With the Security Industry Authority (SIA) having published its Business Licensing Factsheet only the day before, attendees at the Regulator’s Annual Stakeholder Conference in central London were eager to find out where we’re at in terms of the regulation roadmap.
Lord Taylor of Holbeach, the government minister in charge of the SIA, elected to speak via video link, all the while emphasising the “dedication and professionalism” of the private security industry alongside the overriding need for “effective, fair and proportionate” regulation — to which the government remains firmly committed.
It’s planned that secondary legislation will be in place next year, but what about the primary legislation required? Lord Taylor said:
I continue to seek an appropriate opportunity to introduce new legislation. However, I took a deliberate decision that this requirement shouldn’t impact on the industry benefiting from the introduction of business licensing as soon as possible.
In short, at this moment, we’re really no clearer on when that vital primary legislation is likely to appear.
The government is determined to erode serious and organised crime, which Lord Taylor described as having “a corrosive effect” on our communities. There’s also a keen desire to highlight standards of policing integrity.
On that latter note, Lord Taylor commented:
Police and Crime Commissioners are better known and more easily approached than the local authorities they’ve replaced.
Lord Ramsbotham, the former Chief Inspector of Prisons, then concentrated on penal reform and, more specifically, the risks (and lessons learned) around physical intervention.
Could the SIA’s remit possibly be extended to include those security staff involved with focused deportation assignments? There’s definite food for thought here, although spreading the Regulator’s efforts too thinly could be viewed as a detrimental move by some.
Risk Advisory Group CEO Bill Waite was next to the stage. He discussed a seriously hot topic: regulation of the private investigations sector.
Examining assertions that the current proposals could be seen to be disproportionate to the identified risks, that they might be counterproductive, and that they don’t conform to the government’s own ideas around better regulation, Waite stated: “There should be regulation of intrusive investigative processes, but it must be necessary, justified, and proportionate.”
Waite feels that criminal law already creates a regime providing necessary protections, and that enforcement of those laws (as opposed to any lack of regulation) is the real crux of the matter.
An excellent presentation by newly appointed Skills for Security director general Terri Jones included important news that the skills and training body is conducting an extensive research project to gather labour market information. The results will be published in the new year.
The project is designed to examine levels of training across the UK security world such that there can be an improved understanding of where gaps in learning exist. Armed with this knowledge, new suites of qualifications and training courses may be developed.
Interestingly, new Level 3 Apprenticeships in both cybersecurity and security operations are in the pipeline for 2014.
Jones concluded with a forceful message: “We will continue in the roll of sector body to support the qualification and training needs of the industry and to promote the industry — and opportunities within it — as a career destination of choice.”
Amen to that.
Closing the inaugural session at conference was Geoff Zeidler. The director of GZC offered a timely and fascinating view from the Strategic Consultative Group (SCG), established back in late 2010 to provide strategic oversight of plans and progression towards the new regulatory regime.
Zeidler feels the SCG has been effective for industry engagement and “enabled many issues to be clarified and addressed” He also believes the SCG has guided practical change, but he asserted that continuing delays around regulation timelines have perhaps “damaged the credibility” of both the SCG and the SIA in some eyes. “We would all feel more comfortable if we knew the timescales for this phased transition.” Fair comment indeed, and one which hopefully will not be lost on the ears of government.
Following the midafternoon break, Gordon Meldrum QPM, director of the Organised Crime Command at the new National Crime Agency (NCA), outlined strategies for tackling serious and organised crime in the UK.
The NCA is adopting an agencywide culture focused on core values and behaviours. There’s increased visibility and transparency, as well as independent operational direction and control.
In short, it’s a new approach to reducing threats and vulnerabilities based around the four Ps of the government’s established Contest document for fighting terrorism: pursue, prevent, protect, and prepare.
Perhaps the most eagerlyawaited speech of the day came at 4:00 p.m., when Stephen Phipson, director of security industry engagement at the Home Office, aired his views.
Phipson’s new role as the conduit between the government and the security sector is crucial. He’s massively keen to facilitate and witness co-ordinated working in the sector and encourage exporting that will lead to growth.
Phipson emphasised UK security’s “strong brands” and wishes to create a recognisable security brand for the UK.
Early in the New Year, the Government will be looking to publish a security exporting strategy, with Phipson also referring to Security Growth Partnerships forged alongside Trade Associations.
“Regular and open dialogue with the industry will be vital,” stressed Phipson, whose 17-strong team at the Home Office enjoys “lots of support” in and around Whitehall.
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