It was reported today that the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) has been used over 400 times in the past two years by councils across the Black Country. RIPA was introduced to regulate investigations by public bodies (including covert surveillance, the use of Covert Human Intelligence Sources, interception of communications and the use of communications data); it is used by councils to investigate offences such as rogue trading, benefit cheating and flytipping. ABM’s software for managing covert operations and investigations is fully compliant with RIPA legislation. The full article can be read here.

In today’s expanding global market, brands and products face an array of threats to their reputation and integrity at all stages in the supply chain. The dangers are as real for blue chip brands and the world’s biggest labels as they are for smaller companies.

Brand protection: best advice for manufacturers…

Attacks on communications giant BT’s network of copper cables in Scotland rose by 9% last year, the company said.  It said the attacks, which were mainly thefts, left vulnerable people isolated, limited access to the emergency services and cost the company millions of pounds every year.