The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has begun the lengthy process of licensing private sector security officers, with application packs having been made available from Monday 10 January. As of 20 March 2006, it will then become a legal requirement for those working in the sector to hold an SIA-issued licence.

Licensing of Cash and Valuables in Transit officers began on the same date. The SIA has also announced that licensing for public space CCTV surveillance operatives will open on 27 June, and for close protection specialists on 1 September. All are subject to the March 2006 ‘cut off’ date.

Anyone involved in licensable sectors, and who works under contract, will need to be licensed. This includes employees, managers, supervisors and directors of security companies. At present, licensing doesn’t extend to those security operatives employed in-house.

The SIA has also circulated copies of the Proposed Standard Definition pertaining to its Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) for public comment. The document is a draft version of the accreditation criteria and standards that will eventually underpin security company membership of the ACS.

The draft doesn’t specify a minimum standard for entry to the ACS , but seeks to describe the ‘perfect’ organisation that would score 100% in an assessment while offering purchasers “an assurance that the accredited company is competent, committed to quality and adheres to professional standards.”

All comments on the draft ACS document must be forwarded to the SIA by 7 February.

Source

SMT

Postscript

Further details are available on the SIA web site (www.the-sia.org.uk)