The SIA’s annual conference was held yesterday [15 June] at The Kings Fund, London. Titled ‘A Common Purpose – Raising standards in the private security industry’, the event aimed to encourage further development and progress by the industry, including examples of business best practice and the latest news from the SIA.
The conference was well attended with around 200 delegates including enforcement partners, security providers and buyers of security. SIA Chairman Baroness Ruth Henig opened the conference and spoke on how everyone in the private security industry can work together more closely, the progress of regulation, areas of improvement and the vision for the industry.
She said: “You can all help the SIA to move forward, building on the benefits of regulation which have been achieved so far, and working together to drive forward a joint agenda of professionalism of the industry and of higher skill levels and continuous training for those who work within it.”
There were presentations from Russel Kerr, from SecuriGroup, (ACS Champion of the Year 2009) about working in the private security industry and two presentations about buying security from Andrew Nicholls, Mitchells & Butlers and Alan Brown from Tesco.
This year, a small exhibition communicating key messages from the SIA and partners replaced workshops and seminars. During the break, delegates had the opportunity to network before hearing an international view of private security from Hilde De Clerck, Confederation of European Security Services, followed by case studies of successful partnership working by Iwona Kossek, Nottingham City and Detective Chief Constable Mike Barton, Durham Police.
SIA Chief Executive Bill Butler acknowledged the main themes of the day in his closing remarks as he spoke on the importance of training, communication, reducing violence against those working in the industry and rewarding and recognising individuals.