The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) is urging guarding firms to act promptly on licensing by the Security Industry Authority (SIA).
The BSIA’s Security Guarding Section Chairman, Tony O’Neill, said: ‘The time for talking is over – the time for action is here. We are committed to support the rollout of licensing in a smooth and orderly fashion during 2005. With around 120,000 people to put through the system, and with additional training and assessment needed, it is plainly not an option to wait until the last minute.’
The BSIA and its guarding members have agreed with the SIA to manage the rollout programme throughout next year to ensure that everyone that needs a licence has one by the end of 2005, well before the final date for compliance in January 2006.
BSIA Chief Executive David Dickinson said: ‘We need to look at the experience of other countries to fully understand the impact that licensing will have both in the short and longer term. Experience tells us that, unless it is handled with great care, shortages of people may develop in the early days and these will lead to excessive rises in charges. Our members are committed to an orderly transition and will help to mitigate such possibilities – but everyone should understand that basic cost increases, and therefore increases in prices, will occur from 2005 onwards. There is also a strong likelihood of a ‘knock-on-effect’ on wage costs in years two and three and possibly beyond, as the employment market moves to the new, more professional and higher value basis.’
