicks, Managing Director of Rural Property Watch. “But many landowners don’t invest in the unique kind of protection that these buildings need. Fires go unnoticed and, even when the fire is identified and reported, it’s often too late for effective response from the fire service.”

When a fire is started in a barn, the building itself and likely contents including fuel and hay rapidly accelerate the spread of flames. In as little as thirty minutes, a building and the assets within it can be destroyed entirely. As a result, landowners have a very small window of opportunity during which they can successfully gain control of the fire and protect the assets that they depend on to do business. The new wireless, self-powered alarms from Rural Property Watch are installed to give landowners the chance to seize this moment of opportunity.

“When a fire starts, time isn’t on your side,” says Hicks. “Entire livelihoods can be razed to the ground in well under an hour. Our self-powered alarms are quick to configure, affordable to run, and suitable for installation regardless of how remote an outbuilding or barn is, even where there is no electricity supply or telephone line.”

Once a wireless barn alarm system is installed, the expert staff at Rural Property Watch can configure the system to wirelessly contact landowners or farmers in the event of a fire. Using GSM and GPRS technology, alarms can instantly send an SMS text message to up to ten individual mobile phone numbers, giving farmers a much longer period of time during which they can act to stop the fire as it develops. Alternatively, wireless barn alarms can report to Rural Property Watch’s centralised Control Centre, where security staff can attempt to contact the landowner by telephone, or deploy an emergency response team as necessary.

“We’re committed to giving our clients the protection they need, with the flexibility that they require,” adds Hicks. “We routinely devise custom implementations of our wireless barn alarms to suit the specific needs of farmers and landowners. We can also configure our barn alarms to monitor for signs of flooding or intrusion, giving the rural community complete peace of mind with just one convenient device.”

Rural Property Watch will join a number of businesses which include Dorset Fire and Rescue, the Dorset Police, Crimestoppers, NFU Mutual, Kingston Maurward College and Porter Dodson Solicitors at a major Crime Prevention event at Kingston Maurward College near Dorchester on 27 April 2012, to help enhance awareness and provide practical possible solutions across the rural community.

Rural Property Watch will be demonstrating this and other new state-of-the-art technologies now available to work alongside experienced security staff and intelligent, reliable consultations, which enable Rural Property Watch now to, more able than ever, help farmers, landowners and equestrian centres protect their buildings, their assets and, ultimately, their livelihoods.

More information about Rural Property Watch is available from their website www.ruralpropertywatch.co.uk or contact their National Customer Contact Centre on 0845 862 0844 (UK local rate call charges apply).