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Since the launch of our Security Confidence Index, the launch of our new website and our continued efforts in maintaining a high quality of service in the marketplace, Southern Cross Protection has received a great deal of both positive and informative media coverage. If you would like to see a copy of these articles, simply click on the links below:

Download SXP-BRW-September.doc

Download Security-Insider-Magazine-August-September-Issue.doc

Download SXP-GovernmentNews-August2011.doc

Download SXP-WeekendAustralianFinancialReview-July2011.docx

Spring has Sprung and Southern Cross Protection is already heading for the beaches...

On Wednesday the 24th of August, staff members Vanessa Thorp, (Marketing and Communication Co-ordinator), Stevan Dragojevic (Gladesville Branch Manager) and Greg Brown, (Electronics Manager), travelled down to one off Sydney's beach side suburb, Brookvale, to take part in the Northern Beaches Small Business Expo. With a new marketing strategy in hand the team took it to the people and ensure everyone new about. Vanessa ensured our table stood out from the rest and with the three of them working the room sales leads were sure to follow.

A room full of SME companies, our target market, was there for the takings and all three had great success in networking with other companies and exposing our brand name in what is a very competitive market.

SXP would like to thank Vanessa, Stevan and Greg for their efforts along with events coordinators, Cindy and Natalie for a great event and we look forward to some great results and the next event down there on the beaches.

SECURITY BREACHES COST 47% OF SMEs UP TO $20,000

Lack of security awareness is impacting on SME bottom lines

In May 2011, Southern Cross Protection released a research report into Australian SMEs, which revealed alarmingly low levels of knowledge and confidence around business security, putting many at risk from theft of physical assets, intellectual property and vandalism.

The independent survey, conducted by the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) reveals that 60% of small business owners had suffered a security breach, with losses of up to $20,000 reported by 47% of respondents. A further 10.1% had suffered losses between $20,000 - $100,000 and 3% had dealt with losses of more than $100,000.

Respondents identified the most common cause for financial loss as theft of physical assets, with 36.4% having experienced this type of security breach. Another 18.8% of respondent’s businesses had been victim to malicious damage, such as vandalism and 8.5% had experienced theft of intellectual property.

Despite this, SMEs do not rate security as a critical factor in the running of a business, with one third of small business owners stating that investing money in security is not important to them.

The research highlights a significant risk posed to SMEs nationwide due to inadequate levels of security awareness and knowledge. As many as 73% of small business owners confessed to possessing only average to low security knowledge levels.

Southern Cross Protection’s Managing Director, Patrick Bourke, views these results as a clear call to action for both the security industry and wider business community.

“It is alarming that such a large number of business owners and managers reported that they had security breaches or damage resulting in a financial loss in the last 12 months. In many instances, these losses and damage could be avoided through greater consultation with the security industry and stronger security measures deployed,” he said.

The new Index identifies four important next steps designed to guide the Security Industry, Government, Chambers of Commerce and the wider business community in raising awareness and providing effective information on business security to SMEs.

SETTING THE STANDARD: Providing SMEs with a high level of information and education around security issues is a crucial step to minimise security risks. The Australian security industry will need to work closely with Government and business leaders to shape policy that sets a clear standard of security provision for SMEs. 

GROUP PURCHASING: To avoid SMEs making a poor trade off between security and risk, there is an opportunity for Chambers of Commerce to offer group purchasing options and shared services, keeping costs affordable for any one small business. There also exists opportunities for Local Government to adopt similar strategies in defined CBD, industrial areas and "incubation" areas to encourage SMEs to grow and flourish. 

EDUCATION NATION: Improvements to the level of education SMEs receive around business security is essential - particularly preventative strategies that address opportunistic criminal activity. A collaborative effort, between Police, security providers and local business communities, will further heighten effective preventative security provision. 

READ ALL ABOUT IT!: Meaningful and accessible literature, outlining a range of security options at affordable costs, is needed to reinforce efforts in SME security provision.

Client Case Study

The Commonwealth Bank Group (CBA Group) is one of Southern Cross Protection most valued and trusted partners. As Australia’s leading provider of integrated financial services, the CBA Group has over 1,000 branches, with over 4,000 ATMs nationwide.

Southern Cross Protection has successfully provided security services to the CBA Group, including Bank West, for over four years. More than 3,500 locations are patrolled nightly by Southern Cross Protection Mobile Guards, across all CBA branches, corporate buildings, non-branch ATMs and executive residences.

Travis Cock, JP Team Manager of the Security Operation Centre Group CBA is the main point of contact at the Commonwealth Bank Group for Southern Cross Protection. He emphasises the strength of the CBA Group’s relationship with Southern Cross Protection lies in communication.

“The communication lines are always open, Southern Cross Protection is always just a phone call or email away – twenty four hours a day, seven days a week,” said Travis.

The CBA Group have been so impressed with the diligent protection of their assets by Southern Cross Protection, they have recommended them on numerous occasions to prospective clients.

Patrick Bourke said, of the long-term relationship with CBA Group, “the partnership is a typical example of how Southern Cross Protection builds trust with its clients through outstanding service delivery and open, transparent communication. We are committed to going above and beyond for our clients.”

Protecting the Nation

Paul Vries, a Northern Territory Patrol Officer, has been patrolling the streets of Darwin City for Southern Cross Protection since 2007.

Paul works night shifts and patrols nine kilometres of Darwin streets. Between the hours of 4:30pm and 4:30am you’ll find Paul checking the premises of 30-40 sites across the three streets under his watch. Government sites and buildings are on Paul’s nightly route, which includes external and internal checks of premises.

He conducts up to 120 site visits per night and has encountered a host of unusual disturbances on his rounds, ranging from minor disturbances and annoyances to serious large-scale security breaches. A true storyteller, Paul loves to tell of the times he has been mistaken for a taxi driver by late night revellers, has had to jostle along loiterers from dark car parks and on a more much more serious note the break-ins he has prevented.

Perhaps surprisingly, Paul has found his greatest and most effective skill used on the job is negotiating. This skill was heroically put to use on the night he prevented a desperate person from jumping eight stories, when Paul calmly spoke to the person, keeping them from the edge with his words for twenty minutes until help arrived.

For his bravery, Paul was awarded a certificate of appreciation by the Police Commissioner and enjoyed a personal thank you lunch with the Lord Mayor.

As Paul could tell you, working as a mobile guard often involves much more than checking the locks. They constantly go above and beyond the call of duty, protecting not only the premises under their watch but the safety and wellbeing of those they encounter on their rounds.