Pass us evidence of the need to licence the in-house guarding sector. So says the British Security Industry Association (BSIA).
This is the latest turn in the debate on the regulation of the in-house sector of the security guarding industry.<br><br>Briefly, the SIA ruled earlier this year that in-house guards would not come under its regime the same as contract security officers. While some in contract guarding condemned this, the SIA countered that it judged on what evidence it had.<br><br>BSIA Chairman, Stuart Lowden, pictured, says: "The BSIA and its members have long been advocates of the regulation of the in-house sector of the security guarding industry. We feel that it was an anomaly for the in-house sector to be left out of the legislation, creating a two-tier system. Regulation would also bring the in-house sector up to the same level of professionalism as the contract sector through increased training and vetting."<br><br>"The Security Industry Authority has stated that there are no plans to re-visit the in-house issue until 2012 unless significant substantiated evidence is presented that clear risk to public protection across the in-house sector has developed. With the industry adamant that in-house should be licensed, the BSIA feels that such evidence should be gathered and submitted in a co-ordinated manner sooner rather than later. <br><br>"The association is willing to be a conduit for the collation and submission of such evidence to the Security Industry Authority on behalf of the industry and welcomes compelling evidence on the issue from members and non-members alike."<br><br>Security guarding companies looking to submit evidence for collation by the BSIA should email [email protected] or call 0845 389 3889.
