The Watchdog says this because, although the Authority will undoubtedly be larger and have significant powers over its predecessors (such as the ISI and other accredited certification bodies), it will have to face a vastly increased requirement of manned guarding companies wishing to employ 'licensed' security officers.
Too often in the past the client has been promised a service which the industry – as currently structured – is just not able to deliver.
As a result, the trade associations and inspection bodies have often appeared impotent when the same client has reacted strongly to poor service, arguing that the only reason the current contractor was selected was a belief that they would strictly adhere to the relevant British Standards.
In truth, the British Standards themselves are very weak. Perhaps we should not expect too much in an industry that generally suffers from poor wages, long hours, small benefits and few career opportunities. It's a pity that we don't make this clear from the outset. If we did, it would help in reducing the client's level of expectation.
The Security Watchdog is in no doubt that the only way to improve standards – and enhance the Private Security Industry Authority's chances of success – is to balance the formal random inspections which it will provide with a comprehensive system of on-site audits carried out on an independent basis.
Over the last three years the Watchdog has conducted hundreds of on-site audits for both clients and contractors. Given the basics of the industry, you'll appreciate it's generally not very difficult to come across varying degrees of shortfalls on the existing contractor's performance (nor, indeed, unrealistic expectations on the part of the client). In our view, these observations are the easy part. What follows on from this is what makes our task both interesting and rewarding.
We believe that, having identified the components of a contract which (for whatever reason) are not working, it's then our task to put forward recommendations for improvement – given the client's financial constraints. It's also part of our remit to assist with their implementation and on-going upkeep.
As a result, we have devised a whole series of programmes to suit both client needs and their budget. The current trend shows an increase in demand for on-site audits commissioned by clients. We therefore recognise that a programme of independent on-site audits, built into a contract from the very beginning, will be an essential requirement for more and more clients in the years to come.
The growing membership of The Security Watchdog – manned guarding companies prepared to consistently open their doors to independent audit in order to raise standards – has encouraged us to introduce two new categories of membership. The Client Consortium is designed for those clients who understand the difficulties of the industry, but who nevertheless want to see an improvement in the terms and conditions of security officers working within it. A further membership category – Associate Member – offers advantageous terms, with either their products or services to our manned guarding members helping to improve performance.
The voice of The Watchdog's growing Client Consortium, twinned with the open door policy of the manned guarding membership and supported by our Associate Members, signals that The Watchdog has an important role to play over the coming years. We will continue the relentless drive towards ensuring that on-site standards, monitored through regular independent audits, will comply with – or even exceed – the minimum requirements of British Standards 7499 and 7858.
Source
SMT
