WhatisInternational Women'sDay?
Forthosewhohavenotheardofthis Internationallycelebrateddayorknowwhat itisabout-InternationalWomen'sDay(IWD) isaglobalholidaycelebratedannuallyonMarch8th 2023asafocalpointinthewomen'srights movement,bringingattentiontoissuessuchas genderequality,reproductiverights,andviolence andabuseagainstwomen. Womencontributeto history,culture,andsociety. Itcontinuestobe importantthatwehonourthecontributionsof womenaroundtheworld. Intentionallysetting asideonedaytocollectivelyupliftthe oftenoverlookedcontributionsofwomenensures recognitionofwomen'seconomic,political,and socialaccomplishments.
Genderinequalitieslikediscriminationandpaygapsstill existinworkplaces,InternationalWomen'sDayincreases
awarenessoftheseissuesandprovidesaplatformfor peopletogetinvolvedwithcreatingchange. ThisyeartheUNthemeforthisyear'sInternational Women'sDayis“Genderequalitytodayfora sustainabletomorrow,recognizingthecontribution ofwomenandgirlsaroundtheworld,whoare leadingthechargeonclimatechangeadaptation, mitigation,andresponse,tobuildamore sustainablefutureforall.” HereatAPwestartourown traininginEquality,DiversityandInclusivityonMarch 16th 2023.Allseniormanagementwillbeattendingthe trainingdayat ArundelHQforMannedGuardinginour newtrainingpremises. Thetrainingwillthenberolledour toourstaffinthefield. Ifyouseeanywomenwearing purple&green–rememberpurpleisthecolourof InternationalWomen'sDay,andcombinedwith greenrepresentsthefeministmovement.
Harassment&Violence in theWorkplace
Author: DianeMulkeirins
Gender-basedviolenceremainsoneof themostsystemicandwidespread humanrightsviolationsofourtime, andrequiresurgentaction. Somepeople maythinkviolenceagainstwomenonly
happensondarkstreetslateatnight,inwar zones,orbehindcloseddoorsinthefamily home.
Butviolenceagainstwomenandgirlshappens everywhere.
➢ Ineverycountry.
➢ Ineverydifferenttypeofhousehold.
➢ Inthebiggestcitiesandthesmallest villages.
APSecurity(APS)Ltd.
The Sentry March2023
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➢ Inschoolsanduniversities.
➢ Onpublictransport.
➢ …………………………..And in the workplace.
Oneinthreewomenwillexperiencephysicalor sexualviolenceintheirlifetime,accordingtodata fromtheWorldHealthOrganisation. Thisviolence oftenstartsdevastatinglyearly:oneinfouryoung women,whohavebeeninarelationship,will experience violencebyanintimatepartnerbytheir mid-twenties. Violenceisoftenworstamongthe hardesttoreach. Womenwithdisabilitiesin developingcountriesaretwotofourtimesmore likelythanotherwomentoexperienceviolence.
Thereisalsoclearevidencethatgender-based violenceincreasesinscaleandseverityinconflict situations. Anestimated20to30%ofwomenand girlshaveexperiencednon-partnersexualviolence inconflict-affectedsettings.
Violenceintheworkplace
Workplacemistreatmentincludescovert(passive) andovert(verbalized)generalizedharassment, incivility,sexualharassment,andphysicalhostility. Therearephysicalandpsychologicalconsequences thatvictimsandbystandersexperiencewhen exposedtoworkplacemistreatment.
Sexualharassmentisalsoaformofviolenceagainst women.Sincetheexplosionofthe #MeToo movement,noonecouldbeinanydoubtthatit’s stillrifeinUKworkplaces.
Thecurrentresearchfoundthatoverhalfofall womenhaveexperiencedsomeformofsexual harassmentatwork–anumberthatrisestonearly twothird(63%)ofwomenaged18-24.
Andit’snotjustsexualharassmentthataffects women’sworkinglives. Verbalaggressionand incivilityhasalastingaffectonwomen, especially thosewhoareinoppressiveand abusiverelationshipsoutsideoftheworkplace.
