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A Police Federation spokesman said the disappearance of Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) as well as conventional officers from one authority is the shape of things to come. The number of PCSOs has been reduced by 15 to 182, plus 230 officers are planned to go at Cleveland Police Authority. The spokesman said: "I do not want anyone to be under the illusion that this is the end of the story. There are more cuts in government funding in coming years." Tensor supplies comprehensive security protection for your business premises for a price lower than you may think. The T3510 Low Cost 4-Scanner Controller is the ultimate Smart Card Access Control system for doors, car park barriers and turnstiles. For just £395 you get one to four door access control – linked together you can control up to 128 doors from one PC. It holds details on up to 10,000 smart card holders. The expandable, upgradeable modular security system features a burglar alarm output for forced entry and email warnings and alerts.  

The need to save £8 million over the next four years has prompted Dorset, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue to discuss sharing resources. Chair of Devon and Somerset Fire Authority Mark Healey said of the plans: "This will not affect firefighters and back office services at that level, it is at senior management level and is about collaborative working between fire services.” He continued: “We find it an exciting move." Senior managers have met and given provisional approval to the proposals. Tensor's security and clocking products can be integrated with fire roll call software that will automatically generate a report in the event of a fire or other emergency. In such an evacuation situation, the instantaneous reports contain the crucial safety information concerning who is on site. Unlike most other systems, this function is executed directly from the clocking stations and does not rely on the controlling PC or computer infrastructure. The fire roll call software announces the emergency while simultaneously activating your existing warning system.  

Copper thefts have reached an all-time high and pose such a threat to Britain’s infrastructure that it is targeted as the second highest priority after terrorism, police have said. A Network Rail spokesman added that measures taken to prevent the robberies included remote movement CCTV. He remarked the crime wave is the worst it has ever been, and added: "We want compulsory registration for scrap dealers and the police to be given the power to close scrap yards using stolen material." Tensor can supply access control and CCTV to protect your vulnerable site. Digital CCTV is a PC-based, multi channel video surveillance system that utilises the most advanced compression technologies to bring you the highest picture quality and video performance. The CCTV footage generated by your camera network is recorded on a dedicated digital video recorder (DVR), which can be located either onsite or offsite. Triggered by motion detectors or movement on a CCTV camera, the DVR only records footage of activity so no "dead time" is unnecessarily stored.  

Police are warning lorry drivers they should leave it to the morning to fill their tank when sleeping in vehicles because of the high number of fuel thefts. Sgt Kevin Chase, from the force intelligence bureau, said "simple steps" could be taken to prevent fuel being stolen. "Anti-siphoning devices and alarms for fuel tanks could also be used." Sgt Chase said the force recommended that buildings storing fuel be fitted with alarms and lighting improved. Tensor has a range of barrier devices, access control, visitor control and CCTV surveillance to make up an unrivalled package which secures your business premises. All supplied scanners, barriers, turnstiles, bollards, posts, pedestals, and fencing can be installed on your premises by our qualified engineers, all of whom are security vetted and Criminal Records Bureau checked. Barriers can be integrated with our smart card access control networks. These offer near real time graphical display which shows doors being opened or closed, those with an alarm status set and those which have had forced entry.  

"Totally unacceptable" was the majority verdict of firefighters to a new set of rules which they claim will extend response times. "The results of the survey clearly indicate that the council leaders and service managers have got it wrong," said Surrey Fire Brigades Union (FBU) secretary Richard Jones after firefighters were consulted on Surrey Fire and Rescue Authority's draft plan to cut back night cover. “The proposals are totally unacceptable.” A spokesman for the Authority said it proposes "appropriate" cover over 24 hours. Comprehensive user-definable working patterns, rosters and shifts and individual and group absence planners are just some of the features in Tensor’s smart card and biometric Time & Attendance systems. Up to nine reason codes can also be stored in the easy to use clocking station. These allow clocking out for configurable reasons such as Dentist, Business or Smoking Break. The working patterns or shifts can be customised, with either fixed or flexitime rules plus features to override the normal pattern like using a specific shift on public holidays.  

A lorry crashed into a petrol station which had to be shut down as a result. Following an examination the premises was declared unsafe by Surrey County Council after it was hit by the lorry. Police said the kiosk in Godalming suffered widespread damage because the vehicle struck it and also an unoccupied car sitting on the forecourt. Officers confirmed the 63-year-old lorry driver was treated for minor injuries in hospital. Tensor can help improve both the security and safety aspects of your business premises using our posts, bollards and automatic car park barriers. Tensor’s automatic barriers are also capable of operating alongside any installed control or ticketing systems. Tough and durable parking posts can protect vulnerable corners of buildings as well as providing a physical barrier that can stop most types of vehicles. The posts can be used in any weather, and can also be colour-coded to suit your corporate identity at little or no extra cost, or in order to provide an additional visual deterrent.

