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Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude reacted angrily to Assistant Commissioner John Yates's comments that spending cuts would increase the risk of terrorist attack, accusing him of "shroud-waving" and "alarmism". Mr Yates said the Metropolitan Police (Met) would see £87m wiped from its anti-terror budget. Mr Maude – the man David Cameron has put in charge of ensuring greater accountability from public servants – warned Mr Yates against "alarming" the public. Beef up your office security with Tensor’s easy to use Access Control hardware. Our access controllers can be networked together to create a powerful computer controlled security infrastructure. The T3510 Low Cost 4 Scanner Controller, working with simple smart card entry, can be configured in many different arrangements, controlling a smaller number of doors at first and then more at a later date as need and/or budget permits. As the security network grows and requires more control points, further T3510’s are installed. This “building block” approach is the most cost effective way to install access control. The T3510 has a volt-free input that can be wired directly into your fire alarm system.  

There may be a move towards another strike ballot at British Airways as cabin crew have rejected by a ratio of two-to-one the airline's latest pay offer. The number of votes cast, just over 5,000, represented less than half of the unionised cabin crew and was well below previous ballots that saw more than 70% of them express their views. The no vote raises the prospect of more strikes, as union leaders plan their next move in a dispute which stretches back to before Christmas. BA shares stood 1.4% lower at 199p shortly after the announcement. You can keep up morale at your workforce with an efficient Time and Attendance clocking system – it is so comfortable working with patterns, rosters and shifts that disputes are less likely to arise. Additional features are available, which can be implemented on your smart card-based time and attendance system to take into account diversity with working rules between different organisations. Secondary Pay Bands, for example, means that certain pay bands pay into other bands either on a 1:1 basis or by using a multiplier. Installation support and training is available.

A double life using a stranger’s passport for seven years has resulted in a woman being jailed for 16 months. Forty-one year-old Qamar Yasmeen created a make-believe existence, gaining a job and even getting married under the false identity. The fraudster, from Rochdale, was able to hoodwink officialdom after gaining hold of a lost childhood passport from an unsuspecting victim. She acquired a new passport eight years ago, and her plan worked until the victim applied for a new passport, meaning the scam was revealed. It would be almost impossible for someone with false ID to enter your premises if it has a Tensor visitor monitoring system. Simple to use, user friendly with WindowsTM style software, it enables your staff to swiftly enter the details of visitors, and print their personalised ID pass. It is often necessary to inspect licences, vehicle information, and identification papers. Your VMS enables you to scan in these documents, creating a soft-copy version that can be viewed at a later date. Additional access control or surveillance products can give you extra piece of mind.

Tensor plc has successfully passed accreditation this year for SAFEContractor, a leading scheme designed to help industry improve its safety record and which recognises high standards among UK contractors. Kate Smith, After Sales & Project Manager at Tensor plc, said: “This has confirmed that our health and safety policies are impeccable.” The SAFEContractor Certificate, awarded annually, can be used to demonstrate to clients the high standard of health and safety (H&S) the firm has attained and to reduce the burden of completing future prequalification questionnaires. Tensor was sent a letter of confirmation from SAFEContractor, based in Caerphilly in Wales. Among the following H&S topics that considered during the assessment were: H&S policy and training, and control of substances hazardous to health. It means Tensor is now listed on the website www.safecontractor.com as an approved contractor. The website is used by SAFEContractor’s clients to search for accredited contractors; and can be used by Tensor to search all approved contractors in order to find a suitable sub-contractor. The certificate is awarded for the following security services that Tensor performs: Access Control Systems installation and maintenance; CCTV installation and maintenance; Time and Attendance Systems installation and maintenance; and other work activity.  

The number of Scottish people who re-offended within two years of a conviction has reached its highest level in a decade, state the most recent figures. The Scottish Parliament recently passed proposals which will phase out jail sentences of three months or less in favour of tougher community sentences. According to the figures, 42.5% of those who were given community service orders re-offended within two years. Among those handed probation by the courts, 57.8% re-offended. However, 61.6% of people jailed committed further offences within two years. Protect your premises from the likelihood of criminal acts with a Tensor Access Control network. Your clocking station network (of one or more clocks) will deter and detect forced or unauthorised entry, and is connected to a main server PC either via the PC's standard serial port or an ethernet network adapter. Access Control Profiles are easily created or customised to suit your particular site, and can be varied minute-by-minute. Among the other features are: an audit trail showing who gained access (or was denied) at any location at any time; plus sensor monitoring to detect forced entry.

The Police Federation has warned that the fight against crime will undoubtedly suffer following the drastic autumn spending reductions. The body, which speaks for front-line police, said about 40,000 jobs are in jeopardy and that crime rates (which have been trimmed in the past year) will go in the opposite direction. The Federation’s warning came after some constabularies said they already plan to axe substantial proportions of their workforces – 20 per cent in some cases. This is in line with the expected 25% cut to the police budget in England and Wales. Stepping up security is easy with Tensor Access Lite software and Tensor's T149x scanners, where you can control most standard types of internal and external electronic, magnetic door releases and devices. Your site can make full use of location points, whether in full view or hidden out of sight, providing access even in the most adverse conditions. A variety of access equipment, devices and releases can be connected via the T8424 scanner control unit including: alarms and hooters, break glass buttons and door release buttons.