InanyoneyearintheUK,morethan20%of employedwomentaketimeoffworkbecauseof domesticabuse,and2%losetheirjobsasadirect resultofit.
In2016,4womenweremurderedbymeninthe workplace(eitheratorneartheirworkplaceorthe perpetrator’sworkplace).
Manyemployersareonlynowbeginningtowakeup tothescaleoftheproblemofsexualharassment –andsomestillrefusetoacceptthatdomestic violenceisaworkplaceissue.
Atthepresenttimethereareseveraltradeunions supportingtheInternationalLabourOrganisationin draftingaconventiononendingviolenceinthe worldofworkthatrecognisesviolenceasa genderedissue.
Furthermore,thedraftalsostatesthatdomestic violence,stalking,sexualviolencebothinand outsideofwork,andsexualharassmentareall workplaceissuesthatunions,employers,and governmentsmusttrytotackle. NewZealandhas implementedalawthatsupportsworkerswho experiencedomesticviolence,whichenables womentohave10dayspaidleave. Thishascreated agreatamountofinterestontheinternational front.
NewZealandisnowoneofmanycountriesthat recognisesitiswomenwhooftenlosetheirjobsdue todomesticviolence,makingthemevenmore isolatedandfinanciallydependentontheirabuser. Furthermore,Australiahasimplemented20days paidleaveacrossitspublicsector,andoneofthe EUcountrieshasintroduced3monthsofpaidleave incasesofdomesticviolence. Thishasbeen followedbyseveralCanadianprovinces.
Whatcanwedo? Employerscoulddomoreto supportanyoftheirstaffwhosufferfromworkplace violence. TheequalityActcouldbefurther strengthenedsothatitiseasiertotackleindividual perpetratorsofsexualharassment, aswellas tackleworkplacecultures,charitableandsocial clubcultureswhereharassmentanddiscrimination havebeenallowedtoflourish. Itcanbesuggested thatimportantprovisionswithintheEqualityAct havebeenerodedawayoverthatpastdecade.
Thereisnoprotectionforwomenorworkersfrom thirdpartyharassmentanddiscrimination,i.e. discriminationfromclients,patients,customers andorthirdparties!Inshort,thepowerof employmenttribunalstostatethatemployersare totacklethewidercultureofharassmentand discriminationotherthanthatoftheindividualhas beenremoved. Womenhavetheirplacewithinthe workplaceandbringavaluableskillset. New researchbytheSuzyLamplughTrusthasfound alarminglevelsofviolent,aggressive,sexualand unwantedbehavioursinflictedonemployeeswhilst inwork,orontheirwaytowork.
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Thefindings,supportedbyPeoplesafeinaidof NationalPersonalSafetyDay2022,concentrated onworkersinthenight-timeeconomy-i.e., anyoneworkingforatleast3hoursbetween8pm and6am.
Thefigureshighlightarisingtrendofviolence againstwomen.44%ofwomenhadexperienced harassment,comparedwith26%ofmen. An overwhelmingmajorityofreportedcasesof harassment(83%)wereperpetratedbyaman. 34%ofallthosesurveyedhadexperiencedone formoranotherofunwantedbehaviourwhilst
workingortravellingtowork.15%had experiencedsexualharassment,but60%ofthose neverreportedtheseexperiencestotheir employer. Theydidnotbelieveanyactionwould betaken,oranydifferencewouldbemadeby reportingit. Thisissomethingthatwecanallwork togethertostop.
Similarly,threequartersofrespondentswhowere harassedatworkortravellingtoworkdidnot reporttheincidenttothepolice.Thiscorrelates withCrownProsecutionService(CPS)figuresfrom April2022,whichindicate99%ofrapesreportedto policedonotresultinaconviction…….figureslike this,stopsyoudeadinyourtracks.
APTeamdoesitagain. Dare to Dream and AP Security - the dream partnership!
For the 2nd year running the AP Manned Guarding Division proudly took part with the ‘Dare to Dream’ Foundation in mentoring young adults. PACA School in Brighton were just one of the schools to take part in this inspirational programme challenging young people to change the way they think. Dare to Dream work with many local influencers and businesses, local schools, youth clubs, colleges and universities to give young people the confidence they need to fulfil their potential.
