The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has launched a consultation which will help to determine the content of the next licence-linked qualifications for the private security industry. The consultation will run for four weeks until October 26.
The SIA urges people to give their views. As the regulator says, employers and prospective operatives spend money each year on these qualifications, and they need to be fit-for-purpose. The SIA can achieve this only with the help of the private security industry.
The consultation is structured around the SIA’s six licensable sectors that require a qualification:
Cash and Valuables in Transit
Close Protection
Door Supervision
Public Space Surveillance (CCTV)
Security Guarding
(in Northern Ireland) Vehicle Immobiliser
These are supported by nine skills’ specifications being consulted on and they include common industry knowledge and specialist content areas that go into making up the licence-linked qualifications. Visit the SIA website for the table of existing specifications.
To have a say on the draft specifications for the licence-linked qualifications visit the consultation website.
The specifications will be re-drafted after this consultation, and will be put out to two further rounds of public consultation.
Tony Holyland, SIA Head of Quality and Standards, says: “This consultation is a fantastic way for those of you working in the industry to contribute and to help to get the specifications right. This is your opportunity to shape the future of the licence-linked qualifications to ensure they are relevant for your industry in the years ahead.”
The SIA worked with working groups drawn from each of the specialist areas to develop the content for the qualifications. The SIA has commissioned IFF Research to carry out research into the industry which will finish in October. The findings of the research will be used to help shape the next edition of the specifications. When this consultation concludes the SIA will review with the working groups. The SIA will then make the next draft of the specifications available to the public again for comment. This will be supported by a further consultation that will be designed around more interviews.
