The Christmas Truce

The Christmas Truce has become one of the most famous and mythologised events of the First World War. But what was the real story behind the truce? Why did it happen and did British and German soldiers really play football in no-man's land?

Late on Christmas Eve 1914, men of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) heard German troops in the trenches opposite them singing carols and patriotic songs and saw lanterns and small fir trees along their trenches. Messages began to be shouted between the trenches.

The following day, British and German soldiers met in no man's land and exchanged gifts, took photographs and some played impromptu games of football. They also buried casualties and repaired trenches and dugouts. After Boxing Day, meetings in no man's land dwindled out.

The truce was not observed everywhere along the Western Front. Elsewhere the fighting continued and casualties did occur on Christmas Day. Some officers were unhappy at the truce and worried that it would undermine fighting spirit.

After 1914, the High Commands on both sides tried to prevent any truces on a similar scale happening again. Despite this, there were some isolated incidents of soldiers holding brief truces later in the war, and not only at Christmas.

In what was known as the 'Live and Let Live' system, in quiet sectors of the front line, brief pauses in the hostilities were sometimes tacitly agreed, allowing both sides to repair their trenches or gather their dead.

Season's Greetings!

Extending our very warm festive wishes to all our clients, personnel and associates this Christmas, as well as all Armed Forces personnel who are deployed around the world and their families back home.

In Flanders Fields

John McCrae
One of the most poignant reminders of World War I is the moving poem, ‘In Flanders Fields’, written by John McCrae, a Canadian army doctor, following the death of his close friend and compatriot Lieutenant Alexis Helmer. Helmer was killed on 2 May 1915 when a shell exploded during the second German gas attack. In the absence of a chaplain, McCrae conducted the funeral service for his friend himself. Grief and the trauma of war inspired his poem.

At the time, Major John McCrae was working in a field dressing station on the road between Ypres and Boezinge. While there, he was mainly involved in treating victims of the German gas attacks. Soon after he wrote the poem, he was transferred, as Chief of Medical Services, to a Canadian field hospital in France, where the wounded from the battles of the Somme, Vimy Ridge, Arras, and Passchendaele were treated.

McCrae discarded the sheet of paper on which he had written the poem. It might never have been published but for a fellow officer who found McCrae’s notes and sent them to a number of London magazines. The poem first appeared in the magazine Punch and immediately touched the hearts of the British people.

In the summer of 1917, John McCrae suffered attacks of asthma and bronchitis, almost certainly as a consequence of inhaling chlorine gas during the Second Battle of Ypres. On 23 January 1918, McCrae fell ill with pneumonia and was admitted to hospital. He died five days later at only 46 years of age. McCrae is buried in Wimereux, north of Boulogne (France).

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

CCTV

Westacre CCTV provide all aspects of technical security installations including Video Surveillance, Access Control, Alarm Systems, Smart Home and Electrics. Our installation teams provide a safe, professional and discreet service and with over 20 years experience in the technical security industry, we are at the forefront of the industry both in the UK and worldwide.

10 Years on the Côte d'Azur

This summer marks the tenth consecutive year Westacre Security have been operating out of the French Riviera and Monaco. Westacre first operated in Monaco back in 2011 when we provided a 2-man Residential Security Team for one of our existing clients. Since then, we have established a reputation and grown our footprint in the region to a point where we now have multiple teams in Cannes, Antibes, Nice, Saint Jean Cap Ferrat and Monaco. Our Team Leaders work together between themselves, other security teams, local Police and Gendarmerie to ensure we have the most up to date intelligence and threat reporting network available, thus allowing us to stay one step ahead of the criminals.

The area has long been popular with high net worth individuals from all over the world and with that brings an attraction to organised crime groups looking to exploit those who have inadequate security in place. With local police and intelligence agencies more focused on counter-terrorism (post the Bastille Day terrorist attacks in 2016), there is now more emphasis on the client to provide their own security. Consisting predominantly of ex-military personnel from some of the best elite units in the world, private security teams descent on the region during the summer months to protect clients and their property. Westacre Security are one of the key players in this elite world, with a strong credibility amongst the high net worth community and a growing reputation for being the go-to provider across the French Riviera for high level protection.

