This year’s SIA conference opened with a speech from Lord Taylor of Holbeach, parliamentary under secretary for criminal information, with responsibility for the SIA.
Lord Taylor said that the “Home Office and the SIA are working closely together to deliver a business regulation regime”. His speech was followed by an address from SIA Chairman, Baroness Ruth Henig, who announced that she is to stand down as SIA Chairman in the New Year. Baroness Henig spoke of the “enormous improvements” the SIA has made to its financial performance and in its service to customers since she joined the SIA in 2007.
Stephen McCormick, SIA Director of Service Delivery, then spoke about the on-going improvements the SIA is making to the way it works. He explained how these changes will enable the regulator to deliver a faster, more accurate, simpler and cheaper service.
John Montague, SIA Assistant Director of Compliance and Investigation, outlined successful prosecutions and multi-agency initiatives carried out over the last 12 months.
Chris Jones, Head of the Olympic Protect Programme at the Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism, spoke about security at the 2012 Olympic Games and the lessons learned.
Mike Bluestone, Chairman of the Security Institute, set out a view of what needs to happen in order for private security personnel to be seen as professionals.
Tony Holyland, SIA Competency Development Manager, spoke about training malpractice.
The SIA Board then took part in a lively and topical debate that was facilitated by Jeff Little, NSI Chief Executive.
In his closing remarks, SIA Chief Executive Bill Butler said that real progress had been made and encouraged the industry to pick of the challenge as it moved to a new regulatory regime.