The letter was co-signed by ASIS UK Chapter 208 Patron Baroness Angela Harris of Richmond, who’s also contacting Home Secretary Theresa May under separate cover to express her considered views on the situation pertaining to the future of the Regulator.
This is what Mike Alexander has to say on the matter…
“Dear Home Secretary
“The Security Industry Authority (SIA) was formed as a small independent Government body in 2003 and, as you know, is an organisation with responsibility for regulating the private security industry.
“Prior to the formation of the SIA, the less-than-scrupulous security companies within the private security industry were able to employ personnel without work permits and with no legal requirement for vetting, training or job suitablity. Sadly, many took advantage of that fact.
“One of the objectives of the SIA was to help increase skills levels in the industry. There was also a desire to enhance professionalism and improve public trust in those providing security services.
“The overall results have seen reduced staff turnover and greater involvement and support for the Government’s co-ordinated approach to national security.
“The industry itself has now vastly improved, and continues to do so within the structure of the Approved Contractor Scheme (which encourages companies to embrace continuous improvement and deliver higher standards of service than ever before).
“In this current financial climate where the focus is on reducing overhead and attendant costs, removal of the SIA could only have the most negative of impacts on the private security industry. Remember that this is a sector already subject to falling margins and revenues.
“This would force smaller companies to revert to previous measures in order to save costs and overheads. This would be to the detriment of clients, who are still relying heavily on the physical presence of security officers to protect their people and assets in the face of the increasing terrorist threat to the UK mainland.
“ASIS International’s UK Chapter 208 members strongly believe that there’s a real need for a professional, regulated private security industry that has the potential to become an even more valuable member of the wider public sector law enforcement family, in turn helping to reduce crime and disorder and the fear of crime.
“The ASIS UK membership fully endorses and supports the SIA model. We would have very strong reservations against turning back the clock and returning to the pre-regulation days.
“Those days rendered businesses vulnerable to non-regulated, unscrupulous service providers. We would not wish to see a return to pre-2003 days. Since that time, the SIA has helped to add professional and credibility.”
