…and they all lived together in a crooked little house

SIR - Is it just me, or are there others among Security Management Today's readership who believe that the laws of the land apply equally to everyone?

The Private Security Industry Act 2001 quite clearly states that it's an offence to work as a security operative in the private sector without a licence. This is a law enacted to provide greater degrees of safety for the people with whom those operatives interact. Therefore, if it is the will of the people, a security operative must be fully-trained and licensed before they commence their duties. So be it.

Yet it appears from my meagre understanding of the Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) that it is possible to ‘buy' dispensation from the Act! Pay a licence fee and you can employ certain security operatives on site with immediate effect (without the need for any checks) for a short period of time. This affords ACS members a massive operational advantage over their competitors. They will have greater flexibility, being better placed to take full advantage of seasonal fluctuations without the need for incurring additional training and licensing costs.

The ACS is just racketeering. Plain and simple. It's saying: "Pay us what is little more than ‘protection money' and you'll enjoy more favourable operating conditions for your company."

Either way, the ACS has nothing to do with the raising of professional standards. It's main function is to close down the smaller firms and then feather the nests of those who remain.

For me, the ACS represents a perfect illustration of the unworkable nature of the existing law. It is clearly ridiculous to expect clients of the security industry to close their establishments until trained and licensed personnel are available. It is equally ridiculous to expect those who are working in the industry to wait up to four months without pay before they can secure a position.

What is required is something like a provisional driving licence, only available to individuals on a one-time basis for an agreed fee. This should allow a given individual to operate for a limited period, once trained, while the other necessary checks are carried out.

No individual, company or organisation should ever be able to purchase the right to break the laws of the land from the Government of the day. The security industry - in particular - is supposed to set an example here, no matter how great the inconvenience.

If the ACS is not challenged for being the disgusting piece of discrimination that it is, the industry places itself - and all those it represents - in jeopardy.

Anyone who wishes to help with the establishment of a ‘Fighting Fund' should send an e-mail to: ianfox@m3t.co.uk

The Editor replies:

Thank You for your Letter To The Editor, Ian. Strong words written from the heart… and not a little controversial, it must be said! You'll be aware that we are running a campaign entitled ‘Four Issues, One Voice', within which we are challenging the Government to look again at the costs for the Approved Contractor Scheme.