Include installers in licensing, says MP

The Private Security Industry Bill has received its second reading in the House of Commons. After passing through the House of Lords with only minor amendments, it is expected that the Bill will become law with relatively few changes to its current format.

But the British Security Industry Association is pressing for it to be applied to security installers, following consultation.

Conservative MP Sir Norman Fowler spoke in the debate about the need to include the alarms industry – not just because of "perceived or actual levels of criminality", but as a matter of public confidence".

Home Office Minister Charles Clarke said it was "highly likely" that regulation would reach the statute book before the election, although the upcoming Standing Committee debates had a tight timescale.

The BSIA said that, in discussions with the government, it became clear that this was a framework document only and there was scope for amendment and addition once the Bill was passed.

In particular, the BSIA has strongly called for compulsory licensing of companies as well as individuals and has asked for CCTV operators to be included.

It wants licence fees to be kept to a minimum.

A BSIA spokesman said: "We are also promoting the use of current industry inspectorates in the approvals process. So we would not anticipate quality companies facing significant additional burdens, as opposed to the companies that legislation seeks to regulate – namely, the irresponsible element of the industry." Some additional cost was a price worth paying to increase the professionalism of the sector.