Summer of Success for Selectamark Security Systems

The BSIA’s flagship event, the British Security Awards, returned to the live stage this year to recognise businesses working to keep people, property and places professionally protected during the last 18 months.

Now in its 26th year, the industry celebrated security excellence with 18 awards presented to security officers and businesses in front of clients and leading industry stakeholders at the Grand Connaught Rooms in London.

The awards were presented by broadcaster and BSIA President Nick Ross CBE.

Selectamark’s triumph

Selectamark’s triumph is testimony to the company’s resilience and vision. Founded in 1985 to help individuals and organisations protect their valuable items of property. The company’s first ever police property marking campaign launched in 1995 was in Darlington and resulted in an impressive 98% reduction in burglaries.

As the system became better known, Selectamark expanded into providing property marking solutions for companies needing to identify and track their equipment and other assets for audit purposes, as well as to prevent losses and theft.

Selectamark has marked more than 100 million valuable items worldwide. Headquartered in Kent and with a team of 20, it serves its customers both directly and through a wide network of resellers in the UK and partners worldwide.

Fast forward 38 years, Selectamark continues to flourish.

James Brown, Managing Director of Selectamark said: “This is a such an amazing accolade. The security industry in the UK is extremely buoyant, and there are so many other exciting SMEs around, including the other finalists in this category, so to pick up this award is really special.

“Without doubt, our success is down to our people, and I would like to say thank you to everyone at Selectamark for their continued efforts to innovate and provide our clients with the best service.”

Technological advances

Among the recent technological advances introduced by the company are new products designed and delivered to Openreach to help protect the national telecoms network through early-alerting and forensic marking solutions. At ISE 2022, Selectamark launched a new secure communications and command & control platform called SelectaPTT.

Selectamark has also designed and built a forensic laboratory to support UK police forces with rapid turnaround of SelectaDNA forensic marking samples, achieving ISO17025 accreditation in 2022, and compliance with The Forensic Science Regulator’s Code of Practice.

Tackling cycle crime

Selectamark owns and runs BikeRegister, the National Cycle Database (www.bikeregister.com) and it is used by every UK police force to help identify and reunite stolen bikes with their owners. In 2022, BikeRegister was proud to announce it had enrolled it’s 1 millionth member and in July 2023 it hosted the 8th National Cycle Crime Conference.

Breaking new ground

Breaking new ground, Selectamark moved into new markets in 2022 with the supply of whole vehicle marking solutions to Toyota, Lexus and Kia in Central Europe.

It also began supporting UK retailers through its sponsorship/membership of National Business Crime Solutions, helping with their work to assist police and businesses tackle business crime. Selectamark teamed up with Williams, a national trade plumbing supplier to support the police’s National Business Crime Centre with the launch of its national tool marking initiative. (The NBCC launch Tool Marking Initiative to Combat Commercial Tool Theft).

The company also linked up with Police Scotland and NFU Mutual to spearhead rural crime initiatives across Scotland by providing its forensic marking solution SelectaDNA (NFU Mutual provides additional funds for rural security scheme roll-out in Scotland following successful trial).

Secured by Design

Lyn Poole, Secured by Design, said: “I am absolutely delighted to hear that Selectamark have won this prestigious award. It is down to their hard work, integrity and of course their products are pretty amazing as well, used and recommended by a large proportion of the UK’s Police Forces.

“Selectamark have worked closely with The Metropolitan Police Service for many years, which is where I first met them and now have the privilege of working with them as an SBD member. Many congratulations and keep up the great work with your crime reduction products”.

Further details on Selectamark Security Systems and their extensive range of SBD accredited products can be found here.

Their professionalism, innovation and commitment to our industry

Mike Reddington, Chief Executive, BSIA said: “The British Security Awards were created in 1998 to recognise those in our industry and particularly those operating on the front line who frequently go above and beyond to protect people and property and this year we have seen a record number of entries.

“It was an honour and a privilege to be able to recognise our winners and finalists for their professionalism, innovation and commitment to our industry. The scale of achievement we see every year from across each sector is remarkable, and our awards enable us to recognise the outstanding work being carried out by members of both the Association and the wider industry in keeping people, property and places professionally protected on a daily basis.

“As always, the standard of nominations has been exceptional this year, and the judging panel, made up of independent experts from across the industry have had a very difficult job selecting the winners. It is therefore a fantastic achievement by all the finalists.”