The Private Security Industry
The private security industry in Scotland encompasses a
wide range of activities from guarding people and property
to private investigators and security consultants. The
public must be satisfied that all the companies and
individuals working in the industry are reputable and
trustworthy. A consultation exercise carried out by the
Scottish Executive in 2001-02 showed clear support for the
introduction of regulation.
Scottish Ministers announced on 25 March 2003 that,
following agreement with the Home Office and the Security
Industry Authority, the remit of the Authority should be
extended to include Scotland. This would ensure that
regulatory standards and costs are the same across the
country. Such a change would require primary
legislation.
Proposals to extend the remit of the SIA are currently
being considered by the UK Parliament in the
'Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill'. This
approach was subject to the consent of The Scottish
Parliament through a Sewel motion which was passed on 2
Feruary 2005.
Regulation of the Industry
The pages which can be accessed through the link to
'Regulation -The Way Forward' on the left
side of the screen will provide you with background on how
we consulted on this and the results and conclusion we took
from that exercise