Ex-Military Film Casting

Emergency First Aid at Work Courses

First Aid Training will be mandatory for some SIA licence applications (Door Supervisor and Security Guard) from April 1st 2021. The Security Industry Authority (SIA) will require applicants to get the Emergency First Aid at Work qualification before they take their licence-linked training.

We are running 2 courses on 6th and 10th April 2021 in Gateshead.

Contact us to book a place.

Arboricultural Association Training Provider

Westacre Training feature in the Arboricultural Association training provider catalogue, providing members with a 10% (20% for ex-military) discount on all our training courses. We provide Forestry First Aid Training (+F) throughout the North East, Cumbria and the Scottish Borders. Our courses can be run in groups of up to 12 at either your home / workplace or we can provide a training venue. We also offer short notice individual courses and re-qualifications / refreshers for anyone needing their +F quickly.

Virtual Security Guards

New Normals

The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way we do many things and it remains to be seen whether these changes are temporary or whether they are ‘new normals’. The majority of these changes are things which were evolving anyway, but the pandemic (and our voluntary or enforced response to it), has certainly accelerated things. For example, the use of contactless payments instead of cash was increasingly common before the pandemic, but now it is almost unheard of for a vendor to not provide the facility for card payments. Another example is online work meetings - are traditional meetings sat around a boardroom table now a thing of the past?

Utilising Technology

With most changes focussed around the principle of less human contact (social distancing), the security industry is no different to any other industry and must find ways to maintain a high standard whilst incorporating these changes. The concept of utilising technology alongside physical manpower is nothing new to the security industry, however, it was always more a case of bolstering manpower with technical security rather than replacing it altogether.

Virtual Security Guards

Could virtual security guards be set to replace physical manpower? In the USA, there are numerous companies offering the services of virtual security robots who can patrol areas and collect vast amounts of data and even confront potential hostile persons. However, here in the UK, the industry seems to have stopped short of full-blow robots and concentrated more on the ‘access control’ aspects - for example, a secure gate entry system which can read your biometrics before granting you access.

Vulnerabilities

Historically, two of the main downsides to human security guards was trust and reliability - people could be ‘paid off’ or might fall asleep on the job. Virtual security guards don’t carry either of these risks, but at the same time, are significantly vulnerable to the threat from cyber attack which could well result in the same outcome.

Combinations

What is most likely is that for the foreseeable future, the best solution is a combination of both physical manpower and high spec technology. Yes we may see the use of security robots, but they will be used by manpower (in a similar way drones have been used) to enhance their capability rather than as a replacement.

The Perfect Solution

A perfect solution might be to combine the strong points of both humans and robots. So, robots which are controlled by humans but which also have built-in programming to mitigate the risk of human error - say monitoring a human for signs of tiredness to prevent them ‘sleeping on the job’.

Here to Stay

Virtual Security Guards and robots are undoubtedly here to stay, and will form a vital element of any future security plan but it’s very unlikely we’ll see the end of human manpower in the security industry any time soon.

Happy New Year!

Wishing a very Happy New Year to all our clients, personnel and associates as we leave behind the strangest of years in 2020. As everyone adjusted to the changes imposed on us by Covid-19, we very much hope that 2021 will see a return to a more ‘normal’ way of operating for us all.

Brexit Impact on Crime

The UK joined the EU in 1973, voted to leave in the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum and on 1st January 2021, following a series of negotiations and extensions, will become the first country to formally leave the EU.

During those 47 years of membership, the UK has benefited from a consolidated European approach to crime, particularly during the second half of membership which has seen the establishment of several EU wide crime fighting agencies such as Europol as well as extensive database networks such as the Schengen Information System.

It is likely that the UK will remain able to benefit from the majority of the EU crime fighting capabilities by establishing agreements in the way which Norway and Switzerland do in their capacity as non-EU members, although it may take some time to put these agreements in place.

The EU, as a geographical concept, was always going to create a platform for criminals, particularly organised crime gangs to operate - a large, free moving single area with open borders is very difficult to police, especially when you have many different countries with their own history and culture trying to operate as once big crime flighting group. Being an island, it is reasonable to assume that with sufficient border and coastal security the UK should be well placed to maintain a good level of security even without the benefits of the EU criminal information sharing capabilities. In fact, it may be that the UK end up with the ‘best of both’ situations by still being able to access EU crime fighting agencies and databases but at the same time, having more of an autonomous approach to controlling who enters the UK and why.

