New independent body to takeover from SIA
A new independent body for door staff regulation will replace the Security Industry Authority (SIA) by 2013.
Speaking at the annual SIA conference in London, Home Office official Tyson Hepple said that the industry was now mature enough to take more responsibility for regulation.
The new body will have legal powers, thanks to primary legislation planned when the SIA is phased out.
Last October, the Government announced plans for a transition to a new regulatory regime for the private security industry.
Hepple, the director of civil liberties and public protection, thanked the SIA for all the good work it has done over the past six years.
He said the reason for giving more responsibility to the industry was because the time was right for a "phased transition to a regulatory regime" as the industry had moved on.
He reassured delegates that no major changes will take place before the Olympic Games next year, and that the regulatory regime will be shaped taking into account the views of the people working in the industry.
Baroness Ruth Henig, chair of the SIA, added that she supported the changes. She said: "I have a vision for a smarter regime. I support the regulatory regime for greater involvement and responsibility."
"We have a real opportunity to revise the regulations and we will make sure that people who work in the industry are actively involved. It's a major step forward."
On-the-job training
As part of the new legislation, SIA director of service delivery Steve McCormick said that the SIA is consulting on on-the-job training for security staff.
However, Mitchells & Butlers' head of security and licensing Andrew Nicholls pointed out that premises licences note that door staff need to be SIA approved.
He said: "On-the-job training may be ok in an office block and for big companies that provide security to supermarkets, but it's not for a pub. I don't think that would work for the trade."
BIIAB director Cathie Smith said: "There is a difference between security guards and door supervisors.
"This could mean that we run the risk to the way things were before the regulations came into effect. We need to give our members the confidence that the staff they employ are trained to do the job."
