The BS 7858 review process is ongoing, and far from being a ‘done deal'!

However, I feel that Jon simply does not understand the workings of the British Standards Institution's (BSI) Technical Committees and, more specifically, the work carried out by GW/3.

The BSI Technical Committees comprise representatives of many organisations, both from the industry and public authorities. Indeed, the BSI encourages participation by all interested parties to ensure that any standards produced are subject to the widest and most extensive consultation process possible, and that they meet industry needs.

The GW/3 Security Guarding Committee includes representatives from the Association of British Insurers, the British Security Industry Association, the Association of Security Consultants, the Joint Security Industry Council, the British Retail Consortium, the National Security Inspectorate, the Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board, the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Security Industry Authority (SIA). During 2005, it received a number of comments on British Standard BS 7858 ‘Code of Practice for Security Screening of Individuals Employed in a Security Environment' due to licensing proposed by the SIA. Those comments duly reflected the possible effects licensing might have on the security screening of individuals by companies.

Derek Smith, the business services director at Legion Security, was nominated by the GW/3 Committee to act as chair on the BS 7858 Review Panel (itself comprising members of GW/3). As such, Derek has no direct input, serving instead as an adjudicator. The Panel's task centred on reviewing the comments received and subsequently reporting back to GW/3 with some proposals on what changes - if any - were required, and then advising GW/3 if the proposed changes to BS 7858 were to evolve in the form of an amendment to the existing standard or if a complete review was necessary. Far from an easy task, as BS 7858 was not designed as the exclusive preserve of the security industry.

The BS 7858 Review Panel has now completed its work. Last November, as part of his role as chairman, Derek recommended to GW/3 that the proposed revision of BS 7858 should be circulated for public consultation in February 2006. In other words, this month. All interested parties will then have a chance to comment and offer guidance to the Review Panel, whose constituents will eventually produce the revised security screening standard this industry demands.

Given that the BSI's process of reviewing BS 7858 is ongoing, and that the public consultation process is only just about to begin, Jon's comments in last month's edition of Security Management Today were premature, unwarranted and unhelpful.

Alex Carmichael, Director of Support Services BSIA

SIR - In reply to Jon Elliott's Letter To The Editor, it would have been useful if his facts were correct. Jon appeared to be quoting from a draft of the revised British Standard BS 7858 that is yet to be put out for public consultation. Not only that, I would suggest that that he has also been rather selective with his comments.

BS 7858 has been reviewed to take into account the Private Security Industry Act 2001. It now introduces a criminality check (if the activity concerned is not licensable), requires organisations to counter identity theft and fraud, recognises the difficulty in obtaining references from previous employers by introducing a minimum five-year screening period while providing organisations with the necessary tools to screen for a longer period (if they so wish), and demands credit reference checking.

In addition, the new Standard also flows better, the forms have been simplified and Qualified Sign-Off for gaps in career histories has now been removed.

The BS 7858 Review Panel includes five security industry company directors as well as representatives from the British Security Industry Association, the International Professional Security Association, the Security Industry Authority, the National Security Inspectorate and the Information Commissioner. I am happy to co-opt Jon onto the Review Panel if that is his wish.

Derek Smith, Business Services Director, Legion Group plc

SIR - I would never wish to stifle robust or even controversial debate, but Jon Elliott does not understand the processes involved - or the facts pertaining to - possible revisions of BS 7858 and the workings of GW/3. Or maybe he is being deliberately mischievous? Or perhaps there's an element of both at play.

Whichever is the case, his contribution to January's edition of Security Management Today does nothing to help your readers understand what is a hugely important issue.

Jon's attempt to suggest that, somehow, the Financial Service Authority is becoming embroiled in our regulatory regime is but one example of his tendency to introduce complete red herrings and thus - if I may deliberately mix a metaphor - further muddy the water!

David Dickinson, Chief Executive, BSIA