ASC

The SIA advises Home Office to delay licensing security consultants (ASC news heading)

03/05/07

The SIA advises Home Office to delay licensing security consultants (ASC news heading)

The SIA has written to the security industry associations:

18 April 2007

Security Consultants ? Proposal for long term delay to development of licensing

Under schedule 2, paragraph 5 of the Private Security Industry Act 2001 ('the Act') the SIA has the remit to consider licensing security consultants.

In February 2006 we announced that we were postponing the development of licensing for security consultants following a period of extensive consultation with individuals working within the sector. Through this consultation we liaised with a range of individuals who may fall within the scope of licensable activity, including individuals working within areas such as equipment installation, fraud prevention, security protection advice and information security. This research illustrated that the breadth of activity was diverse and wide ranging. However, it also indicated that there was little evidence of any risk to the public being posed by these activities.

When we announced the delay in early 2006, we committed to reviewing this position in 2007. Given the broad range of security consultant activities potentially covered by the Act the lack of evidence that regulation is required to protect the public and the SIA's ongoing strategic programme work (which includes extending the scope of licensing to Northern Ireland and, potentially, bailiffs) we are now considering whether to recommend a further long term delay to the Home Office minister. In effect, this would mean that we would be unlikely to consider any approach for this sector until 2010, at the earliest.

Before we make this recommendation we would like your views on this approach. Specifically:

Do you agree that the development of licensing for security consultants should be delayed until 2010, at the earliest?

What security consultant activities, if any, do you believe pose a risk to the public and therefore require regulation (please provide any evidence to support this view)?

Please note, this is not a consultation on whether licensing should or shouldn't be implemented in this sector (this would only be conducted through a regulatory impact assessment). At this stage we are considering whether we should delay the work further.

Would you please consider the above questions and respond, in writing, to the SIA no later than 18 May 2007.

Responses should be sent to:

Security Consultant Survey
PO Box 49768
London
WC1V 6WY



We will publish an update on the approach we are taking through our website, following collation and review of the responses received.

Thank you for your assistance in this important matter.

Yours sincerely

Andy Drane
Acting Chief Executive
The Security Industry Authority