BSI revises BS 7858 screening standard for security personnel

How secure are your staff checks? That IS the question being asked by the British Standards Institution (BSI) in the wake of its revisions to BS 7858 – the British Standard Code of Practice for the Security Screening of Security Personnel.

Confidence in employees is key for all businesses, particularly when members of staff are placed in charge of vulnerable people or the security and safety of valuable assets. Recent high profile losses at major UK airports that were reported in the national press demonstrate exactly why it's imperative for companies to ensure that security operatives have been subjected to the most rigorous checks.

The British Standard BS 7858:2004 isn't limited to security staff, however, and with employee theft on the increase, it's likely that comprehensive checks on all personnel can prevent substantial profit loss.

Employee theft costs the retail industry alone some £426 million. That represents approximately 36% of the total losses experienced by the retail sector as a result of theft. Checking staff backgrounds, in accordance with the most recent Codes of Best Practice, is becoming an increasingly valuable necessity for all businesses.

Marc Edney of BSI Business Information told SMT: "While no checking system can ever provide absolute security, it's important for businesses to demonstrate that they've ensured, as far as is practically possible, the background and integrity of personnel is established and maintained. We feel that this British Standard provides the most effective means of enabling companies to do that."

BS 7858:2004 improves upon the 1996 version. The revisions have taken into account the Private Security Industry Act 2001, as well as the terms and conditions spelt out in the Data Protection Act 1998.

The Standard also provides up-to-date advice on how to deal effectively with the new types of ID now coming on-stream (such as photocard driving licenses) and updated and expanded sample documents.