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The free seminars are being held such that SIA mandarins (on this occasion director of policy Graham Titcombe, operations director David Ashbridge, Peter Rowson – transition manager – and communications manager Christina Stone) can meet with security buyers, and inform them of the latest developments on training and skills needs, etc.

"The private security sector is a multi-million pound business employing over 300,000 people," opined Christina Stone at the outset of proceedings. "The public perception is that this industry's burdened by criminal factions and poor service. There's variable training standards in place, and in some sectors there's an unacceptably high level of staff turnover. Some of the manned security contractors we've already spoken to claim it's as high as 60% in their business."

Hence the formation of the Security Industry Authority, a Government body tasked with implementing the terms and conditions of the Private Security Industry Act 2001. "Our aim is to set standards and skills for the private sector," added Stone, "license employees and their supervisors and generally raise standards of professionalism and competence."

All of which, unless you've had your head stuck in the sand for the past two years, is pretty much common knowledge by know.

Applying for a licence
What's not been so crystal clear to many are the actual processes being put in place to achieve those aims. According to the SIA's transition manager Peter Rowson, the application process for licensing should be nothing if not straightforward. "Applicants for a licence can either telephone us, or access the SIA's web site [at: www.the-sia.org.uk]. That person's details will then be captured, and an application pack issued," said Rowson. "The forms will be similar to those used by the Passport Agency, requiring the applicant to provide photographs of themselves and a copy of their birth certificate, etc."

That's really the initial contact phase. Thereafter, the SIA will conduct a full and thorough criminality check, possibly request further information from the applicant and then make an informed decision as to whether or not a licence is merited.

"We're going to be using a model based on that successfully employed by financial institutions," commented Rowson, "and our people will be on hand 24 hours a day at the SIA Contact Centre to make sure that we deal with all applicants as quickly as possible."

As far as the Approved Contractors' Scheme is concerned, Rowson was quick to point out that what's being put forward at present (as indeed is the case with most proposals thus far) represents "emerging thinking".

The SIA is looking to set standards for company approval that are "challenging and stretching, but also achievable".

Many in the industry feel that the Approved Contractors' Scheme should be mandatory as opposed to voluntary, and Rowson was quick to stress that "it could become compulsory" in the near future.

Criminality checks
Speaking about the thorny subject of criminality checks, and how stringent they are likely to be, SIA policy director Graham Titcombe reassured many of the 200-plus security professionals assembled at The Congress Centre with one very firm message. "If a given individual fails the criminality checks, no licence will be issued and they will have no legal ability to operate in the industry". All well and good, but how are the criterion for checks being devised?

"We need to make a real difference, and be seen to set criteria that bite," stressed Titcombe when talking of the main drivers behind licensing and criminality checking. "We need to be reasonable and consistent, not unfair or arbitrary. After all, we are living in a litigious society, and we can't afford too many challenges to our decisions. The process must be transparent, and acceptable to all key stakeholders in the industry."

As things stand, an individual applicant's criminality will be looked at in the light of established and defensible evidence (including previous convictions, cautions and warnings). "Key questions we'll need to address centre on how relevant any 'misdemeanour' is to the licence being sought, and how serious or recent the transgression has taken place". Some of the offence categories include violence, the possession and/or use of offensive weapons, dishonesty and the use of drugs. In the real world, detailed lists of specific offences devised by the Home Office and the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (for offences of a serious nature) will support each offence category.

Added Titcombe: "Clearly, perverting the course of justice would be a serious offence, whereas if someone were to provide false testimony that would undoubtedly be a problem, but one of a less serious nature."

Applicants will need to have been clear of any offence for the previous two years prior to application in order to qualify for a licence. Any serious offence committed during that time means that no licence will be issued. "If offences have been committed longer than five years prior to the application and they're not deemed to be serious, they'll be ignored".

