Applicants for SIA licences can now fill in their form online with the e-Fill service introduced by the Security Industry Authority.

e-Fill has been designed to make it easier and quicker for applicants to complete their application form.  It also has built in verification to reduce the likelihood of the form being completed incorrectly and returned to the applicant.

Applicants fill in the form online, then print, sign and post it manually along with the required supporting documents.

Users register on the SIA website and log in to use the service. If they have previously submitted an application, the online form pre-populates information such as the applicant’s name, date of birth, town of birth, email address, postcode and national insurance number. The system also allows security providers to complete the form on behalf of their staff.

SIA Director of Service Delivery Stephen McCormick said:

“We are delighted to offer this new service which makes it easier and quicker for applicants to complete their application form. Applicants can track the progress of their application and have online guidance at each stage of the process. The contact centre also has a dedicated option for those who need assistance using the new system.
The launch follows months of testing and trialling to ensure the facility is working correctly and effectively. The development of e-Fill is part of our commitment to introduce e-services and provide a modern service to our customers.”

Suzi says: This great news.  It will make it much easier to complete applications and will hopefully ensure less applications are returned for being incomplete.  As a company sponsor, we at beSmart Training welcome this new intiative.  It will make my job much easier and hopefully quicker too.  What it won’t do is ensure people provide the correct identification which is still a major problem with these applications.   beSmart offers regular SIA licensing courses for door supervision and vehicle immobilisation.  We also have just gained approval to offer the CCTV courses too and will be starting to run those towards the end of September.  For more information on any of our courses go to our website at www.besmart-training.co.uk, or call Suzi on 020 7237 6007.

I am so sick of hearing about rogue wheel-clamping companies and yesterday brought a whole new round of interesting c**p about it.

A training company in the south-west is now offering vehicle immobiliser courses where you turn up for one day, take a test (but don’t worry – they’ll even give you the answers to the questions), and then you’re qualified.  What a joke, and the awarding body don’t seem to give a s**t.

No wonder this industry is populated by rogues and scoundrels.  It really gets my goat.  Not only do we have rogue clampers, but rogue training companies too.  I hope they’re bl**dy proud of themselves, but I’m not going to name and shame…… they know who they are.

We, and by we I mean beSmart Training, offer the training for vehicle immobilisation so that individuals can apply for an SIA licence to practice.  We run legitimate, four-day courses, where you can actually be taught by someone who knows the industry and learn something that will be useful.  Hopefully, it gives you the knowledge and skills to make you a decent, professional, individual if you take up the wheel-clamping profession.

Vehicle Immobilisers will always be viewed as “the scum of the earth” by everyone who has ever been clamped – it’s understandable.  But clampers thank those lovely people with all their hearts, because without them the profession wouldn’t exist.  Imagine if we lived in a world where everyone just parked wherever they liked without penalty – GRID LOCK.

If anyone out there actually wants some excellent, decent, proper training, do please give us a call.  We operate from our training centre in London and run regular vehicle immobiliser courses.  Our next available course date is Tuesday 10th to Friday 13th August 2010.  You can get more details from our website at www.besmart-training.co.uk or call Sue on 0207 237 6007.

Final chance to take your door supervisor qualification before the course changes in June.   beSmart Training are running their top class door supervisor course on 25-28 May at their London training centre.

This is the last course we will be running that has only two exams – as from 1st June the new course comes in and there will be three exams, AND a trainer assessed unit.

If you are looking for a first class training course for door supervision, you’ve come to the right place.  beSmart has a fantastic pass rate and you’ll get those fantastic pass rates within only 2 days of taking your exams.  That means that you’ll be able to apply for your licence within two days.

Call Sue on 020 7237 6007 to book, or visit our website at www.besmart-training.co.uk for more information.

Matt Jackson of The News, Portsmouth reported today that a motorist who ran over a clamper in an ‘uncontrollable rage’ has been jailed.

A judge sentenced David Cox to 12 months and banned him from driving for 15 months at Portsmouth Crown Court.

Recorder Jonathon Black jailed Cox yesterday for his attack on clamper Anthony Wearn, after he had refused to pay a £125 release fee.

