Licensing and Regulation: A Personal Perspective Peter Webster, Chief Executive, Corps Security 14 March 2017
Industry Regulation • I fully support regulation for the security industry • I don’t believe the industry has ever wanted total deregulation • I am in favour of the current system of individual licensing • An SIA licence gives an individual a passport to employment • However, the current system simply isn’t publicised enough
Industry Regulation • We must change the stereotypical image of a security officer • Negative perceptions create a downward spiral of low self-worth • Public understanding of licensing and regulation can only lead to wider respect for our industry • We are increasingly an important element in the National Security Infrastructure
Business Licensing • I am passionately against Business Licensing as proposed • It can only create a greater burden on business, with increased risks • It will mean additional cost to an already financially-challenged industry • It’s a step towards increasing the administrative responsibility on businesses - as seen with the ‘Licence Management’ scheme
Business Licensing • Business licensing won’t stop the behaviour it seeks to prevent • Can business licensing vetting really improve on “non - frontline” individual SIA licences already mandatory in ACS companies? • The criminal fraternity is clever enough to get around vetting! • Business licencing will increase the burden on law abiding business - not on those who seek to operate outside the law • Unworkable when it comes to foreign owned companies
Approved Contractor Scheme • There is already a form of business licensing in existence: the ACS • Why not drop proposed business licensing, and introduce mandatory ACS? • ACS is very robust and requires vetting to BS7858, for example • I’m not saying the ACS cannot be improved, and we can make it stronger • … but awareness of ACS will support the SIA, and the industry as a whole
Approved Contractor Scheme • How might the ACS be improved? • Firstly, ACS must stay under the control of the regulator • Where ACS companies are listed, they could have scores of 1 or 174 • The ACS should encourage companies to strive to improve their score • Why not ‘band’ ACS companies bronze, silver, gold, platinum? • We need to ensure that the market and public knows that ACS exists
Finally • We have to take control of the image of the security industry! • This is tied to awareness of the SIA, individual licensing, and the ACS • Our industry must buy into the need to better control our image • We have to demonstrate the industry’s value to the UK security infrastructure • We have to help the wider public recognise the industry’s importance I welcome your feedback on my views on my blog at www.corpsthinking.com
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