Using themes of self-awareness, mindset, gratitude, resilience, teamwork and employability our speaker Jack (the lad) former radio host on FM Heart, and mentors used their own experiences and extensive knowledge to drive and motivate young people.
Feedback from our AP Team is positive and all have stated that they would like to undertake the mentoring project again. Kevin
Souter, Adam Simpson, James Handley, Mark Edwards, Luke Young and reservist Stephen Layton all said they gained a lot from their individual experiences and the pictures below reflect the teamwork seen with the mentors and mentees. APs Social Responsibility Champion, Diane Mulkeirins, says that ‘teaching our children is of vital importance but we also need to prepare them for their wider social responsibilities when they too become adults’.
Well Done Team!!
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SecurityIndustryAuthority(SIA UK)Blog
Iestyn David is our Head of Licensing and Service Delivery. Here, he writes about our work to make sure that licences end up in responsible hands.
TheSIAdoesn’tjustgrantlicences–although lastyearwegranted160,000. Wemakesure thatonlytherightpeopleholdanSIAlicence. Thatmeanswerefuselicenceapplicationsand revokelicencesfromthosewhoarenotfitto carryouttheimportantroleofprotectingthe public. It’sakeyresponsibilitythatwehaveas theregulatoroftheprivatesecurityindustry.
OurworktosafeguardtheintegrityoftheSIA licencebeginswiththeapplicationprocess. Ourchecksarethorough;lastyearwerefused 1,362licenceapplicationsforreasonssuchas criminality,ornothavingtherighttoworkin theUK.
Wewon’thesitatetoremovelicencesfrom licence-holderswhofailtoliveuptothe standardsrequiredofthem. Lastyearwe suspended917licencesandrevoked1,049 licences. MaintainingtrustintheSIAlicenceisa topprioritythatinvolvesteamsacrosstheSIA, fromourLegalandCriminalInvestigations teamstoourDecisionsofficersandIntelligence staff.
Wehaveclosetieswithpoliceforces throughouttheUK. Theyprovideuswith valuableintelligencerelatingtolicence-holders orapplicantsinvolvedincriminality. Our Intelligenceteamgathersrelevantinformation andpassesittoourIntegrityteamfordetailed assessment,whichmayleadtousdecidingto suspendorrevokealicence. Thisinformation canalsocomeinfromemployersormembersof thepublicviathe‘ReportaCrimeorConcern’ pageonourwebsite.
OurInspectionsandEnforcementteams conductenforcementoperationsacrosstheUK withthepolice,localauthoritiesandother governmentagencies. Theseoperationsmay
beconductedbecauseofsomethingwehave beentold(intelligence-led),ortheymaybe randominspectionstocheckcomplianceina particulararea.
Weregularlyprosecutethosewhocommit offencesunderthePrivateSecurityIndustryAct 2001. ThisistheActofParliamentthat establishedtheSIA. Itcreatedseveralnew offences,whichincludecontraveninglicence conditions(youcanseeafulllistofoffences undertheActhere). Lastyearwebrought39 prosecutionsagainstindividualsand businesseswhochosetooperateillegally.
Wealsoprosecuteforoffencesthatcouldhave adetrimentalimpactontheprivatesecurity industry. Theseincludefraud,forgeryand counterfeitingincaseswherepeopleuseforged orclonedlicences. AttheendofNovember 2022ourCriminalInvestigationsteamhad119 openinvestigations,asyoucanseeinour monthlySIAEnforcementReport.
Wetakeourlicensingresponsibilitiesvery seriously. Thesafetyandsecurityofthepublic dependsonaprofessionalandwell-regulated privatesecurityindustrythateveryonecan trust.
Feb23
CongratulationstoKevinSouterSouthernRegionalManager,on passinghisIOSHqualification.
WelldoneKevinfromallyour colleaguesatAPArundel.
