See the December magazine for the latest on private security industry regulation. Meanwhile:
The cost of regulation should be compared to the potential cost of inadequate security, said David Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Security Industry Association, at a seminar in Warwick on November 18.
Speaking at The Watch Security Ltd’s regulation seminar, David Dickinson said: "The BSIA has gone on record to say that the initial cost of getting a security officer licensed will be in the region of £600. This figure is a prediction of the costs that will impact on suppliers in the first year of licensing, 2005.
What they say
"This figure is an important yardstick for those who perceived the cost of regulation to be only the £190 licence itself. However, it is important to remember that the predicted increase in wages will far exceed this amount in order to retain individuals of the right calibre. Depending upon current pay rates, wage increases of 10 to 15 per cent could well be required. Consequently low paying companies will face the biggest impact. Whilst clearly each security company will take their own approach when it comes to contract prices – and rightly so – end-users should be prepared for significant price increases as a result of regulation in the next few years. Profit margins are extremely low in the guarding sector and there is simply no room to absorb the increase in costs that regulation will bring about. I would very much like to see the costs debate move to a different level – that of the potential cost of not having adequate security. In a regulated environment end-users can look forward to professionally qualified and licensed officers, with improved pay and working conditions – delivering a higher quality of service. Soon the UK industry will be on a par with regulated security sectors in other countries. There, security is considered a profession and customers see a clear return on their investment."
