GMP Host Conference on Protecting Security Guards

Greater Manchester Police and representatives from the security industries joined forces at a one-day conference this Tuesday (29 January) to agree strategies and tactics to reduce armed commercial and cash-in-transit robberies.

Though attacks on cash-in-transit and commercial premises have been reduced in Greater Manchester over the last year the police and security industry are determined to drive them down even further.

The Vanguard Conference took place at the City of Manchester Stadium and was sponsored by the Health and Safety Executive as part of their campaign to fight violence in the workplace. G4S Cash Services UK and The Post Office also supported the conference that was hosted by Greater Manchester Police.

Through a mixture of presentations and workshops, the conference helped to break down barriers, develop partnerships and identify new, improved work practices that will make people working in the security industries less prone to becoming victims of armed robbers.

More than 100 delegates from across the country attended to hear presentations from senior police officers, senior managers from the security industry and senior Inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive.

Assistant Chief Constable Ian Seabridge from Greater Manchester Police said: "Greater Manchester is one of the most heavily commercialised regions in the UK. This added to the huge rise in the number of cash machines and their increasingly public location makes us particularly vulnerable to armed attacks by robbers.

"Through the Vanguard initiative GMP and the security industry have worked in partnership over the last few years to reduce the number and severity of attacks. The safety and well-being of people working in the industry is the first and over-riding priority of the police and the security industry.

"We are therefore delighted to be working together through this conference to fight this distressing crime and protect people working in the security industry."
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