AntiRacismintheworkplace
Author: KevinSouter
Theworkplaceisoneareawhereracism canbeparticularlyinsidious,asitcan manifestinavarietyofwaysthatare oftendifficulttoidentifyandaddress. However,manyorganizationsarenowtaking proactivestepstotackletheproblem,witha growingnumberofcompaniesmakingantiracismacorepartoftheirvaluesand mission.
Oneofthekeywaysthatorganizationsareworking tocombatracismintheworkplaceisthrough educationandtraining. Thiscantakeavarietyof forms,fromanti-biastrainingforemployeesto leadershipdevelopmentprogramsthatfocuson promotingdiversityandinclusion. Byeducating employeesandleadersontheimportanceofantiracismandprovidingthemwiththetoolsand resourcestoaddressit,organizationscancreatea moreequitableandinclusiveworkplaceculture.
Anotherimportantstrategyforcombatingracismin theworkplaceistocreateamorediverseand inclusiveworkforce. Thiscaninvolveactively recruitingandhiringindividualsfrom underrepresentedgroups,aswellascreatinga workplaceculturethatvaluesdiversityand encouragesemployeestobringtheirfullselvesto work. Byfosteringamorediverseandinclusive workforce,organizationscannotonlycombat racismbutalsoimproveemployeeengagementand productivity.
Inadditiontoeducationandrecruitment,many organizationsarealsoworkingtoaddressthe
systemicissuesthatcontributetoracisminthe workplace. Thiscaninvolverethinkingpolicies andpracticesthatmayinadvertentlyperpetuate biasordiscrimination,suchashiringpracticesor performanceevaluationprocesses. Bytakinga criticallookatthesesystemsandmakingchanges wherenecessary,organizationscancreateamore levelplayingfieldforallemployees.
Ofcourse,combatingracismintheworkplaceis notalwayseasy,andthereareoftensignificant challengesthatmustbeovercome. Oneofthe biggestobstaclesisthefactthatmanyemployees maynotevenbeawareoftheirownbiasesorthe waysinwhichtheycontributetosystemicracism. Thisiswhyeducationandtrainingareso important,astheycanhelpemployeesbecome moreself-awareandbetterequippedto identify andaddressracisminthemselvesandothers.
Despitethesechallenges,therearemanysuccess storieswhenitcomestocombatingracisminthe workplace. Forexample,somecompanieshave implementeddiversityandinclusioncouncilsor committees,whicharemadeupofemployees fromdiversebackgroundswhoworktogetherto identifyandaddressissuesrelatedtodiversityand inclusionwithintheorganization. Othershave implementedmentorshiporsponsorship programstohelpemployeesfrom underrepresentedgroupsadvanceintheircareers.
Ultimately,thefightagainstracisminthe workplacerequiresamulti-facetedapproachthat involveseducation,recruitment,policychanges, andadeepcommitmenttochangeatalllevelsof theorganization. Bytakingproactivestepsto addressthisissue,organizationscancreateamore equitableandinclusiveworkplaceculturethat benefitsallemployees.
TrainingUpdate-SocialResponsibility
APSeniorManagementattendedtheirfirstSocialResponsibilitytrainingheldatArundel. Theteam foundthatsustainabilitycandriveourowninternalinnovation,andthatitbringsavarietyofbenefits. Oneoftheattendeeslikedthewayinwhicheveryoneinvolvedwhomakesaconcertedeffort,can enhancesocietyandtheenvironment. Anotherteammembernotedthewaythetrainingraised moraleintheworkplaceandbroughteveryonetogether. Firstandforemost,APisaccountableto itself. WeprideourselvesonourEnvironmental,Ethical,FinancialandPhilanthropicResponsibility, particularlyourworkwithlocalcharitiesandthesupportthatwegiveouremployees. Wewillbe launchingourSocialResponsibilityFrameworkonourwebsiteinthenextfewweeks. Watchthis space.
DriverTrainingCourses
TheAPPatrolTeamareundergoing refresherdrivertrainingonupdate withinthelawandH&S. Wetake ourstafftrainingseriouslyandwelookto improveourtrainingstandardsinall aspectsofourservicedelivery,from MannedGuardingtoourMobile&Key HoldingService.
