Sir – The negative side of Security Industry Authority regulation had its first impact on my company this week. I believe our experience could be something of an indicator of a looming problem for the industry.

Part-timers – in particular at the weekend – are essential in allowing the industry’s contractors to maintain their rosters and their commitments to clients. I carried out an initial ‘over-the-telephone’ interview with a chap prior to a face-to-face interview and a proper application. The details given by the interviewee made him a perfect candidate for the security industry. He was intelligent, physically fit, well presented in his manner and held good references. On top of that, there was an unblemished record of no involvements with the police – and a clean driving licence.

Anyway, said individual was eager to earn some supplementary income and, to this end, was quite happy to work a couple of nights or days at the weekend.

However, when I explained the new private security sector licensing laws he was really taken aback. Why would he want to go to the expense of a training course and paying for a three-year licence when all he wanted to do was earn some extra money to support his family? Needless to say he declined the opportunity and decided to look elsewhere.

In the past I have chosen to employ a variety of high profile people – among them managers and supervisors – in other industries. All of them wanted to earn that little bit of extra cash to improve their lives. They have always done a first class job...

The security industry will now be that much poorer in its flexibility to fill the nation’s weekend rosters.

Ray Redmore, Managing Director, Security 2000

Source

SMT