A local authority has been awarded the Gold Standard from the NSI for its "solid gold security and response service"

Now Bolton Council is said to be one of the best protected local authorities in the country. After attaining Silver Standard for the past four years, the council's security and response team – which is based at the Town Hall - decided to step up a gear and go for gold.

The council is also the only local authority to achieve Gold Standard with ISO9001 quality management for its manned guarding division.

Several councils have achieved gold for their CCTV and alarm receiving centres but Bolton is said to be "leading the way" with its uniformed men and women who help protect council buildings, staff and customers. They also operate dedicated mobile security patrols throughout Bolton.

In recognition of the achievement, security and response managers received a certificate and medal at the glittering NSI awards ceremony in Leeds.

Councillor Elaine Sherrington said the Gold Standard "gives customers confidence in our services. It has taken a lot of hard work to get to this standard and we are really pleased and proud to achieve the accreditation."

Several councils have achieved the National Security Inspectorate’s Gold status for their CCTV and alarm receiving centres but Bolton says it is also leading the away with its uniformed men and women.

MENDIP DISTRICT COUNCIL SAYS IT HAS SET ITS SIGHTS ON gaining the Home Office’s Safer Socialising Award, a scheme to improve security and safety at licensed premises by rewarding licensees that deal firmly with drunks, underage drinking, noise and violence.