There is no doubt that a European wide security approach is a significant tool in fighting crime and goes someway to mitigate the risks associated with the geographic difficulties - media is awash with success stories of European-wide crime fighting, such as the Enchrochat network which was used by high-level and serious organised crime gangs and infiltrated in June this year by a Europe-wide criminal investigation resulting in over 1000 arrests.

Traditionally, even within single countries, crime fighting agencies have struggled with the practicalities of information sharing so when you consider this concept internationally, it is no surprise that intelligence sharing between countries can be poor. The EU went some way to improving this and ultimately probably operate in a similar manner to the inter-state based federal crime fighting capability in the USA.

In summary, as long as the UK can maintain some form of membership to the key European crime fighting agencies and have access to the associated databases, then there should be very little change to the threat caused by European wide organised crime in a post-Brexit world. Coupled with an increase in border controls, it is actually possible that the threat may be reduced further and UK crime fighting will therefore benefit from Brexit.

Forestry First Aid

Westacre security now offer bespoke Forestry First Aid courses as part of our training portfolio. These courses are aimed at those working within the arboricultural and forestry sectors as well as anyone required to operate a chainsaw, timber hauliers, ecologists or remote workers.

The training is delivered in line with the relevant agency and their First Aid Policies - Forestry Services and Forestry England if the workplace is in England or Forestry & Land Scotland if the workplace is in Scotland.

Any of our courses can be tailored to include forestry (+F), but the most common is the 1-day Emergency First Aid at Work Forestry (EFAW-F). We are also able to offer a short 2-hour forestry ‘bolt-on’ for anyone who holds an in-date EFAW or FAW qualification to bring you up to the +F standard. Understanding your forestry first aid training needs is best achieved by carrying out a First Aid Needs Assessment - please get in touch for advice.

Lest West Forget

In the 12 months since the nation last paused to remember our war dead, media news has been dominated by big stories such as Brexit, racial inequality and Covid-19. All of our lives have been significantly inconvenienced by the Covid-19 pandemic but perhaps we should be mindful of the relatively minor sacrifices we have all had to make in 2020 in comparison to the sacrifices that our nation and our people made in the first half of the 20th Century - a period dominated by war and associated suffering.

Westacre have a strong military connection with over 90% of our personnel having served or still serving in the Armed Forces. Many of our personnel will be taking the time to remember friends and colleagues who have died during active service in modern conflicts such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Northern Ireland, the Balkans and as part of the Global War on Terror.

At 1100 on the 11th November 2020, please take some time out from your busy schedule to pause, remember and be mindful of how fortunate we are to live in a world of relative peace and comfort.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Westacre Investigations

Armed Forces Day

Today, the 27th June 2020, is Armed Forces Day in the United Kingdom, where the public are encouraged to show support for our Armed Forces and to recognise the work they do and the sacrifices they make. 

The military is extremely close to our hearts at Westacre Security, and we employ a high number of serving reservists and ex-military personnel. Most of our senior staff have previously served in The Armed Forces, so we fully understand the difficulties faced by our military personnel who do an exceptionally tough job, and we will continue to maintain these close ties with the UK Armed Forces in the future. 

We have supported a range of military charities over the last few years, with many of our personnel volunteering to support events, or organising endurance challenges, rugby games and other fundraising activities. We are a member of the Armed Forces Covenant and current holders of a Silver Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme. 

Reserves Day

Today is Reserves Day, which forms part of Armed Forces Week leading up to Armed Forces Day this Saturday 27th June 2020. Reserves day is intended to raise awareness and show recognition for the work of our reservists who balance a civilian life with service in the Army, RAF and Navy. 

Reservists give up their spare time to serve in the Reserve Forces to ensure that should their country require them, they would be ready to serve as part of the military. Over the last 18 years, over 35,000 reservists have served on operations worldwide, making an immense contribution. 

The Reserve Forces make up approximately one sixth of our Armed Forces personnel and as such are integral to protecting the nation’s security at home and overseas, particularly providing capability in specialist areas such as medical and cyber. 

During the ongoing COVID-19 situation in the UK, Reservists are being utilised to assist the effort in tackling the pandemic.

Westacre Security recruit the majority of our personnel from within the Armed Forces community, with both ex-regular and serving reservist personnel accounting for over 90% of our staff. 

Access Control

VE Day

Today, 8th May 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the Victory in Europe Day.

