Tag Archives: Facilities Resource Limited

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.

 

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.

 

 

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

 

 

Office cleaning services in Hampshire

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FRL Group’s specialist Commercial Cleaning Services www.officecleaninghampshire.co.uk provides a comprehensive cleaning service for commercial premises in Basingstoke, Hook and north Hampshire.

Office Cleaning Hampshire works hard to deliver outstanding office cleaning services and contract cleaning at very competitive prices.

We recruit the best cleaners and contract cleaners who are hardworking and reliable. Our dedicated and experienced cleaning manager is always available to deal with wide-ranging cleaning requirements to provide Facilities Managers and building developers with the service they require.

Our commercial janitor, industrial and office cleaning services include all types of emergency or regular daily office cleaning services, contract cleaning, office cleaners, janitorial, concierge, industrial cleaning event clearance and tidy up, end of tenancy cleaning, showroom cleaning, construction clearance, office refurb cleaning, office furniture removal, show house cleaning and all commercial cleaning services.

We also offer building developers property cleaning services and builders cleans.

Established in 2007 as Office Cleaning Hampshire www.officecleaninghampshire.co.uk, all our services are fully insured and our staff are well-trained and, for high security premises, SIA licensed; many hold full List X clearances.

Recruiting temporary or interim Facilities Managers

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FRL Group (Facilities Resource Limited) is a facilities management outsourcing and commercial security consultancy delivering viable solutions which address a wide range of organisational and facilities-based management challenges.

Facility Management (FM), or more usually Facilities Management, is the management activity which supports businesses, many other types of organisation and particularly the users of the built environment, through the provision of facilities and associated support services.

Within larger organisations FM services are managed by a specialist Facilities Manager and there are occasions when that post is vacant and the organisation needs a temporary member of staff from outside the business to cover the role.

FRL Interim Facilities Management  www.interimfacilitiesmanagement.co.uk  can supply experienced temporary FM personnel who can ‘hit the ground running’ to maintain services, review existing arrangements with a fresh perspective and assist with the recruitment process for a permanent replacement.

FRL Interim Facilities Managers do not have any baggage in terms of internal politics, employment or career requirements and are totally focused upon delivery of agreed business outcomes. They are ideal in terms of supporting Change Management.

They are available to meet your short, medium and long term requirements.

The introduction of an experienced and independent perspective will add value to your current and future needs and requirements assessment going forward.

Where the occasion demands, we can supply a team of Interim FM Managers – where a range of specific skills or aptitudes are desired. Alternatively, we can second a specific individual.

To find out more, e-mail info@interimfacilitiesmanagement.co.uk or call us now on 020 8242 6574(out of hours number: 0845 862 0844).

FRL Interim Facilities Management www.interimfacilitiesmanagement.co.uk provide experienced interim facilities managers at strategic FM management, tactical and operational levels. Our team members are available at all levels – from Director level to FM Manager.

Rural Property Watch news update

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As we head towards the winter season, householders and organisations in rural areas are offered some topical advice by security specialists Rural Property Watch:
Dogs. Some Police forces have seen a rise in the theft of dogs, in particular terriers and gun dog breeds. You are advised to ensure that you are aware of your dog’s location and security arrangements including micro chipping and or tattooing.
Quads. Christmas is coming and some people can’t help themselves but to thieve. Quads are again on the increase for theft. Record all details of your quads and any valuable property. Rural Property Watch offers a range of cost-effective portable alarm systems and CCTV systems specially designed for rural properties even where power or a telephone line is not available.
Dale Farm Travellers. As many of you are aware the eviction of travellers in Essex has gone ahead. At this stage Police and the travellers do not know where they are going. This maybe a good time to review your perimeter security to land and open spaces etc.especially security fencing (our colleagues at Asset Fencing would be pleased to offer advice – visit www.assetfencing.com)
Heating Oil theft prevention. As people fill up their heating oil tanks in preparation for the impending big freeze predicted by the weather forecasters, so the temptation increases for thieves to target oil tanks. Rural Property Watch offers a very cost-effective remote heating oil tank alarm system which alerts the householder by SMS text message that fuel in the tank has suddenly dropped.
Rural Property Watch (www.ruralpropertywatch.co.uk – a division of Facilities Resource Limited: FRL Group) offer rural residential, equine, village halls, churches, schools and commercial premises protection against theft, vandalism, noise and litter nuisance, graffiti and criminal damage – but more than this, give people in rural communities peace of mind.

