Board to oversee licence introduction
12 Oct 05
Private security industry workers will need licences to operate by February 2007
The first meeting of a new project board to oversee the implementation of licensing of the private security industry will take place today.
The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 extends the remit of the Security Industry Authority - which is responsible for regulating the industry in England and Wales - to Scotland. And the regime will cover not only the obvious categories such as door stewards and security consultants, but precognition agents engaged by defence lawyers as well.
To ensure consistency, licensing is to be introduced in Scotland from February 2007, to all the sectors which will by then be licensed in England and Wales.
Gearing up
The project board, set up by the GB-wide Security Industry Authority (SIA), will work with the industry in Scotland to ensure it is fully geared up for the new arrangements. It will include two representatives from the SIA, an official from the Executive's Justice Department and a project manager.
Door supervisors, manned guards, bodyguards, CCTV operators, those transporting cash and valuables, private investigators and security consultants will need licences from Feburary 2007 and it will be an offence to work in such jobs without a licence towards the end of that year. Those running the companies will also require licences. Licensing for defence precognition agents will follow as part of the second phase of implementation, expected to begin in late 2007.
SIA checks
Licences will only be issued if the applicant passes three main checks - identity, competency and criminality - carried out by the SIA.
Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson said: "Regulation will provide that reassurance by preventing unsuitable people from obtaining positions of trust in the private security industry.
"It will ensure that security personnel are fit and proper people who are competent to perform their duties. It will also benefit legitimate private security businesses and staff in driving up standards and driving out the small minority of operators who are tarnishing their good name by using the industry as a front for illegal activities."
Standards
Andy Drane, Depute Chief Executive of the SIA, said: "Regulation in Scotland by the SIA will ensure standards of training and professionalism in the private security industry are the same across Great Britain."
Further information on the SIA and licensing is available via the following link:http://www.the-sia.org.uk.