Effective co-ordination
Since JSIC is not a trade association, the organisation was unanimously selected as the facilitator and co-ordinator of action across the industry leading to the formation of set standards and criteria for licensing of individuals working in the private sector.
In reality, any such action would be carried out in conjunction with the Home Office, the latter holding discussions with other 'stakeholders' – including local Government authorities, police forces and related factions of the private security industry – who wished to make an independent submission. In this way, the broadest possible spectrum of views relating to the Act's implementation could be captured for presentation to the Security Industry Authority.
Working with Government
The Way Forward Group's inaugural meeting was held on 20 July, when discussions with the Home Office determined a broad programme of future events. Also debated were the best ways for measuring the Group's progress, the formation of sector sub-groups aimed at taking forward discussions on definitions, the criminal and non-criminal criteria required for licensing, what standards are needed for academic and professional competency and the training packages necessary for achieving those standards.
In addition, the first meeting also concentrated on the procedures that ought to be applied for vetting, and how appeals against non-selection might be conducted.
Ultimately, six sector sub-groups were then established, one of them concentrating on manned guarding and also including dog handlers and key holders, door supervisors, wheel clampers, private investigators and security consultants. In other words, those sectors covered under the first version of the Private Security Industry Act.
The Way Forward Group's second meeting was held on Tuesday 11 September, a day that will live long in the memory for all of us. At the meeting, it became clear that important progress had been made since the first get-together by several of the sub-groups, particularly in terms of definitions, competency criteria and standards. For its part, the Home Office had also produced a draft workplan – as yet unendorsed by Government ministers – setting out the appropriate actions for the next few months.
Advertisements for the chair and chief executive posts at the Security Industry Authority had been issued (all applications were due in by 16 October), and an additional sector workgroup focusing on training agreed upon.
At the time, the Home Office representatives stated that they hoped to hold meetings with other stakeholder groups "in the very near future", as well as joining in with some of the sector group discussions.
The Way Forward Group
The next meeting of the Way Forward Group is scheduled for 28 November, with JSIC chairing the event. By this time it's hoped that the various sector sub-group concerns will be defined in dedicated reports.
While the Criminal Records Bureau's disclosure system – a process vital to licensing – will not be 'going live' until April next year, much procedural work needs to be carried out in the interim.
In the light of 11 September, the Government should now bring several issues to the fore.
JSIC: working with the private sector and the Government
The Reassurance Working Group, the export front... and a focus on terrorismJSIC chief executive Mike Welply sits on the Home Office’s Reassurance Working Group, representing the views of the private security industry, writes Brian Sims. The British Security Industry Association is also a member. Inter alia, the Working Group is responsible for providing advice to Government ministers with respect to the future development of the Police Reform Bill. The many and varied needs of the private security industry have been well documented, of course, not least in the pages of Security Management Today. JSIC very much hopes that the Private Security Industry Act will strengthen the role and function of those working in the private sector. News on the export front... Flowing from an initiative devised by JSIC member company the Association of Police and Public Security Suppliers (APPSS), the JSIC Secretariat has secured funding from Trade Partners (UK) for a benchmarking review of the industry’s export performance and potential. A report has now been published, and action is being taken to secure ‘pump priming’ funds with a view to appointing an export development and co-ordination officer – whose services would be made available throughout the security industry. In the wake of the terrorist attacks on the United States, JSIC has joined forces with Infolog to stage a detailed seminar on the terrorist threat. Entitled ‘Terrorism: From Threat Assessment to Countermeasures’, the event takes place on Wednesday 7 November at Russell Square House, Russell Square in central London. The seminar will address several essential issues, including: local versus global terrorism, the financial penalties and costs of terrorist activity, new boundaries for gathering intelligence and how the security community might share and act on intelligence received. Speakers at the event will include deputy assistant commissioner Alan Fry (the National Co-ordinator for the Anti-Terrorist Branch of the Metropolitan Police), John Smith (head of group security at Prudential plc) and Bob Fletcher, a director of the Risk Advisory Service. There will also be a keynote speaker from the MoD, who will advise security professionals on how to assess – and subsequently address – the threat. n For further information on the counter-terrorism seminar, the work of the Joint Security Industry Council or that of The Way Forward Group telephone Mike Welply at JSIC on 01344 638625. Alternatively, access JSIC’s web site at: www.jsic.co.uk
Source
SMT
Postscript
JSIC is also heavily involved with 'Guardsafe', a ground-breaking scheme aimed at licensing security staff working within the Trafford Borough of Greater Manchester. The scheme is being run by the Trafford Park Security Initiative. Watch out for an exclusive report in the December edition of Security Management Today.
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