We’ll not be among the breed that dies

SIR – I READ WITH MUCH INTEREST THE LEAD News Update item in Security Management Today’s December edition (‘UK security contractors will “transform or die”’, p8) and Security Industry Authority (SIA) chief executive John Saunders’ comments therein.

Those comments presuppose that all security companies, large or small, have operated in a shambolic fashion until now. That has not been the case for every security company in this industry.

As a group, we at Sector Security Services employ an average of 200 officers. We’re not in the ‘Big League’. Nonetheless, from the first year we set up in business we’ve subjected ourselves to rigorous inspections courtesy of the ISI – now under the National Security Inspectorate umbrella, of course – and hold its Gold Award. We enjoy excellent staff retention levels, and a client base which truly appreciates our attention to detail and management of security requirements.

All Sector Security Services staff are uniformed, thoroughly vetted and properly trained. We’ve invested in a fully-equipped training school, and have trained trainers to ensure that all new recruits receive the necessary instruction at the commencement of their employment. Continuous training is then provided on a regular basis to maintain the high standards our clients deserve.

We don’t need to “transform or die” because we – like a good many other security companies – already work to the standards the SIA requires. Indeed, we have done so for years.

As a company we fully embraced the concept of regulation as we understood that it would remove the criminal and ‘cowboy’ elements within the industry. Whether or not this turns out to be the case remains to be seen, as it appears the only way regulation will work involves ‘whistle blowing’ of information. Surely the preferred method should be strict regulation all the way, encompassing officers, service providers and even the end users?

Whatever the SIA might have in mind, as a company we do not intend to compromise on our standards. We will continue to provide good levels of service to our clients, subject ourselves to rigorous inspection to maintain those standards and provide our valued employees with advancement opportunities and security for the future.

No, Mr Saunders, we will not die because we, like many other private sector security companies, are already well ahead of you.

It would be refreshing if Security Management Today were able to speak to companies such as our own who don’t find the SIA’s requirements daunting.

As far as we’re concerned, the only drawback to regulation is the escalating cost associated with it.

Ed. Thank you for your most valued comments, Margaret. SMT is very much a journal for the industry, of the industry and very often scripted by the industry. We welcome valid opinions from all practitioners who have a point to make on behalf of the end user, contractor or systems provider.

A glance back at the journal over the past four years will show that we have worked in tandem with a huge variety of guarding companies, primarily those occupying the ‘middle ground’. We’d be delighted to work with you on producing an article for a future edition.