ASC :: News and events

Members Section

News

New full and affiliate members Pierre Burger, Philip Prestage, Colin Przystupa, Roger Noakes, John Fleming and James Wheeler were presented with their membership certificates by Roy Sutherland, Chairman, at the recent Association of Security Consultants (ASC) quarterly Business Club Seminar held recently in St. James's, London.

Home Office cannot be trusted on crime figures, says watchdog

05/09/06

HOME Office ministers should be stripped of their involvement in publishing crime statistics to restore public trust in the figures, a government watchdog said yesterday.

The Statistics Commission cautioned that without such a change the Government would be unable to persuade the public to have confidence in figures on levels of crime.

The independent watchdog also called for the Home Office to lose control over the British Crime Survey, which interviews 40,000 people about crime and, ministers say, is the most reliable indicator of offending. It recommended changing the definition of violent crime, which includes more than 300 offences including bigamy, abortion and dangerous driving.

Last night a Home Office spokeswoman said: "We do not accept that there is any ministerial interference in the preparation or publication of crime statistics. Ministers do not even see the bulletins until 72 hours ahead of publication."

Yesterday's report called for responsibility and publication of crime figures to be at "arm's length" from Home Office policymakers, and for the British Crime Survey to be moved to the Office for National Statistics. Two sets of crime figures are published by the Home Office ? the British Crime Survey and the offences recorded by the 43 police forces in England and Wales.

The report emphasised that the Government's ministers, press officers and advisers has responsibility for publishing the figures and for reacting to them.

The commission warned ministers that they faced a struggle to restore trust because people's perception of offending was influenced by the experience of friends and family.

It said that a count of "total crime" was an impossibility because trends could be altered by police recording practices and whether or not the public reported offences.

This year, Charles Clarke, the former Home Secretary, announced an independent review of crime statistics after he became concerned at the confusion and that few people believed them. The results are expected to be published soon.

Last night David Davis, the Shadow Home Secretary, said: "We welcome the recommendations to separate responsibility for crime statistics from government policy departments and to look at transferring responsibility for the British Crime Survey to the Office for National Statistics.

"For too long the Government has used bogus, inappropriate and spun statistics to try to hide its failure on crime."

Left to right: Laurie Doust (ASC Secretary), Keith Carey (Salto Systems), Ramesh Gurdev (Salto Systems), Roy Sutherland (ASC Chairman)

Left to right: Simon Lambert (ASC Member), Roy Sutherland (ASC Chairman), Kevin Quinn (Acting ASC Secretary).

Roy also welcomed back Laurie Doust, ASC Secretary, from his most recent journey and said that "if Laurie goes on any more cruises, we'll have to club together and buy him a boat!".

Salto Systems sponsored the event, with Keith Carey giving an introduction to the company. Keith then handed over the meeting to Ramesh Gurdev, whose presentation included available access control technologies and how to increase access security. Ramesh concluded by giving a fascinating insight into the future of access of control, including trends and solutions.

Robert Powell of Integrated Payment Solutions provided information about Smart Cards and how the applications can be integrated. He also gave details about campus and company wide solutions. Robert concluded with his thoughts about facts and fictions of the Mifare world which were of great interest to the capacity audience.

An insight into the role and charitable aims of the Worshipful Company of Security Professionals (WCoSP) was given by Andrew Knights, Treasurer of the WCoSP.

Simon Lambert (ASC Member) gave an excellent and light hearted insight into the problems that can be faced when deciding what digital video recording systems to buy and install. His candid thoughts were well received by the audience.

Roy Sutherland brought the formal proceedings to a close by thanking all those who had provided the interesting presentations and to Salto Systems for sponsoring the event.

Roy reminded everyone that the next Business Club Seminar will be held on 9^th September 2010. He also mentioned that CONSEC, the ASC's annual international conference and exhibition, will be held on Thursday, 4 November 2010, at the RAF Museum at Hendon. He indicated that another exciting programme is being finalised for this year and that there are only a few spaces left for exhibitors.

Everyone then adjourned to the bar and to partake of a vast and delicious buffet luncheon, and to take the opportunity to chat with old friends and make new ones.

The ASC organises a number of prominent events during the year, which are of importance to both ASC members and others who are interested in security issues and technical innovations.

ASC

Association of Security Consultants

Archives