The Security Institute (TSI) has announced its intention to develop a set of formal guidelines for the procurement and management of security guarding services – a move that will be welcomed by blue chip end users of security services.
To sustain the programme of work, TSI has already established a Working Party to research and, in due course, define "realistic and achievable" standards of best practice within this key sector. Michael Britnell – head of security at Johnson Controls – is chairing the Working Party, and is joined by prominent members of the industry representing client organisations, service providers, security consultants and the world of academia.

Participants include Geoff Whitfield (GlaxoSmithKline), Chris Smith (Deutsche Bank), Gary Ash (of Wyeth Laboratories), David Dickinson (chief executive at the BSIA), Professor Martin Gill (PRCI), Ian Johnson (principal consultant at Ian Johnson Associates) and Tom Jones from Cisco Systems.

In addition, three BSIA member companies (varying in size, and thus representing all strands of private sector guarding provision) will be actively involved in the Working Party. These include Wilson James and Securiplan.

Speaking about the initiative, David Dickinson told Security Management Today: "The BSIA has always supported any initiative to improve standards within the industry. We are very pleased to be a part of the Working Party set up by TSI because we believe, at this crucial time for the industry, it is vitally important to point the correct way forward."

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