8 May 1945 – VE (Victory in Europe) Day – was one that remained in the memory of all those who witnessed it. It meant an end to nearly six years of a war that had cost the lives of millions; had destroyed homes, families, and cities; and had brought huge suffering and privations to the populations of entire countries.

Millions of people rejoiced in the news that Germany had surrendered, relieved that the intense strain of total war was finally over. In towns and cities across the world, people marked the victory with street parties, dancing and singing.

But it was not the end of the conflict, nor was it an end to the impact the war had on people. The war against Japan did not end until August 1945, and the political, social and economic repercussions of the Second World War were felt long after Germany and Japan surrendered.

Reserves Mobilised

Military reservists have been mobilised by the MOD to support public services as part of the COVID Support Force. At the moment, only Reservists with specialist skills that meet specific requests for help from other government departments will be called out.

They will be used in a range of roles, such as providing medical and logistical support for the NHS; acting as liaison officers; and deploying specialist skills such as engineering and accounting. Reservists already working in the NHS or other front line roles will not be used.

Many of our personnel at Westacre Security are Reservists and as a company we will be supporting them should they be mobilised. We currently have an excellent Reservist policy in place in accordance with our Defence Employer Recognition Scheme silver award - this policy already provides extensive support to Reservist personnel giving them flexibility, financial support, emotional support and job security.

In addition to the COVID Support Force, there is potential that Regular Reservists (veteran personnel who previously served as ‘Regulars’) may be called upon to support the wider national effort - should this occur, we would support any of our personnel who fall into this category with the same policy as for our Reservists.

Security Key Workers

Following the Government’s introduction of restrictions on work in order to combat the spread of Coronavirus, the Security Industry Authority (SIA) have confirmed that licence holding security personnel, essential to national infrastructure, who fall into one of designated critical sectors will be classified as key workers:

• Health and social care (doctors, nurses, paramedics, midwives, social workers, care workers, and other frontline health and social care staff including volunteers; the support and specialist staff required to maintain the UK’s health and social care sector; those working as part of the health and social care supply chain, including producers and distributers of medicines and medical and personal protective equipment).

• Education and childcare (childcare, support and teaching staff).

• Key public services (those essential to the running of the justice system, religious staff, charities and workers delivering key frontline services, those responsible for the management of the deceased, and journalists and broadcasters who are providing public service broadcasting).

• Local and national government (this only includes those administrative occupations essential to the effective delivery of the COVID-19 response, or delivering essential public services, such as the payment of benefits, including in government agencies and arms length bodies).

• Food and other necessary goods (those involved in food production, processing, distribution, sale and delivery, as well as those essential to the provision of other key goods such as hygienic and veterinary medicines).

• Public safety and national security (police and support staff, Ministry of Defence civilians, contractor and armed forces personnel who are critical to the delivery of key defence and national security outputs and essential to the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, fire and rescue service employees including support staff, National Crime Agency staff, those maintaining border security, prison and probation staff and other national security roles, including those overseas).

• Transport (those who will keep the air, water, road and rail passenger and freight transport modes operating during the COVID-19 response).

• Utilities, communication and financial services (staff needed for essential financial services provision such as workers in banks, building societies and financial market infrastructure; the oil, gas, electricity and water sectors including sewerage; information technology and data infrastructure sector as well as key staff working in the civil nuclear, chemicals, telecommunications - including but not limited to network operations, field engineering, call centre staff, IT and data infrastructure, 999 and 111 critical services; postal services and delivery; payments providers and waste disposal sectors).

Regarding non- licence holding security personnel including ‘in house guards’, then you may still travel to work, if that work absolutely cannot be done from home. Your aim should be to stay at home whenever possible. If this is not viable then assess whether you can deliver more services remotely e.g. through CCTV. If a physical presence is required then you should seek to minimise the number of staff deployed to the lowest safe level and ensure social distancing is applied.

Note that in any circumstance, critical worker or otherwise, the Prime Minister has been very clear that ensuring social distancing remains the responsibility of the employer. At Westacre Security, we have been keeping abreast of this fast moving crisis for several months now and continue to maintain a dynamic approach to keeping our business running, including:

• Increased on site hygiene measures inline with the lates NHS advice.

• Financial support for sub contractors.

• A robust escalation plan for our clients should the threat increase or a civil unrest situation develops.