Marking 20 years of improving standards in security and supporting public safety
Heather has been the Chair of the SIA since June 2021. After a career in policing, she has spent the past ten years in a variety of Non-Executive Director roles including as a member of the Department of Justice Board in Northern Ireland and five years as the Deputy Chair of a community and mental health NHS Trust in Dorset. As the SIA launches a series of stories to mark 20 years since the introduction of private security industry regulation, Heather reflects on key moments over the past 2 decades which have helped to change public protection for the better.
Around this time 20 years ago, the Security Industry Authority was building up to the launch of the licensing regime set out under the Private Security Industry Act 2001. Now, there are over 430,000 individual licence holders across the UK holding more than 485,000 licences in total.
As Chair of the SIA, it is a pleasure to launch this series of stories to mark our 20th anniversary. So much has changed since we were set up as a public body in 2003 and started licensing operatives in 2004. Here are just a few reflections on the key moments which have helped to improve standards in security and support public safety over the past 2 decades.
Issuing the first SIA licences
The major milestone which we will mark next year, was issuing the first SIA licences in April 2004. Before compulsory licensing, there was no guarantee that a security operative had been checked to see if they posed a public risk. Now we assess whether people are fit and proper to work in the industry and remove anyone found unsuitable, to make sure the public can have trust and confidence in licensed operatives.
Approving security contractors
We launched our Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) in February 2006. Companies which choose to be in the scheme are committed to good practice standards and are independently assessed, giving confidence to security buyers. In the next few years, we plan to design, build and launch a next generation business approvals scheme. It will have a greater focus on outcomes for the customers and consumers of private security services, with business’ contribution to public safety at its core. When launched, the new scheme will replace the current ACS and I encourage all security business leaders to engage with our proposals.
Prosecuting criminal activity
The SIA first successfully prosecuted individual operatives and directors of security companies in 2005 and in July 2008 a landmark High Court judgement confirmed that we have the power to prosecute. Though we aim to resolve most cases of non-compliance through advice, guidance, or formal warnings, we will use our legal powers if the public is at risk. You can find a list of our recent prosecutions on our website.
Making criminals pay back
In 2015, we were granted powers of confiscation and restraint under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and since 2017 we have confiscated over £1 million to deter criminals and make it harder for them to come back into the industry. We also use part of this money to support public safety. Since 2019, we have given almost £850,000 to good causes.
Setting training standards
20 years ago, there was no guarantee that people working in security were trained. Today you must have an SIA licence-linked qualification before applying for a front-line licence. We set the standard that these qualifications must meet. We do this to ensure all operatives can show they have the safety-critical training required to help keep themselves and the public from harm. Individual licence holders have achieved over 2.5 million of these qualifications since our launch. For many this represents a first formal qualification that has set them on the road to further learning. The volume of learning undertaken has benefitted the industry and the community at large. We are currently working with the organisations which regulate qualifications to ensure that awards are delivered to the right quality.
Working in partnership
Over the years, we have worked with hundreds of enforcement partners like the police and HMRC on joint operations, and private security industry partners on training and awareness raising initiatives. Only a few weeks ago, I was in Milton Keynes for the launch of free ‘active bystander’ training designed to help workers at pubs, bars and clubs to spot and act against inappropriate predatory and derogatory behaviour. This is a great example of local government, the police and the industry working in partnership on key public safety issues. We will continue to play our part in contributing to the national agenda on reducing violence against women and girls in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Supporting industry-led skills initiatives
We are pleased to have supported and facilitated many industry-led initiatives which strengthen professional skills and help improve perceptions of private security as a career of choice. Recent examples include the new Skills Board and government-funded security apprenticeship. The more operatives that are trained above and beyond the entry-level baseline standards we set, and who are committed to high professional standards, the better outcome for community safety.
Tangible public protection outcomes
In recent years and particularly in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic, I hope that public awareness of the contribution that private security makes to everyone’s safety and wellbeing is more fully recognised. For example, in the nighttime economy, our licence holders keep people safe most nights of the week throughout the year, particularly now as universities welcome freshers and in the run up to the Christmas season. During the summer, our teams work with local authorities and event organisers to ensure that security deployed to both small and larger scale events all around the UK is of the highest standard. Whether it was the Commonwealth Games, the King’s Coronation or COP26, or is the next Glastonbury or Y Not festival – private security makes a positive difference both to public safety and to all of us enjoying the event experience.
Whether it’s safely transiting cash from your local coffee shop, guarding key sites around the UK, monitoring CCTV in your shopping mall, providing close protection to those at risk, keyholding for businesses or vehicle removal in Northern Ireland, our licence holders touch the lives of just about everyone across the UK in some way or other – importantly keeping people, their property and places safe.
Looking back at these key moments, it is clear real progress has been made in raising standards in private security, contributing towards better public safety outcomes since regulation began. As Chair, I recognise that there is still more that can be done to make sure people are protected. The board, SIA staff and I are committed to continuing to work in partnership with the Home Office and colleagues in Scotland and Northern Ireland, with police services across the UK, and the private security industry, to support greater public safety for everyone.
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