If you thought that IFSEC – or maybe even Securex – was the only big event in the annual security calendar then think again. Now in its second year, the Joint Security Industry Council (JSIC) Security Forum hits London next month. Jointly sponsored by the Government and the security sector, its tailored seminars and interactive workshops are designed with one goal in mind – to help determine future policies and strategies.
The Forum takes place on Tuesday 15 May at The Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in Westminster, London and couldn’t be more timely in its choice of subject matter.
With the industry poised for regulation and licensing, the Forum’s ‘main event’ is a discussion and workshop concentrating on the Private Security Industry Bill.
Who should be on the board of the Security Industry Authority (SIA), and how should the SIA be structured? What steps do we need to put in place to ensure that the SIA remains impartial? How are the inputs and outputs of the SIA to be measured? These are just some of the questions to be mulled over.
In the second discussion session and subsequent workshop, Richard Childs – chief constable of the Lincolnshire Constabulary – introduces a topic that’s dominated the newspapers in recent weeks – namely the public policing/private security industry partnership. With licensing not far away, what procedures must be set so that chief constables can make use of private security concerns in fighting crime? The workshop will look to provide the answers.
The final presentation and workshop is entitled ‘The export potential for the private security industry’, and will debate whether or not the industry’s export potential might be developed further to enhance every sector – be it manufacturing, overall development or service provision.
Speaking about the Forum, Mike Welply, JSIC’s chief executive and Forum director, told SMT: "We really want to build on the success of last year’s inaugural event. Since then, of course, the proposed Private Security Industry Bill has dominated everyone’s thoughts. It will take at least another 18 months or so for the Security Industry Authority to become fully operational, so now’s the time for end users to make their mark and really influence not only the SIA but the industry’s future development." The event proper kicks off at 9.30 am in the QEII Conference Centre’s Westminster Suite, where Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate will give the opening address. This will be followed by the keynote address from Charles Clarke MP, minister of state at the Home Office.
If you are a key player in the industry and you haven’t registered, make sure you do (see ‘Essential information for delegates’ for more details). Both you and the industry as a whole stand to gain much from the day’s events. n
