The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) - the trade body representing the UK's private security industry - has issued the following statement relating to this morning's shooting of a cash-in-transit courier in Walthamstow, London:

“Every day, cash-in-transit couriers perform a vital public service, transporting cash around the country and supporting banks, retailers and businesses by facilitating millions of financial transactions across the UK. However, in doing so, they place themselves at risk of extreme violence, as today’s incident sadly reminds us.

“Although the number of attacks on cash-in-transit couriers remains at an all-time low, there were 76 injuries to cash-in-transit crew members, police and the wider public in 2016 as a whole. The risk of violence and injury remains a very real threat to couriers, and this is something that the private security industry – together with its partners in police and Government – is continually working to reduce through initiatives like SaferCash, which shares intelligence about attacks and suspicious incidents between couriers and the Police.”

“Our thoughts are with the injured courier and his family – who have made a very personal sacrifice for the sake of our nation’s economic security – and we wish him a full and speedy recovery.”

Signed: BSIA's Chief Executive, James Kelly