Thirty firefighters were needed over the course of a night to tackle a fierce blaze at the Linamar car parts factory. The depot, in Swansea, initially attracted four pumping appliances, a foam tender, a turntable ladder and an environmental unit before more fire crews joined the operation. The blaze started in the workshop area, and spread to parts of the plant and the control room. Their prompt action, including protecting highly flammable materials, meant all factory workers on site were uninjured. First class Access Control and security systems from Tensor have fire roll call built into the design of the wireless enabled smart card and biometric clocking and access control equipment. Instantaneous report generation of highly accurate attendance reports of who is on site makes this fire roll call software the best in the industry, and a must-have addition for any safety-conscious employer. At the fire roll call point, staff use their smart cards to record their presence; or they can be checked off using the generated reports. Current customers can upgrade without having to change their T32xx or T25xx clocking stations.

Police in Wales are urging people to report suspicious traders to Dyfed-Powys officers. They have warned about dubious or fraudulent workers in Powys because many complaints have been fielded concerning those who are cold-calling and offering work at knock-down rates to vulnerable people in the traditionally-known area of Radnorshire. The Powys Community Safety Partnership has recommended to residents that if they require roofing or building works that they find out a full contract price, as well as obtaining feedback. Tensor’s unbeatable Visitor Monitoring System (VMS) keeps track of visitors as soon as they enter your premises, so suspicious or fraudulent visitors are weeded out straight away. Unlike paper-based systems VMS provides accurate date and time stamped audit trail of visitors and contractors. Under the regime, individualised, bar-coded passes with monitored expiry dates are created and produced to be scanned whenever someone visits your site. The receptionist is notified whenever a pass is swiped that is out-of-date or has other irregularities. A small pop-up screen containing the person's digital photo image enables an extra visual check to be made.

Labour Party leadership candidate Ed Balls has put forward a £250m jobs pledge as a centrepiece of his campaign. As ballot forms appeared on the doorsteps of the party faithful, he said his plan would ensure everyone of working age had the right to a job – plus the responsibility and requirement to take it. Mr Balls insisted his policy went "to the heart" of the alternative he would be offering on the economy. He called for a new guarantee so that anyone unemployed for more than 18 months would be given a job or work placement. Tensor Time and Attendance technology ensures jobs are secure at your business, which we can help increase profits and productivity. Easily and quickly via a contactless smart card or key fob, employees clock in and the data is exported to the WindowsTM enabled software. Reports show jobs that are over budget or those approaching their budget limit. This information can also be exported to spreadsheets. Shift Swapping is a key asset – here employees may have their shift for a particular day changed in advance.  

The authorities have reacted to accusations by a Hampshire councillor official that signs put up intended to deter crime are like Big Brother. Cllr Luke Stubbs, who represents Eastney and Craneswater, said: “There's also an economic issue to consider. Placing these intimidating signs on a main road suggests crime is out of control. We should not be saying to visitors ‘stay away, it's too dangerous’." A spokesperson said the signs placed by the Safer Portsmouth Partnership were based on police intelligence. Having a product installed by the Tensor group of security companies gives you cause to rest easy. We only deal in the highest quality access control systems, which are operated by smart cards. Integrity of the cards is impeccable: with up to 34 billion different combinations of ID number, there is no chance of duplication. In addition, each ID number has built-in security and integrity checks ensuring that it cannot be misread. You can build a complete network featuring complete electronic door and barrier access control, plus biometric fingerprinting and digital CCTV technology which detects, deters and prevents intrusion on your site.

The position of Mayor in Hartlepool has come under question in the local corridors of power. Speaking after he had voiced objections to the high-salaried role at a council meeting, Liberal Democrat councillor Arthur Preece added: "I don't dispute there is a job to be done bearing in mind I was the leader of the council for two years from 2000. But for that I was paid a special responsibility allowance of £3,200." Tensor Time and Attendance devices will save costs on your firm’s payroll with our state of the art clocking systems. The software exports data gleaned from employees clocking in with smart cards. Each user can define their own reports and save these for future printing; automatically or on-demand. The software can be set to automatically print out any of the user defined or standard reports on a daily, weekly or even a monthly basis. This is accomplished by using the Timed Report File update program. "Only if" reports can be created to show, for example, only those who have worked overtime, particular types of absence or who is ill.

Jobs are on the line after Whitehall this year slashed millions of pounds from council budgets. Since the government wants to reduce the huge national debt, local authorities were dealt the cash blow, none more so than Hampshire County Council, which had a reduction of £6.205m to its budget, a 0.6 per cent decline. This includes reductions in education and children's services; as well as £600,000 cut from the budget which pays staff to handle payments to vulnerable people, and almost £600,000 cut from a road safety grant. Tensor employee clocking systems come to the rescue of organisations wishing to do more with fewer funds suddenly at their disposal. Versatile payroll data is converted by the software from the clocking readers, which are operated by Tensor smart cards. The proximity read method of the cards and fobs means that they will never wear out, and dust and residue picked up from the working environment presents no risk of clogging the reader. The advanced WinTA Enterprise edition can also link to your Tensor Access Enterprise access control application, where it is able to share employee data.