Cox repeatedly rammed Mr Wearn’s van as he tried to free his red BMW Mini.

As the clamp flew off he drove at the 38-year-old clamper, running him over.

Cox admitted dangerous driving and criminal damage, but denied he’d run over Mr Wearn on purpose.

At the sentencing yesterday the lorry driver from Colbury Grove, Havant, said: There is a reason here for me to seek professional help for the anger I have got.

‘I only drove a matter of inches backwards and forwards.

‘ I didn’t drive drunkenly though I did strike another person.’

Sentencing Cox to a year for the charge of dangerous driving, and a one-month concurrent sentence for criminal damage, Recorder Black said: ‘While Mr Wearn’s occupation may not be to everyone’s liking he was going about his business in a lawful manner.

‘Mr Cox, upon finding his car had been clamped, lost his temper.

‘In my opinion these are not the actions of a person thinking and behaving rationally.

‘It’s clear to me that Mr Cox’s actions were as the result of him being in an uncontrollable rage.

‘I believe he acted on this occasion out of uncontrollable rage and that he was perfectly aware of Mr Wearn in front of his vehicle.

‘I also find that Mr Cox’s reason was not to seek an escape from the car park but to damage Mr Wearn’s van and clamping device in order to teach him a lesson.’

Mr Wearn, who works for Portsmouth based BSG Security, was run over in the Pizza Hut car park in Havant in February last year.

He told the court last month that Cox had been staring straight at him before running him over.

He said: ‘At first it was tremendous pain while the vehicle was on top of me.

‘After that it was just complete and utter shock.’

Suzi says we wish Anthony Wearn our very best wishes and hopes that he has recovered completely from this awful experience.   Anthony did his vehicle immobiliser training with beSmart Training (then known as COI-Freelance Ltd) back in 2007 and though the profession is generally disliked by most people it is a legal and necessary profession in this day and age and we are extremely glad that the judge has recognised this fact.  beSmart Training run regular vehicle immobiliser courses at their London based training centre so if you are interested in becoming a wheel clamper or immobiliser please give us a call.

A tough new compulsory licensing scheme designed to rid England, Wales and Northern Ireland of rogue wheel clampers, has been set out today in the Crime and Security Bill.

Proposals within the bill will make it mandatory for all wheel clamping businesses to be licensed under the terms of a strict code of conduct. The code will include a cap on fines, time limits on towing cars unreasonably quickly after being clamped and set out clear instructions for putting up signs warning drivers that clamping takes place.

Ministers are also looking to introduce an independent appeals process for motorists who feel unfairly penalised by firms and their employees.

Any company which breaches the terms of their licence could lose their right to practise and face up to five years in prison or a substantial fine Statement from the Home Office Minister

Alan Campbell said, ‘The Crime and Security Bill reflects the government’s commitment to prevent abuses by unscrupulous firms and their employees.

‘There is no room within the wheel clamping industry for those who indulge in unacceptable behaviour including unclear signage and excessive fees.

‘A compulsory licensing scheme for operators will leave clamping firms in no doubt as to their responsibility to the public and anyone breaching the strict code of practice risks losing their licence.

‘Firms will have to ensure signage is clear, fines are proportionate and towing practices are regulated. We are also working to introduce an independent appeals process for motorists who feel they have been unfairly treated.’

Statement from the Transport Minister

Sadiq Khan said, ‘These tough new proposals are part of a series of measures the government is putting in place to tackle the scourge of rogue parking firms who harass and intimidate motorists.

‘We have already taken action to restrict access for parking firms wanting driver information and by bringing in these new requirements for clamping firms we are sending a clear message to unscrupulous firms that they need to clean up their act if they want to stay in business.’

Legislation

The new legislation has been drawn up following discussions with motoring groups, industry representatives and a 12-week public consultation during the summer.

Currently, any individual undertaking wheel clamping must hold a frontline licence from the Security Industry Authority (SIA), with supervisors or directors holding a non-frontline licence.

The new compulsory licensing scheme will extend responsibility from individuals to businesses. It will be administered and controlled by the Security Industry Authority.

For vehicle immobiliser training please go to our website for available dates.