SECURITY AWARDS FIND NEW VENUE AND HONOUR DECEASED COMRADE

THE BRITISH SECURITY AWARDS are to move to a new venue and date for 2023. The awards, now in their 26th year, will take place on 21 June, a week earlier than previous years, at the iconic Grand Connaught Rooms, Covent Garden, London.

Entries for this year’s regional security personnel categories closed on 29 March, with winners to be announced on 18 April; but those for national business categories close on 7 April and national finalists will be announced on 2 May. There will also be a new category in 2023 which will cover equality, diversity and inclusivity.

Mike Reddington, chief executive of the British Security Industry Association (BSIA), which organises the awards, commented: “The British Security Awards is fast becoming one of the key industry events, and after our most successful year in 2022 we have decided to move to a bigger venue. We have been receiving increasing numbers of entries and ticket enquiries since 2018 and, lockdown aside, the number of attendees has grown each year, meaning we were at capacity at our previous venue in 2022.

“The Grand Connaught Rooms is the venue we feel meets the requirements of our prestigious awards event and will provide a welcoming and high-quality environment for our members and

stakeholders in which to come together to celebrate security excellence.”

The Best Newcomer category at the awards has been renamed by BSIA in memory of security operative Gaby Hutchinson, who was killed in the course of duty in December. Gaby, who worked as a dog handler for BSIA member firm County, was on duty with their dog Coco on the night of the Asake concert on 15 December and was caught up in the ensuing incident, tragically losing their life on 19 December.

The Best Newcomer category will now be renamed The Gaby Hutchinson Award (Best Newcomer). q