Sir [-] I would like to offer the support of Lodge Service to your Four Issues, One Voice campaign, which certainly has the potential to strike all of the most important notes.

The licensing of in-house operatives is 'The Biggie'. It's a real 'must'. With companies such as the Co-op essentially creating organisations like Aegis to circumvent the legislation, this is a loophole that must be closed.

We would also agree with your call for industry representation on the SIA Board. However, we would not wish to see that representation necessarily coming from one of The Big Boys.

In terms of fair charging, I cannot see you making major inroads here unless a situation arose where everyone's renewal date is 20 March 2009. That could only backfire, as the Regulator will be trying to stagger renewals to ease its workload such that the administrative mess we are currently experiencing doesn't occur again.

Then there's the red tape situation. Those of us in the retail sector have still to be told clearly whether or not our staff need CCTV licences as well. The SIA's representatives say not, its web site says not. Yet other SIA representatives are still saying to customers that they do. This is very, very annoying.

There are other issues that must be addressed. What about a grading scheme for security officers such that there can be genuine differentiation between companies and solid career progression for staff?

Enticement bonuses are a big issue just now. One security company is currently offering £1,000 as an enticement to licensed officers to join the ranks. Indeed, they have approached our operatives. Due to its lack of compliance with the regulation [-] as a consequence of which it has lost several contracts [-] many of its staff were transferred through TUPE. However, the company has written to their home addresses offering them these bonuses to come back despite the new companies completing the SIA process which they had failed to do. Two employees (currently claiming to be off sick) are on a training course with them!

Stuart Lodge, Managing Director, Lodge Service

Source

SMT