Fly tipping prevention, deterrents and prosecution

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One of our Facilities Resource Limited (FRL Group) mobile security patrols came across fly tippers in the act of dumping rubbish and building waste in a private lane belonging to a client.

So how can you deal with fly tipping?

Well, in this particular instance, the patrol was single crewed, it was late at night and it was in a secluded rural location. With there being two fly tippers with four large Alsation dogs, it was not appropriate for the mobile security guard to approach them.

Our 24 hour central Control Room contacted Police who attended the scene very quickly and dealt with the situation.

Our Rural Property Watch division (www.ruralpropertywatch.co.uk) say that fly tipping is the illegal dumping of waste. It can vary in scale significantly from a bin bag of rubbish to large quantities of waste dumped from trucks.

Fly-tipped waste litter may be found anywhere, such as roadsides, in lay-bys or on private land such as our client’s private lane.

Fly-tipping is a rural problem because:

• It is estimated to cost £100-£150 million every year
to investigate and clear up, the cost falls
on taxpayers and private landowners.

• Fly-tipping poses a threat to humans and wildlife,
damages our environment, and spoils our enjoyment
of our towns and countryside.

• As with other things that affect local environment
quality, areas subject to repeated fly- tipping may
suffer declining property prices and local businesses
may suffer as people stay away

Fly Tipping is a criminal offence and is an arrestable offence and the maximum penalties are:

  • In Magistrates Court – Fine £50,000 and / or 12 months in prison In Crown Court – Unlimited fine and / or 5 years in prison Forteiture of vehicle used for fly tipping
  • ASBO (Anti Social Behaviour Order) or CRASBO following conviction
  • Driving Bans, Community Punishment Orders, Conditional Discharge, Formal Cautions, Costs Awards, Referral Orders
  • £300 Fixed Penalty Fines for failing to produce waste transfer notes
  • £300 Fixed Penalty Fines for failing to produce waste carrier’s registration certificate
  • £2,500 fine for dropping litter

Rural Property Watch offer a range of anti fly tipping counter measure solutions including installation of covert and highly visible surveillance CCTV, dummy cctv units, rapid deployment alarms and cctv units, manned surveillance, secret surveillance teams, photographic evidence gathering, warning signs and support of publicity following successful prosecutions.

Rural Property Watch have cctv and alarm solutions capable of working in low light, without telephone or internet access and without access to power. They can be linked by GPS and GPRS to alert mobile security patrols by text of intruders; with some cctv installations, the images from these surveillance cameras can be viewed live, as they happen, on computers and android mobile phones.

Most of the Rural Property Watch equipment are entirely portable enabling you to move them from site to site.

Rural Property Watch manned guarding services can provide you with either a high profile visible presence or concealed covert teams of trained, former military personnel, whose presence will go undetected by fly tippers. They will give you early warning of issues and evidence for prosecution

How CCTV can add a new dimension to Retail Security

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Here, John Hicks of FRL Group (Facilities Resource Limited) discusses how CCTV can add a new dimension to Retail Security

As an addition to retail security guards, the ‘front line’ of security, customer care and goodwill in retail establishments, CCTV is an essential tool as both a deterrent, to shoplifters and thieving staff, and for providing evidence for prosecution.

However, when CCTV technology is integrated with the retailer’s POS-data or other physical security systems such as Access Control, it can really help you prevent fraud and reduce shrinkage.

