The Security Alliance Announces Its Position On The Future Of Regulation

The Security Alliance has outlined its official position on the future of regulation in the security industry, citing reduced regulatory costs and administrative burdens among the key objectives for the new regulatory regime.

In a letter to Lynne Featherstone MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State with responsibility for the Security Industry Authority (SIA), Chairman of the Security Alliance, James Kelly, reinforced the importance of ongoing consultation between Government and industry in order to establish a consensual vision on the way forward for the regulated security industry.

Key elements of the Alliance's position paper include the introduction of compulsory business registration, a concept that will significantly reduce regulatory costs for businesses and licence holders, allowing quality businesses the opportunity to have more responsibility for their own regulation while maintaining and improving standards across the industry. Emphasis was also placed upon achieving a consistent regulatory regime that meets the approval of the devolved governments in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

In addition to this, the Alliance has outlined a set of overarching principles that its members collectively agree will need to be central to any new regulatory process. These principles include:

• Regulation – The regulatory function should continue to encompass the licensing of individuals, compliance and enforcement, and should be expanded to include business registration. Enforcement should be robust, targeted and intelligence led. A single system of regulation for the whole of the UK should be retained.
• Compliance – Existing external auditory systems (UKAS Accredited) which are industry specific should be part of compliance system. A single individual training qualification should be the compliance indicator.
• Governance - The security industry should be represented on the board of the regulator.
• Simplicity – Licensed categories should be reduced in number and simplified.
• Skills and Standards – Standards should be based upon nationally recognised competency standards and should embrace existing British Standards. Development of skills and standards is the role of industry.
• Competition – Regulation should not discourage competition or new entrants.
• Value for Money – All costs should be transparent, proportionate and lower than the current system. Alternative methods, including devolved licensing, should be examined.

James Kelly, Chairman of the Security Alliance, comments: "Our partnership represents over 80% of the regulated industry with a shared aim of ensuring that a new 'smarter' regulatory framework is established based on our agreed principles. We strongly believe that by working together we can provide the most efficient and practical approach to help inform and support both the SIA and the Government as the new regime is developed."

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