The International Professional Security Association (IPSA) has extended its growing influence in the UK security services sector by taking the lead in the European & British Standards, writes Infologue.com publisher, Bobby Logue. Justin Bentley, the Chief Executive of IPSA, will be representing UK interests at the first meeting of a new European standards committee which is meeting for the first time in Vienna at the start of July. IPSA member, Lynn Watts-Plumpkin, who is a Director and General Manager, IQ Verify Ltd, has recently been appointed the chair of the influential British Standards Institute (BSI) committee GW/3 – Manned Security Services.
Justin Bentley told Infologue.com “I see this as a positive move forward for security standards which have been embraced by the professional side of the UK security industry. My aim is to ensure that any European standards build on the established UK documents, with clients specifying the new standards receiving an equal or improved quality of service. I have always been an advocate of the British Standards and still hope that compliance with industry standards is introduced as a compulsory part of Business Licensing.”
Amongst its members IPSA can boast membership of global businesses such as Sodexo, ISS and Impellum, all of whom have UK security businesses in the Infologue Top30 largest UK security businesses.
The committee, officially titled CEN/TC 439 “Private security services”, has been formed with the aim of creating Europe wide standards for many aspects of private security and Critical Infrastructure Protection.
The BSI committee “GW/003 Private Security Management & Services”, which is already responsible for current British Standards such as BS 7499 Static site guarding and mobile patrol service – Code of practice, BS 7858 Security screening of individuals employed in a security environment – Code of practice and BS 7984 Keyholding and response services – Code of practice, will be responsible for coordinating UK contributions to the European committee. In addition to IPSA, participants on GW/003 include representatives of BSIA, the Security Institute, the Institute of Professional Investigators, ASC, FPA, NASDU, SSAIB, NSI and IQ Verify.
The European committee will take responsibility for existing European standards document for Airport and Aviation Security Services, Maritime and Port Security Services and Security Services Providers – Terminology; however the scope of planned work is expected to expand rapidly.
Justin Bentley has represented IPSA at the GW/003 committee since 2004 and has been directly involved with the drafting and development of the majority of the private security services standards, including chairing the drafting groups for BS 7858, BS 8517-1, BS 8517-2 and most recently taking responsibility for upcoming work on BS 7960. This experience meant that he was unanimously supported to take on this role at the most recent meeting at BSI.