Liverpool City Council leader Joe Anderson said of a new multi-million pound business and retail development on the city’s docks: "It will deliver a major boost to the city's economy." He added: "We have to turn down a lot of conferences and there are a lot of people asking for exhibition space alongside the conferences.” Mr Anderson said the waterfront complex, which could open within three years, would allow the city to compete with the rest of the UK. If your business is growing and moving offices, you need clocking and payroll expertise from Tensor’s smart card time and attendance systems. Contactless smart cards are used to operate your time and attendance systems. The smart card microchip is a passive device which holds a unique factory encoded ID number that cannot be duplicated, making it very secure indeed. As a smart card enters the clocking reader's electromagnetic field, it is automatically activated by the field's energy. Each ID number has built-in security and integrity checks ensuring that it cannot be misread.

Tensor had a stand at the Home Office Scientific Development Branch (HOSDB) 2011 Exhibition, the UK’s premier platform for showcasing world leading public security applications and technologies. This was held from 22nd to 24th March 2011 in Farnborough, Hampshire. In partnership with the UK Trade & Investment Defence & Security Organisation, this exhibition is the UK’s only closed event for the engagement of UK and international police and security professionals with the pinnacle of the UK security industry. Tensor Chief Executive Ashley Smith said: “Once again, the HOSDB show was a fantastic event for Tensor, providing our company with many unique opportunities. Due to the secure nature of the HOSDB show, we were able to discuss the detailed security requirements of many public sector organisations and overseas equivalents, in strict confidence.” He continued: “Many attendees were delighted with the Tensor products demonstrated on the stand and how Tensor’s integrated security solutions can benefit their organisations.” Now in its 31st year, HOSDB 2011 involved more than 400 companies showcasing the latest specialist security products, technology and services. It focused on the Home Office priority areas such as Security & Counter Terrorism, Crime and Policing, Border Security and Immigration Control. Senior government and security officials hosted a series of workshops and briefings providing insight on key areas of government planning and strategy as well as information on current and future programmes. The event is attended by prior Home Office agreement only, enabling visitors to discuss requirements with the companies such as Tensor, who can demonstrate more sensitive equipment in confidence.

A new report is the first one to look into front-line policing. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary report, called Demanding Times, is designed to help forces compare their performance. It has been published in the wake of announcements from forces nationally about cuts to their budgets. For example, Devon and Cornwall said last month that it aims to save about £47m over four years, which could see 700 officer posts lost. Tensor’s Time and Attendance systems make it simple for businesses to manage their employees. During recessionary times, you might be employing fewer people but it is important those you do have are being utilised to the best possible effect. The first step in this efficiency drive should be to know when and where everyone is and are they available for work. Designed for smaller companies, Tensor’s WinTA Lite system operates a single time clock and can record employee details for up to 250 people. It handles Time and Attendance, Working Time Directive, multiple shifts, flexitime and job costing.  

Members of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) from across the southern region gathered for a mass meeting in preparation for a protest march in the capital over job cuts. The FBU, which contains 700 members in Hampshire alone, met to discuss central funding cutbacks to the service. The FBU says the cuts will be the worst in living memory. Firefighters joined other public service workers for the mass rally which took place in London on Saturday, March 26. Tensor's security, visitor control and time and attendance products can be integrated with fire roll call software that will automatically generate a report in the event of a fire or other emergency. This represents the biggest priority for any safety-conscious employer. A typical two door access control application using a Smart Card reader to gain entry and exit has the advantage of recording who entered and who left the building, essential for accurate fire roll call. The ‘break glass’ units unlock the door from the inside in an emergency.

Some of the existing public toilet facilities are under threat for budgetary reasons at one local council. The town of March in north Cambridgeshire currently only has two sets of toilets and both facilities are well-used. The town’s governing district council wants to balance the books and toilets are an easy target. It is feared the loss of Broad Street’s toilets would damage visitor numbers during well-attended events such as the Summer Festival and the St George’s Day fair. Tensor's toilet turnstiles have a coin mechanism which can be programmed for virtually any combination of coins with a secure cash box to hold the coins, as a means of boosting council coffers. Without compromising the safety of those who use the turnstile, speed and reliability are provided even during rush hour periods. Coupled with a set of smart cards, flow capacity is significantly increased compared with any swipe card system, as the card is read in under ¼ second and does not have to be removed from a wallet or purse.  

A council pamphlet has outraged union bosses who are demanding an immediate apology over what they say are completely unfounded claims. The Southampton Council ‘City News’ pamphlet alleges many “militant” union members who protested at a meeting to debate the council’s plans to balance the books had come from outside Southampton “to cause trouble”. The Unison union is threatening legal action over council plans to axe 250 jobs and cut workers’ pay by between two and 5.5 per cent. Tensor can help you select the right time and attendance system for your organisation’s specific needs enabling your business to run more efficiently. The WinTA systems not only automate and reduce the costs of employee attendance but the software reduces the administrative work of managing paper clock cards or time slips and removes the associated clerical inaccuracies and errors. All-in-one job booking, job costing and user-definable working patterns or rosters is included. There is also an Export to Payroll function linking to Sage, Pegasus and other major payroll systems.