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The BSIA has been working closely with the SIA ever since its inception in April 2003 in order to ensure that the industry鈥檚 voice was constantly heard in the run-up to licensing. The Association will continue to liaise with the regulator during the licensing process, and indeed throughout the ongoing development of the Approved Contractor Scheme.

Communication has been a key factor in the build-up to licensing. Having recognised this at an early stage, the BSIA 鈥� with the full support of the SIA 鈥� published a regulation booklet to inform end users of what they should expect from licensing of the guarding sector. The booklet, entitled 鈥楾he Reality of a Regulated Security Industry...The Implications and Opportunities鈥� (pictured), examines why licensing is necessary, outlines the role of the SIA, sets out the licence requirements and states the benefits of regulation alongside the costing implications for end users.

The inevitability of change

In his introduction to the booklet, BSIA chief executive David Dickinson states: 鈥淭he introduction of private security industry regulation provides businesses with a real opportunity to change the way in which they procure their security solutions in order to best protect their assets and, most importantly, their personnel.鈥� Licensing will inevitably lead to the development of an innovative and dynamic industry with Best Practice in abundance. An industry in which technology and knowledge are exploited, and added value is delivered to the end user community.

However, such an opportunity inevitably means change. The cost of licensing is estimated at 拢600 per individual in the first year. This includes the 拢190 licence fee, 拢35 for registering qualifications and the various costs incurred by a security company in licensing their officers (including training trainers, cover for officers completing training and recruiting officers to replace the 12-15% of the workforce that will not be able to obtain a licence).

David Dickinson has commented on the 拢600 cost of a licence. 鈥淭his figure is an important yardstick for those who perceived the cost of regulation to encompass only the 拢190 licence itself,鈥� he suggests. 鈥淗owever, it鈥檚 important to remember that the predicted increase in wages will far exceed this amount in order to retain individuals of the right calibre.鈥�

Licensing will be mandatory across England and Wales by 20 March 2006. Until that date, BSIA Member security companies will be gradually licensing their staff through an agreed and managed roll-out programme.