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
12/10/2005
Regulation of Scotland's private security industry moves a step closer today with the first meeting of a new project board to oversee the implementation of licensing across the country.
The board, set up by the GB-wide Security Industry Authority (SIA), will work with the industry in Scotland to ensure it is fully geared up for the new arrangements.
It will include two representatives from the SIA, an official from the Executive's justice department and a project manager who will be responsible for planning the day to day implementation of licensing due to begin in September next year.
Training is to be provided for those already employed or seeking employment in the sectors of the industry which are now, or soon to be, regulated in England and Wales - including door supervisors, manned guards, bodyguards, CCTV operators, those involved in transporting cash and valuables, private investigators and security consultants.
Licenses will be made available to applicants working in those areas from February 2007 and it will become an offence to work in such posts, without a licence towards the end of that year.
Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson said:
"The private security industry encompasses a wide range of activities and individuals - from those involved in guarding people and property, to private investigators, CCTV operators, security consultants and door stewards. Given the nature of this work, we are determined to provide greater protection and assurance to anyone - the public or private companies - hiring staff in these areas."
"Regulation, through the SIA, will provide that reassurance by preventing unsuitable people from obtaining positions of trust in the private security industry. It will ensure that security personnel are fit and proper people who are competent to perform their duties. It will also benefit legitimate private security businesses and staff in driving up standards and driving out the small minority of operators who are tarnishing their good name by using the industry as a front for illegal activities.
"The project board will play a key part in taking this project forward and help us in delivering a consistent licensing regime throughout Great Britain which enables the Scottish security industry to thrive while giving the public the increased assurance and protection they need."
Andy Drane, Depute Chief Executive of the SIA, said:
"Regulation in Scotland by the SIA will ensure standards of training and professionalism in the private security industry are the same across Great Britain. The public will benefit from one regulator and one licensing scheme which will allow them to have confidence in a regulated and trusted industry, and Scottish security businesses will not be disadvantaged in a competitive market."
The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005, among its many provisions, extends the remit of the SIA - which is responsible for regulating the industry in England and Wales - to Scotland.
By creating one scheme for Scotland, England and Wales, industry licensing requirements will become the same north and south of the border, and bureaucracy and costs will be minimised allowing a level playing field for Scottish security companies to trade on both sides of the border.
Once fully implemented in Scotland, it will become an offence for anyone employed within a licensed sector of the industry to operate without an SIA licence. This includes those who deliver the security services on the frontline, for example door supervisors and security guards, but it will also include those who run the companies.
Licences will only be issued if the applicant passes three main checks carried out by the SIA: an identity check, a competency check and a criminality check.
They may also look at three other areas, the mental health of the applicant, their right to remain and work in the UK and other criminal intelligence information provided to them by other parties.
Licences will be issued for a period of three years, but during that time the SIA may revoke or modify the licence if the licensee contravenes the SIA standards and criteria.
The project board will be responsible for authorising each stage of regulation implementation and will include three permanent members and one non-permanent member.
To ensure early consistency throughout Great Britain, licensing will be introduced in Scotland from February 2007, to all the sectors which will by then be licensed in England and Wales:
- door supervisors, both in-house and supplied under contract
- security guards supplied under contract
- key holders supplied under contract
- close protection operatives (body guards) supplied under contract
- cash and valuables in transit operatives supplied under contract
- CCTV (public surveillance) operatives supplied under contract
- private investigators supplied under contract
- security consultants supplied under contract
In addition, an approved contractor scheme for security companies will be introduced. Under this scheme, security companies will be able to apply to the SIA for recognition that they have met set criteria and will be able to advertise themselves as SIA approved contractors.
Licensing for defence precognition agents, who interview prosecution witnesses on behalf of defence agents prior to cases going to court, and who only operate in Scotland, will follow as part of the second phase of implementation. The SIA project manager will develop a programme for this work, with regulation for this group is expected to begin in late 2007.