Meacher resigns chairmanship of the Security Industry Authority

‘Secure by default’ in the age of converged security

On Friday 5 December the SECURITY Industry Authority (SIA) announced that Molly Meacher, its chairman since March 2002, had tendered her resignation “for personal reasons”. Home Secretary David Blunkett has accepted the resignation “with regret”.
In an official statement, the Security Industry Authority Board commented: “Molly has made a considerable contribution to the successful establishment of the SIA and its strong relationship with the private security industry and its stakeholders.
“She has established a much-respected Board, and ensured a sound balance between the commercial considerations of the industry and the social implications of a regulated environment. We express sincere thanks to Molly for all her hard work, and wish her the very best in the future.”
Speaking about the SIA chairman’s decision to stand down, Hazel Blears – the Home Office minister with responsibility for the SIA – told SMT: “It’s with much regret that the Home Secretary has accepted Molly Meacher’s resignation as chairman of the SIA. Molly has made a significant contribution to the establishment of the Authority over the past 20 months, and played a vital part in preparing the organisation for the start of door supervisor licensing in March 2004. We all wish her well for the future.”
Molly accepted her post at 50 Broadway having built up extensive experience in the public sector, her previous role as deputy chair of the Police Complaints Authority standing her in extremely good stead for the ‘extended police family’ debate that was ongoing throughout 2003 and continues to generate much comment in the wider industry (and, as you may have seen, in the national media).
The SIA has announced that an acting chairman – Peter Hermitage QPM – has been appointed until June 2004 pending an open competition for a successor to Molly Meacher.
Hermitage served in the police from 1968-1999, including a spell as assistant inspector of constabulary and director of national police training. He’s currently a member of the SIA Board, and vice chairman of the Governors at Canterbury Christchurch University College.
For his part, SIA chief executive John Saunders told SMT that he remains fully-focused on the organisation’s key tasks for 2004 and beyond, which include:

licensing individual security operatives and operating an Approved Contractors Scheme that will ensure training, recruitment, supervision and quality to conform to Security Industry Authority standards;

working with key groups within the industry to approve standards of conduct, further develop training and supervise standards in the industry