UK security bill aims to protect the public and raise industry standards The public and private security industry in the UK will finally be under government regulation, to better protect the community and raise standards in the industry. “Regulation will isolate the less responsible elements of the industry and make them accountable for any breaches of the new laws,” says David Cowden, Chairman of the British Security Industry Association (BSIA). “It will give credibility to an industry that has long fought to protect its image from the actions of a minority group of disreputable operators.” The Private Security Industry Bill, long sought by the BSIA, will cover the activities of around 2000 firms and 120,000 security guards, exempting only in-house security guards.
The Bill would require anyone working in the industry or setting up a private security firm to have a license or be charged with a criminal offense. The Bill would create a Security Industry Authority to license individuals working under contract or in-house, as well as the directors, managers, and supervisors of security and wheelclamping companies. It would also run voluntary inspection and accreditation schemes and set and raise professional standards in the industry. It would maintain a national register of licensed individuals and approved companies. It would be self-financing from fees levied on individual license applicants, who could be reimbursed by their employers. The British government estimates that between 100,000 and 130,000 individuals will be licensed each year. To read the full text of the Private Security Industry Bill, visit BSIA.
Based on a report from i-FM
