Report on the BSIA Annual Luncheon 2004

Hazel Blears MP – minister of state for Crime Reduction, Policing and Community Safety – addressed guests at the BSIA’s Annual Luncheon with a lively KeyNote speech, during which she spoke eloquently about the importance of private sector regulation (and praised the Association’s work in this area).

During the event – held at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane on Wednesday 7 July, and attended by over 470 guests – the minister commended the BSIA’s role in supporting the Security Industry Authority. Blears also expanded upon the latest developments in manned security licensing, discussing the expected roll-out programme (scheduled for January 2005), and the likelihood of staggered applications to allow for a smoother and far more manageable transition.

In this way, individual officers will have ample time to undergo training and complete their applications.

The minister added that the voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme would be available far enough ahead of the licence requirement date to be of real benefit to the security industry at large.

The European Services Directive

During her speech, Hazel Blears also alluded to the European Commissioner’s proposal for a ‘Directive on Services in the Internal Market’ – something about which the BSIA has already voiced grave concerns (‘Euro Services Directive poses “major threat”’, News Update, SMT, June 2004, p7).

The BSIA’s concerns are two-fold. First, the Directive states that once a service provider is operating legally in one Member State, it can market its services in other Member States without having to comply with any further rules deemed necessary in the ‘host’ country. This would lead to the risk of abuses of competition in the private security sector.

Second, there’s a distinct inconsistency within the proposal, resulting in a situation whereby a private security company that wants to establish itself in the UK must ask for authorisation, whereas a company established in another Member State would be allowed to provide such services in the UK without any authorisation.

Therefore, the BSIA has called for a more detailed and extended assessment of the draft Directive on the whole of the European private security industry. Ultimately, the Association would like the security industry to be included in those sectors that are exempt from the European Directive.

Having acknowledged the BSIA’s concerns, Hazel Blears indicated that – as is the case with any draft document – the Directive would be subject to “redrafting and fine tuning”. The Government minister also admitted that it would be appropriate for any concerns to be aired in the appropriate arenas.

In addition to her KeyNote address, Hazel Blears presented the Apprentice Installer Awards (sponsored by JobCentre Plus) and the Security Officer Awards (sponsored by Camberford Law).

The minister offered special praise to the winners for their contribution to the private security industry.

Looking towards a bright future

New BSIA chairman Jim Harrower presented the BSIA Chairman’s Awards, which recognise outstanding contributions to the security industry. During his oration, Harrower thanked the present Government for bringing the Private Security Industry Act 2001 to fruition, and highlighted the industry’s future role.

“There’s most certainly a place for us in the wider policing family,” said Harrower, “but it’s not as replacement police officers. We can, and in some places already do, provide first class support services, freeing-up sworn police officers for the work that they’re uniquely qualified to do.”

The importance of technology

The BSIA chairman also acknowledged the importance of technology. “I want to pay tribute to the many-faceted security technology sectors which, year-on-year, provide innovative solutions to satisfy their varied customers’ needs. The trick now is to harness the creativity of those technologies and join them with the skills of the manned services providers.”

Harrower continued: “As an Association we’re committed to making that happen. It’s not easy, though. It may not be speedy, either, but it’s most certainly wholly worthwhile.”

The BSIA chairman finished his speech by addressing Hazel Blears once again on the subject of the European Services Directive, indicating the damage it could cause. “You are our minister. Please fight our corner!” opined Harrower.