BSIA advises member companies to use BS 7858

The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has advised its member companies operating in the guarding sector to carry on using the established screening standard BS 7858 for the vetting of officers.

Speaking to Security Management Today, BSIA chief executive David Dickinson commented: “We feel it is appropriate to issue advice to members concerning our position with regard to vetting requirements, because there appears to be some confusion surrounding what may or may not happen post-licensing and the advent of the Approved Contractor Scheme.”

Dickinson continued: “When it is fully implemented, the Security Industry Authority’s licensing regime will undoubtedly provide a much greater level of reassurance to both employers and customers, not to mention the community at large. However, it is not designed as a replacement for thorough vetting. The recently revised BS 7858 offers a clear standard which contractors can work towards.”

In conclusion, Dickinson added: “Suppliers and customers considering using other methods of vetting would perhaps find it prudent to wait for the publication of the final criteria of the Approved Contractor Scheme. This will involve a vetting requirement, and the approach taken is almost certain to be based on relevant British Standards. BSIA members agree to conform to a number of British Standards including BS 7858. That requirement hasn’t changed.”

The BSIA leader’s comments were issued immediately after The Security Watchdog launched Securi-Check, an alternative screening method to BS 7858 which has been adopted by leading contractor Securiplan (‘Securi-Check launched: an alternative solution to BS 7858’, News Update, SMT, February 2005, p7 and ‘Keep screening in Securi-Check’, Guarding Watch, SMT, February 2005, p46).

Offering his views on the present situation, Bobby Logue – of the industry’s only dedicated manned security web site Infologue.com – told SMT: “So far, the Regulator has remained publicly silent on this issue. This has led to the various interest groups placing their own interpretation on whether BS 7858 will be included as the sole standard in the Approved Contractor Scheme. We believe that failure to address such issues by the Regulator could lead to a splintering of the industry and the SIA having to deal with many interest groups on various levels instead of one industry voice.”