This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Regulation of private security industry
25/03/2003
The private security industry in Scotland is to
be subject to tighter controls, it was announced today.
Justice Minister Jim Wallace said the Executive had
concluded that the best way forward is to seek to extend
the remit of the Security Industry Authority (SIA) to
include Scotland.
The SIA is the new regulatory body for the security
industry in England and Wales which is due to come into
being on April 1.
The Executive's decision follows a consultation exercise
which identified widespread support for regulation - there
is currently no requirement for private security
contractors to be licensed and the industry is not
regulated - and also a view that bureaucracy should be kept
to a minimum and that licence conditions and fees set at a
similar level to those in England and Wales so as not to
disadvantage legitimate Scottish industry.
Mr Wallace said:
"A standard system of regulation across the whole of
Great Britain will provide:
- Economies of scale
- Consistency across Great Britain in terms of
licence conditions, training standards and costs - and
ensuring duplication is kept to a minimum
- Individuals would require only one licence - no
matter where they work
- Better and more consistent enforcement
"This will require amendments to the Private Security
Act 2001 to extend its remit to include Scotland and to
make consequential amendments to reflect the separate
Scottish legal system and areas of the industry, such as
precognition agents, which are unique here.
"Home Office Ministers have indicated that they would
welcome extending the SIA's remit to Scotland as soon as a
suitable legislative slot is identified in Westminster. The
SIA comes into being on April 1.
"We thought long and hard about establishing a separate
Scottish SIA but the costs and regulatory burden on
Scottish companies would have been far higher. Our
overriding objective is to deliver an affordable,
consistent licensing regime.
"The analysis pointed clearly to a GB wide approach.
This will ensure best value over the long term and will
ensure that Scottish Industry can thrive and compete
effectively."
Among those who responded to the Executive's
consultation exercise were the police, local government,
the industry itself, members of the Scottish parliament and
members of the public.
Mr Wallace made the announcement as he presented an
award to the British Security Industry Association (BSIA)
Security Office of the Year at a ceremony in Edinburgh.
The BSIA is the professional trade association for the
security industry in the UK. It has over 400 members who
are responsible for over 70 per cent of UK security
business including CCTV, access control, manned security,
information destruction, physical security, cash in transit
and alarm manufacture, distribution and installation.