Thecoursetakesalookatthechangesthat wereintroduced,whichinvolvedahierarchyof roadusers,changesforhowdriversshould respondtopedestriansandcyclists,andmobile phoneusetohelpdriverdrivesafelyand legally. UndertakingtheroleofaPatrol Supervisor,dealingwithbreakins,alarm responses,peoplewhoneedassistance…. deliveringvitalmedicinesandequipmentaswe havedoneinthepasttakesaverycalmperson tobecontrolofavehicle. Thelawoften changesconcerningtheroadsaditsusers,even car licensesbeingissued. Thepointsbelow giveyouaflavourofwhatthecourseisabout.
CourseContent
➢ HierarchyofRoadUsers
➢ EnhancedPrioritiesforPedestrians
➢ Cyclists
➢ Parking
➢ MobilePhoneUse
➢ Thisonlinecoursedevelopsagreater awarenessof:
➢ Newhierarchyofroaduserstokeep theroadssafeforall
➢ Newrulesforpedestriansat crossingsandjunctions
➢ Changestotheroadrulesthatrelate tocyclists
➢ Changestoroadrulesinrelationto parking
➢ Changesinroadrulesinrespectto mobilephones
Ifanyofourstaffareinterestedintakinga courseorlearningmoreabouttheupdates pleasecontactDianeMulkeirinson apmanned@apsecurity.co.uk
SafeDriving!
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Stop Press: APisnowaCPDprovider.
Author: JamesHandley
CPD-ContinuedProfessional Development
Howmanyofusreadanarticle, watchanonlinepresentation/training module?
Continuedprofessionaldevelopment(CPD)is crucialforindividualswhowanttokeeptheirskills andknowledgeuptodateandrelevantintheirfield ofwork. Weencourageourstafftoundertake trainingcoursesandtokeepuptheirCPD. Withthe additionofourtrainingschoolwearelookingto writeourownbespoketrainingandaccreditthe courseswithCPDpoints. Therearealwaysgood reasonstotrainandleannewskills andequally theregoodreasonswhyCPDandkeepingarecord isimportant:
1. Staycurrent:CPDensuresthatindividuals staycurrentwiththelatesttrends, techniques,andtechnologiesintheirfield ofwork. Itenablesthemtokeepupwith theever-changinglandscapeoftheir industryandstayaheadoftheir competition.
2. Improveperformance:CPDprovides individualswiththeopportunitytodevelop newskillsandknowledge,whichcanhelp themtoperformbetterintheirjob. This canleadtoincreasedproductivity, efficiency,andeffectivenessinthe workplace.
3. Careeradvancement:CPDcanhelp individualstoadvancetheircareersby demonstratingtheircommitmentto professionaldevelopmentandtheir willingnesstolearnandgrow. Itcanalso openupnewopportunitiesforcareer advancementandpromotion.
4. Personalgrowth:CPDcanbeavaluable toolforpersonalgrowth,enabling
individualstodevelopnewskills,gainnew knowledge,andexpandtheirhorizons. Thiscanleadtoincreasedself-confidence, motivation,andasenseof accomplishment.
5. Networking:CPDprovidesindividualswith theopportunitytonetworkwithothersin theirindustryandbuildrelationshipswith colleaguesandpeers. Thiscanleadtonew opportunities,collaborations,and partnerships.
Overall,CPDisessentialforindividualswhowantto succeedintheircareersandstayrelevantintheir industry.Itenablesthemtocontinuelearningand growingthroughouttheircareers,keepingtheir skillsandknowledgeuptodateandensuringthat theyremaincompetitiveinarapidlychangingjob market.
APSecurityareproudtoannouncethatwearenow anapprovedCPDproviderundertheCPDGroup. Wewillberollingoutanumberofupskillingand careerimprovingcoursesintheforthcoming monthsandwillkeepyouuptodate.Keepaneye outforupdatesintheSentry!
Doyouhaveahobby oristhere asubjectthatreally Interestsyou? Ifsothenitmayalsointerest othermembersofthe APfamily. Thenwhynotlet usknowsothatwecouldincludeit inafutureNewsletter
