As previously reported in Security Installer, the new organisation is the merging of the systems sector with the guarding sector – NACOSS and the ISI (Inspectorate of the Security Industry).
The event in London brought representatives from the Home Office, police, insurance industry, CBI and British Retail Consortium. Speakers welcomed the merging together of the two regulatory bodies to give a "broader and more effective voice for the industry" (Mike Schuck, British Retail Consortium).
One independent organisation
Dr David Holt, Chief Executive of NSI said that the NACOSS list of recognised firms was now nearly 100 per cent quality assured (ISO 9000) companies. When NACOSS was formed in 1991 the average number of false calls per system per year was in excess of two. Thanks to its Code of Practice on the Reduction of False Alarms this has now been halved. ISI, like NACOSS, achieved UKAS accreditation to award quality management certificates in the manned services sector. From a handful of companies, it now had more than 150.
The merger meant that one independent organisation was now running several inspection schemes across many sectors of the industry with 20 inspectors based throughout the country.
Sir Michael Bett, Chairman of NSI said: "In advance of government plans to regulate the industry, NSI will provide high quality voluntary inspection and certification services which will help regulate many sectors of the security, fire and allied industries." In the absence of Home Office Minister, Charles Clarke, the NSI was officially launched by Bruce George MP.
As part of the event details were given of the – up until now – decidedly low key launch of the ICON scheme which covers firms and individuals who install intruder alarms, access control and CCTV and who are looking for a "simple inspection service which qualifies them to be specified for premises at a level of risk appropriate to the ICON standard". If they are approved they can use the ICON logo which indicates they have met technical standards (BS or Euro equivalent); business criteria (basic requirements for insurance, premises, finance etc) and technical criteria (sector specific requirements like false alarm management). NSI says installation by ICON firms "should attract a police response, according to the local police force policy".
Source
Security Installer