Security shake-up revealed

SECURITY companies face regulation and being handed responsibility for ensuring their employees have undergone ID and qualification checks under proposals for a radical shake-up of the private security industry.

The UK government wants to replace the Security Industry Authority (SIA) with a new regulator.
Under the proposals, which are out for consultation until January 15, 2013, private security businesses would be regulated, with companies then taking on responsibility for ensuring the required checks on individual employees are carried out; the regulator would continue to handle criminality checks. The existing voluntary business accreditation Approved Contractor Scheme would be replaced with a new scheme controlled by an industry-led organisation.
Eddie Tobin, of Security Scotland, welcomed the proposals, claiming the security industry has seen “little improvement” since the SIA was set up in 2003. “People should be licensed to be door stewards, but the cost should be proportionate to the number of hours you work,” he told SLTN.
“For someone doing 18 hours a week as a part-time job, a £500 investment for a badge and training is a bit excessive.”
As regulation of the security industry is devolved, the Scottish Government will decide which changes, if any, to introduce. A spokeswoman said it will take a view on the proposals after the consultation.