Regulating the security industry in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland businesses need to be aware that from December 2009 it will become illegal to work in certain roles within the private security industry in the area without a licence. RMS Consulting can assist with the National Certificate for Door Supervisors, recently launched.

Daren Wood, the British Security Industry Association's Regional Manager for Northern Ireland outlines what organisations need to know.

Licensing of the private Security Industry is being introduced by the government to regulate the industry and its activities and in turn it will increase professionalism, improve levels of training and result in the eradication of any unscrupulous conduct.

As a user of private security services, it is vital that you understand regulation is and to whom it applies as from December you must ensure that you only employ the services of companies whose staff are compliant with the new regulations.

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) is the regulator for the private security industry across the UK. The SIA is an independent body, reporting to the Home Office, and licenses those who work for the contract private Security Industry in the following designated roles:

• cash and valuables in transit;
• close protection;
• door supervision (in-house door supervisors will also require a licence);
• public space surveillance (CCTV),
• security guarding,
• key holding,
• immobilisation,
• restriction and removal of vehicles.

There are three key areas covered by the licence application process: training, criminal record check and identity verification. The verification of these three essential areas will ensure that businesses will benefit from trained and qualified professional private security industry personnel. The BSIA and its member companies have welcomed licensing for Northern Ireland as a positive move towards increased professionalism in the industry and as a logical step which will create a single regulatory scheme for the private security industry throughout the United Kingdom.

For more information on regulation, visit www.the-sia.org.uk. The BSIA has produced a guidance document to assist Northern Ireland businesses in the run up to regulation. To download the BSIA guide to regulation in Northern Ireland click here.

Source: BSIA