April 11, 2003—The new Security Industry Authority (SIA) was launched this month in England. The SIA is an independent body, answerable to the Home Secretary, with legal responsibility for licensing individuals working in the security industry and for raising standards of training and professionalism.
The main SIA tasks are to:
- Raise the profile of the security industry;
- License individual security employees and to operate an approved companies scheme that will ensure training, recruitment, supervision and quality to conform to SIA standards;
- Keep under review the private security industry and the operation of legislative framework;
- Monitor the activities and effectiveness of those working in the industry;
- Work with key groups within the industry to approve standards of conduct, further develop training and supervision of standards within the industry; and
- Ensure SIA licenses are carried and displayed.
Door supervisors and wheel clampers on private grounds will be the first sectors to be licensed by the SIA, but regulation will be phased in to cover security guards, private investigators, key holders and security consultants.
The timetable for licensing is as follows:
- Early 2004: Pilot scheme for door supervisors and wheel clampers.
- 2004: Rollout licensing of door supervisors and wheel clampers.
- 2005: Licensing of manned guards and key holders.
- 2006: Licensing of private investigators and security consultants.
For more information, contact the SIA.
