The Security Alliance has outlined its official position on the future of regulation in the security industry, citing reduced regulatory costs and administrative burdens among the key objectives for the new regulatory regime.
In a letter to Lynne Featherstone MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State with responsibility for the Security Industry Authority (SIA), Chairman of the Security Alliance, James Kelly, reinforced the importance of ongoing consultation between Government and industry in order to establish a consensual vision on the way forward for the regulated security industry.
Key elements of the Alliance’s position paper include the introduction of compulsory business registration, a concept that will significantly reduce regulatory costs for businesses and licence holders, allowing quality businesses the opportunity to have more responsibility for their own regulation while maintaining and improving standards across the industry. Emphasis was also placed upon achieving a consistent regulatory regime that meets the approval of the devolved governments in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
In addition to this, the Alliance has outlined a set of overarching principles that its members collectively agree will need to be central to any new regulatory process. These principles include:
- Regulation – The regulatory function should continue to encompass the licensing of individuals, compliance and enforcement, and should be expanded to include business registration. Enforcement should be robust, targeted and intelligence led. A single system of regulation for the whole of the UK should be retained.
- Compliance – Existing external auditory systems (UKAS Accredited) which are industry specific should be part of compliance system. A single individual training qualification should be the compliance indicator.
- Governance – The security industry should be represented on the board of the regulator.
- Simplicity – Licensed categories should be reduced in number and simplified.
- Skills and Standards – Standards should be based upon nationally recognised competency standards and should embrace existing British Standards. Development of skills and standards is the role of industry.
- Competition – Regulation should not discourage competition or new entrants.
- Value for Money – All costs should be transparent, proportionate and lower than the current system. Alternative methods, including devolved licensing should be examined.
James Kelly, Chairman of the Security Alliance, comments: “Our partnership represents over 80% of the regulated industry with a shared aim of ensuring that a new ‘smarter’ regulatory framework is established based on our agreed principles. We strongly believe that by working together we can provide the most efficient and practical approach to help inform and support both the SIA and the Government as the new regime is developed.”
The Security Alliance was formed in October 2010 as a single issue body in response to an internal Government document leaked to the BBC on 22nd September 2010 outlined plans to abolish the Security Industry Authority (“SIA”), the body responsible for regulating the private security industry in the UK. The Security Alliance is a coalition of representative security organisations whose initial task was to lobby Government for time and space to consult with the SIA and the industry on the future of regulation.
Successful lobbying by the constituent members of the Security Alliance, ASIS, BSIA, IPSA and the Security Institute, resulted in a last minute change in Government thinking, resulting in a phased to a new regulatory regime. In order to facilitate this transition Home Office Ministers have tasked the Security Industry Authority (SIA) with putting forward a plan to achieve a phased transition to a new regulatory regime. This plan will be delivered to Ministers in the New Year. The SIA has started targeted consultations with stakeholders, including the industry, on the detail of the phased introduction of the new regulatory regime that will replace regulation by the SIA. There is also consultation underway with the devolved administrations who have indicated they wish for the regulation of the private security industry to continue in their countries. No timeline has been set for proposed transition of the SIA into a new regulatory regime other than the Home Secretary deciding that no significant changes will take place until after the Olympics in 2012.
The Security Alliance was formed to provide all key security industry bodies with a forum where all members could debate and formulate a unified response to the challenges of future regulation. Members include:
ASIS International,
British Security Industry Association (BSIA),
International Professional Security Association (IPSA),
Security Institute (SyI)
Association of Security Consultants (ASC),
British Institute of Innkeeping Awarding Body (BIIAB),
Institute of Professional Investigators (IPI),
National Security Inspectorate (NSI),
Fire and Security Association (FSA),
Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board (SSAIB),
Skills for Security (SfS),
The Security Alliance official position paper is set out below:
The Security Alliance is a coalition of representative security organisations formed to consult with Government and the Security Industry Authority on the future of regulation of the security industry. The Security Alliance represents over 80% of the regulated industry whose aim is to ensure that a new “smarter” regulatory framework is established based on the principles shown at Annex A to this paper.
The Government has announced that it is seeking to have a phased transition to a new regulatory regime and that it has asking the Security Industry Authority to put forward proposals, following consultation with industry. The Alliance sees that it is important to work with other industry stakeholders, the SIA and the Government to have a united position in developing a regulatory regime that is acceptable to all. This paper is intended to set out to Government the Security Alliance’s position on the future of regulation in the security industry.
In order to fulfill its primary aim, the Security Alliance has set the following objectives:
- to provide the security industry with a single representative voice to Government on this issue;
- to consult with industry stakeholders to establish a consensual vision on the way forward for the regulated security industry
- to consider embracing the work being carried out by RISC (UK Security & Resilience Suppliers’ Community) on standards and regulation;
- to use a risk-based method of assessment in its deliberations;
- to develop compulsory business registration in the regulated security sector;
- to seek to establish a consistent regulatory regime that meets the approval of the devolved governments in Scotland and Northern Ireland; and
- to identify, debate and agree cost effective, robust and smarter regulatory processes to relieve regulated security of unnecessary red tape including:
- reducing regulatory costs to both businesses and licence holders, allowing quality businesses the opportunity to have more responsibility for their own regulation;
- identifying the most effective manner of ensuring regulatory compliance and enforcement;
- maintaining and improving standards and skills;
- ensuring an effective model to administer the regulatory regime; and
- considering other areas of regulation.
- To work with the SIA to produce, where possible, a fully costed proposal for Government to consider as the basis for a new regulatory regime.
Why?
The Security Alliance believes that achieving its objectives will result in:
- improved public safety, perception and trust;
- reduced regulatory costs, administrative and regulatory burdens;
- an efficient and smart system of regulation;
- precluding criminals and more specifically, serious and organised syndicates from operating within the regulated security industry; and
- maintaining credible links with the police and other stakeholders.
How will it achieve its aims?
In order to achieve its objectives the Security Alliance will create an effective representative structure. Using this structure the Security Alliance will:
- discuss and agree some basic principles and parameters with both the Government and the SIA;
- consider existing regulatory practices in the security industry and examine alternative and new concepts;
- provide the industry with a robust and fair consultation exercise on the future of the regulation of the security industry; and
- operate within the mandate provided by its members and work alongside the SIA to deliver a cost effective industry wide consultation.
The Security Alliance
Constituent Members:
ASIS International,
British Security Industry Association (BSIA),
International Professional Security Association (IPSA),
Security Institute (SyI)
Other members include:
Association of Security Consultants (ASC),
British Institute of Innkeeping Awarding Body (BIIAB),
Institute of Professional Investigators (IPI),
National Security Inspectorate (NSI),
Fire and Security Association (FSA),
Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board (SSAIB),
Skills for Security (SfS),