In any industrial sector, it matters not a jot how clever your policy, British Standard or Code of Practice if the messages subsumed within are not disseminated – and disseminated well – to the industry's great and good.
In today's media-centric world, it's the self-publicists who dominate proceedings. That said, there must be substance behind what is offered in preference to 'spin', while no promotion at all is a better bet than bad promotion.

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) looks to have struck just the right balance. Kicking off its series of Regional Roadshows last month ('SIA engages buyers at first regulation Roadshow', News Special, pp15-16), an assembled panel of SIA mandarins from the Home Office – led by policy director Graham Titcombe – placed themselves at the mercy of an expectant, 200-strong gathering of security professionals in London's Congress Centre to deliver the latest thinking on regulation and licensing.

The presentations on applying for a licence, transferring to a regulated sector and criminality checks were well considered, and that most important topic of all – professional standards and competencies for training – discussed in depth. Likewise the rules on appeal procedures.

All well and good, but did the audience learn anything new (from the Question and Answer session) about what has transpired at 50 Broadway in the past couple of months?

For starters, the cost of licensing will now be in three figures as opposed to two. That will be a worry for end users and their guarding contractors, who have seen cost estimates shoot up from the original fee of £30-£50 per applicant.

Another constant worry is the lack of hard-edged statistics on criminality in this country. Of course, as the licensing process is brought up to speed, checks may be made on the number of licenses refused or revoked– offering a less muddy perspective. However, the industry needs more detailed figures now such that it can truly assess the scale of the problem. Hence the requirement for less spin from New Labour in favour of a touch more substance.

Just as BSIA supremo David Dickinson feels there has to be an "honest and open debate" over the Working Time Directive (News, p7) , the SIA has mirrored industry opinion by opening itself up to scrutiny. A positive move indeed.

Source

SMT