New systems on the market can fully integrate with existing security systems and send automatic alerts, to allow managers to identify problem situations or suspicious activities happening within, or immediately outside, the store or warehouse.

Video and associated data can be accessed from anywhere across a network. So the retail environment can be monitored and managed, and issues investigated, locally or remotely – even on a manager’s mobile phone.

Integrating POS data into a CCTV system could provide the video associated with any suspicious transaction, so you can:

  • Combat employee and customer fraud
  • Reveal mismatches in transactions
  • Identify sweet-hearting and other fraudulent
    transactions

Integrated IP CCTV solutions can feature video analytics and can integrate with any physical security application (Access Control, RFID, EAS) to help managers:

  • Detect loitering, access tampering and equipment
    removal
  • Detect unauthorised movement of RFID and EAS
    tagged products
  • Check video against card swipe for identity
    match in protected areas

Want to know more? Then visit the FRL Group website: www.frl-group.co.uk for more details or drop us an e-mail at info@frl-group.co.uk.

FRL Group Retail Security supplies SIA-registered retail security guards for stores, shopping centres and other retail premises in London and across the south of England – protecting staff and assets whilst maintaining high standards of customer care.

UK CCTV Installation & Maintenance, another specialist division of FRL Group, offers CCTV surveillance cameras installation and maintenance to protect property and people in London, Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey, Oxfordshire and the south of England.

FRL Group is a trading name of Facilities Resource Limited.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bookmakers Issue Winter Betting Odds Following Chilly Forecasts

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Bookmakers across Ireland and the UK are offering punters reduced odds on a White Christmas following a series of chilly winter outlooks by forecasters.

Paddy Power is providing 6/5 odds of Ireland running out of grit and odds of 11/2 for Winter 2011-2012 to be the coldest on record. The bookmaker says there is a 7/2 chance of a White Christmas in Dublin and has put the chances of the River Liffey completely freezing over at 66/1.

The latter may be a good bet considering numerous rivers and lakes across Ireland were frozen during last year’s Big Freeze.

Paddy Power is also taking punts on the lowest recorded temperature of the season. Odds of 13/2 have been placed on mercury levels dipping below minus 17.1c.

Meanwhile, William Hill has placed odds of 6/1 of snow falling during Christmas Day at Dublin Airport.  The bookmaker has also provided odds for Cardiff 8/1, London (8/1) and Edinburgh (11/4)

The winter betting odds follow the coolest summer since 1986 in many parts of Ireland and since 1962 in parts of the southwest. The highest temperature recorded this summer was 25.6°C at Phoenix Park in Dublin on 26 September.

Last month, a UK-based long range weather forecaster issued his prediction of an early start to winter 2011-2012 for many regions of the United Kingdom and Ireland.  James Madden of Exacta Weather forecast heavy snowfalls in places as soon as late October
and early November.

Commenting on the autumn and winter months in his updated seasonal forecast (2 September), James Madden stated that the UK and Ireland could expect a cooler than average theme to continue into autumn. He also predicted a notable increase in usual wind strengths for this time of year that would result in frequent and potentially damaging gale force winds and strong stormy features throughout autumn and winter. So far, Ireland and Britain have been lashed by the remnants of ex-hurricanes Katia and Ophelia.

Meanwhile, UK-based Positive Weather Solutions says the winter months will be colder than average everywhere and that some regions will experience significantly colder than average temperatures between December and March. The agency has also given a 36% chance of the Ireland and Britain experiencing a White Christmas.

For Facilities Managers in Basingstoke, Hook and north Hampshire facing the risk of not just slips and falls for their staff and visitors, but also disruption to their business, Hampshire Snow Clearance offers Snow clearance, car park gritting, path gritting and salt supplies for commercial,retail, offices and industrial estate.

Further details are available at www.hampshiresnowclearance.co.uk