Following a decade or more of lobbying by the British Security Industry Association, and a series of highs and lows since the Government’s White Paper in March 1999, the Bill emerged in a somewhat lighter format than expected.
Although we welcome the Bill, we are concerned that the Government has omitted some key areas from its contents – most notably (and importantly) the subject of in-house security officers.
There are two main points that need to be considered here. First, businesses may choose to revert to in-house security as, once the cost of regulation has been added to contract prices, it may become a cheaper alternative to employing contracted firms. Second, individuals who cannot obtain a license may seek work with in-house operations.
It will be very interesting to see exactly what sort of vetting procedure the Government recommends for in-house security. Will businesses be allowed to access enhanced criminal records in order to assess the suitability of their in-house staff?
If so, why not include licensing for in-house officers as a legal obligation?
A separate concern is that CCTV control room operators are not clearly included in the definition of those manned guarding personnel to be licensed. The BSIA will be putting these points – and others – to the Government on behalf of its membership.
Without doubt, the Private Security Industry Bill is a major achievement for the UK security sector, and it’s in the industry’s best interests to assist the Bill through Parliament so that it becomes law before the next General Election.
The core aspects of the Bill are indeed sound, although some refinement is necessary. We hope that the Government will listen carefully to what the industry has to say in response to the Bill, and we have already asked our members to forward their responses so that we can present them to the Government in due course.
