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Updated Future of Regulation Factsheet |
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We have updated our factsheet which outlines our latest proposals for the future regulation of the private security industry.
The document outlines our proposals for the key components of future regulation: a new regulatory body outside government, the licensing of businesses, and a register of individuals who are fit and proper to work in the private security industry, underpinned by effective compliance and enforcement.
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Formal proposals will go out to public consultation in 2012 and will be subject to final approval from the Home Office - future regulation in Scotland and Northern Ireland will be subject to decision by the devolved administrations. A separate consultation on the position of future regulation in Northern Ireland will be undertaken by the Department of Justice; the SIA's draft plan will form part of this consultation.
Download the factsheet  (PDF, download size: 79kb) |
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Security Supplier Loses ACS Appeal |
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Manchester security supplier 21st Security Ltd has been ordered to pay more than £25,000 in costs after losing an appeal against our decision to refuse its accreditation to the Approved Contractor Scheme. The company was refused on the grounds that it was not considered fit and proper to hold the accreditation.
Joint agency site visits involving the SIA and Greater Manchester Police, as part of the Salford-based initiative Project Gulf, established that the firm had been deploying unlicensed operatives and individuals without the right to work in the UK.
Information to support our decision was provided by a number of enforcement partners including Greater Manchester Police, the Department for Work and Pensions and the UK Border Agency.
Assistant Director ACS Andrew Shephard said:
"This was a complex ACS appeal case, which required the coordination and gathering of evidence from a number of agencies working in partnership. The outcome upholds the SIA's decision to refuse this company approved contractor status, helping to ensure that the credibility of the Approved Contractor Scheme be maintained."
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'Fact or Fiction' is a new section that we are introducing to SIA Update. Each month we will focus on one of the 'facts' that are repeated on internet forums and on Facebook. We'll then answer the question: is it a fact, or is it fiction?
You never do any enforcement / I've never had my badge checked by an SIA investigator.
Fiction: Actually, there is a huge amount of enforcement activity happening all the time. However, there is no point in the SIA trying to create a police force when one already exists. And even if we wanted to, the cost of employing that many people would increase the price of a licence to an unsustainable level.
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Our compliance strategy is to work with enforcement partners like the police and local authority licensing officers wherever possible. When we hear people say "I've never been checked by an SIA investigator" we will ask "Yes, but have you had your badge checked by someone else?" The answer is usually "Yes, by someone else... but not by you!" That's not a sign of failure, that's a sign of the system working as it should!
Also, our investigators focus their activities based on reports of non-compliance. If we know you have a licence we won't check it because we'd rather be using the resources we have to target people who don't!
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Spotlight On...the Online Achievement Record |
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There are two routes to gaining approval under our Approved Contractor Scheme: Standard and Passport. The Standard route begins with a self-assessment that is then verified by an independent assessor from an SIA-approved assessing body.
The Online Achievement Record is the system used by both the contractor and the assessor to record their scores. Users may enter their scores in a single session or multiple sessions, allowing them to complete their record in a time frame that is convenient for them. They can also print reports that show how the contractor is performing against the ACS Standard.
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Approved contractors are assessed every year and the Online Achievement Record holds all of the scores from previous years. It allows contractors to compare their performance year on year and to identify areas of their business that can be improved. This concept of continual improvement is central to the Approved Contractor Scheme.
Register to use the Online Achievement Record
Log in to the Online Achievement Record
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I was pleased that we were able to start the New Year with the announcement of licence and ACS fee reductions from 1 January. We had held fee levels since 2007 and, through continuing improvements to working practices, we have been able to reduce our costs further and pass the benefits on to individuals and ACS companies. This will save the industry £3m over the next year and, I hope, gives an indication of our commitment to developing and improving the way we work.
As an accountant I have to keep my training up to date and, as a part of this, in December I attended the CIPFA Central Government Finance Conference. The agenda included a section on changes within central government finance and the challenges faced in supporting the Government's austerity measures.
Read the full blog entry
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This month, SIA investigators successfully prosecuted an unlicensed security director who was ordered to pay £14,000.
Mark Jason Lowe, 39, pleaded guilty to working illegally as an unlicensed security director and failing to provide information to the SIA.
Lowe was sole trader of Progressive Security, and also the sole director and shareholder of Fortis Security (UK) Ltd. Through both companies, he supplied door supervisors to bars and clubs in Derby city centre. However, he was working illegally as he did not hold the necessary SIA licence to supply operatives.
Read the full press release
Checks on security staff working at sites in Limavady and Derry-Londonderry took place and all those inspected were working legally. Seventeen sites were visited including industrial areas, retail outlets, a hospital and local government sites. Forty security operatives (security guards, door supervisors, CCTV operatives, a wheel clamper and a close protection operative) were inspected and all held a valid SIA licence.
Derry-Londonderry has been awarded the UK City of Culture 2013 status, which will see many tourists and visitors coming into the area for events such as the Round the World Yacht Race in July 2012 and activities leading up to the Olympic and Paralympics Games. With a raft of events being held during this time, security operatives have an important role to play in helping to maintain public safety.
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Approved Contractor Scheme |
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Confirmed Dates for ACS Forums |
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An important aspect of the Approved Contractor Scheme is the regular regional events. This is where approved contractors get to exchange ideas and good practice, receive technical and quality assurance updates, as well as receiving briefings from expert speakers.
There is a good chance that if you use an approved contractor you will find them attending one of the following events:
- Swindon - Thursday 15 March
- Edinburgh - Tuesday 20 March
- Leeds - Thursday 22 March
- Stoke-on-Trent - Tuesday 27 March
- London - Thursday 29 March
- Belfast - Tuesday 3 April
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If you are thinking of applying for or renewing a licence we would like to remind you that you can do so using our e-Fill service.
e-Fill lets you fill in your application form online and then print the form yourself or request that we print it and post it to you.
You will not be able to print the form until you have answered all of the mandatory questions. This will lower the chances of your application being rejected as incomplete.
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If you are renewing your licence your online form will be pre-populated with the details you gave us previously. You can accept those details or edit them, so you won't have to enter all of the information again.
Please remember that the application form is only half of the story: if you are applying for a licence you must also supply a number of documents in support of your application. These documents are used by us to confirm your identity, your age and your address. If you do not submit the correct number and type of documents your application will be rejected as incomplete. We strongly recommend that you read the list of documents we can accept, which can be found on our website and in the How to fill in your SIA licence application form booklet.
More about e-Fill
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About This Newsletter |
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Disclaimer |
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All reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that the information contained in this communication is accurate at time of release.
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If you do not wish to receive further mailings please unsubscribe here. Please note that your email address has been taken from our own mailing lists and your details are not shared with any organisations outside the Security Industry Authority.
If this newsletter has been forwarded to you and you would like to receive future editions directly, you can subscribe by entering your details into the Sign Up For Information form on our website.
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