The Future of SIA Regulation

Since 2001 WAPI along with the other representative Associations have interfaced with the Home Office (Implementation Team) and the SIA from its creation to its potential demise.

Whereas a simple registration of all in the Investigator Sector who perform licensable activities could easily have been undertaken by the initial SIA staff members (of whom there were many), thereby complying with the PSIA and at the same time generating immediate licensing revenue (if at “£300 for a 3 year licence and based on 10,000 licensed individuals a total of £9M+ could have been raised by this year on second renewal!).

However, the Act still exists with or without the SIA, and whoever is appointed to deal with the implementation of the licensing of the Investigator Sector, be it Self Regulation or an alternate Government Body, will have to take on board the harsh reality that in the current economic doldrums, the speedy collection of licence revenues is the most important aspect!

How?

By registering all in the Sector based on ID and Probity - the competence criteria being phased in by the first renewal date?

Or is that just too simple?

Statement from SIA Chairman Ruth Henig

At our conference in June, I outlined the SIA's blueprint for the next stage of regulation for the private security industry. Our plan is to work with what is a maturing industry to achieve a steady reduction of the regulatory burden; empowering the industry to take greater control within a business registration scheme and leaving the SIA to focus on serious criminality and compliance issues. This plan received significant backing from all parts of the industry.

I strongly believe that this joint approach would be an effective way forward for the industry and could provide a consistent platform for continued regulation throughout the UK. The Government's announcement that the SIA's work should be subject to a 'phased transition to new regulatory regime' allows us to work with the industry to take forward these proposals and ensure that public safety is not threatened by significant non-compliance issues in the immediate future.

I welcome the debate that has been taking place across the industry on the future of regulation. The private security industry and senior industry figures have raised significant fears for public safety if the industry is deregulated or if responsibility for regulation is transferred too soon. This will be all the greater because of the major need for private security in the run up to the Olympic Games in 2012 and the Commonwealth Games in 2014.

They have also pointed out the very significant investment that the Government and the industry has made to establish the current, effective system for regulation. Our view is that new arrangements must build on this investment to avoid further unnecessary cost for the industry and those working in it.

We look forward to working with the industry, Government and other stakeholders in taking forward the new arrangements.

We will continue to keep you regularly informed as new arrangements for the regulation of the private security industry are developed.

Working Without a Licence

It is important that all security operatives undertaking licensable activity, and those deploying them, are aware that it remains a criminal offence to do so without an SIA licence. There will be a phased transition and the new regulatory regime will take some time to put into place. Until that time, the current law continues to apply.

The SIA and other agencies will continue to enforce these offences. The maximum penalty for working without a licence is six months imprisonment and/or a fine of £5,000. The maximum penalty for deploying unlicensed staff is five years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.