We need to make a real difference, and be seen to set criteria that bite. We must be reasonable and consistent, not unfair or arbitrary. After all, we are living in a litigious society, and we can’t afford too many challenges to our decisions. The licensi

The SIA Board is presently ratifying all of these decisions, and Titcombe was at pains to point out that "nothing is set in stone" as yet.

Standards for training
Professional standards and competencies for training will be crucial to the industry's future, thus the assembled audience was very keen to hear what SIA operations director David Ashbridge had to say. The Sector Skills strategy is still to be finalised, of course, and Professor Martin Gill is now collating the results of PRCI's initial survey of the industry ('SIA commissions PRCI for licensing research', News, SMT, December 2002, p7).

According to Ashbridge, determining the competency requirements for licensing will be a "much longer-term task".

Ashbridge stated: "As far as competency objectives are concerned, we're looking to establish a minimum licensing standard that will improve operative safety, increase confidence among the buyer fraternity in the service being offered and support career development. In essence, we have to strike a fine balance here by setting training standards that make sure security operatives are properly equipped to do their job, while at the same time not decimating the industry because we've raised the training bar that little bit too high."

Ashbridge feels that a "modular approach" with "common units" looks to be the way forward.

Crucially, he then rounded on assessment and rightly stressed that there's no point in security officers or consultants merely attending training courses if there's no subsequent test of what has or hasn't been learned.

The appeals procedure
The appeals procedure will of course assume a major importance as time goes on. At present, appeals against the non-issue of licences will have to be made within 21 days. The appeals procedure will initially escalate through the SIA which, stated Graham Titcombe, will "attempt to avoid the hassle of having to go to Court" over such matters. "We want to be seen to engender compliance with the rules we lay down, rather than be seen to enforce a regime," suggested Titcombe. The penalties for non-compliance include a maximum of six months' imprisonment and/or a fine of anything up to £5,000.

Certain offences carry "a potentially unlimited fine", and/or a maximum of five years' imprisonment.

Following the seminar, questions came thick and fast from the floor as the SIA Panel rightly opened up the debate. David Hincks of consultancy TPS Consult wondered just what evidence the SIA presently holds with respect to the levels of criminality across UK plc (on a macro scale) and within the private security industry itself (at the micro level). "It's fair to say that there's a lack of hard-edged statistics at the moment," responded Graham Titcombe. "As the licensing process gets up to speed we can then check the number of licenses refused or revoked, and that will give us a better idea of the complete picture."

Security Watchdog managing director Terry O'Neil then rounded on the likely impact of the Working Time Directive. "We must start to embrace the terms and conditions of this legislation if we're ever going to have a meaningful and worthwhile industry," stated O'Neil. Graham Titcombe responded: "Unfortunately, the SIA isn't here to solve all of the industry's problems. You can rest assured that companies who adhere to lower standards will feel the bite of legislation over time. They'll struggle to recruit. The move towards the Working Time Directive and minimum wage are part of the process of raising standards."

What's the cost of a licence?
Dolores O'Donoghue of the GMB then asked the $64,000 question of the SIA Panel. "Do you know what the cost of each licence is going to be as yet?" To date, 'reports' have suggested anything from £30 to £90, but it looks like those 'guesstimates' were wide of the mark. "The cost will be in three figures, although we haven't yet settled on a definitive sum," replied Graham Titcombe.

Titcombe continued: "The possession of an SIA licence is not an entitlement to employment, neither is it a guarantor of an individual's future behaviour. If an employee commits misdemeanours during the lifespan of a licence, it's not the duty of the SIA to inform their employer."

John Wright, managing director of guarding contractor Trident Safeguards, then asked a very salient question.

"What's your rationale for not including in-house security staff in this licensing strand?" said Wright. SMT has said on numerous occasions that regulation should cover ALL security operatives, a viewpoint with which many commentators in the industry readily concur.

"To be truthful, we haven't included in-house because of the potential regulatory impact. The Government didn't want to burden the in-house sector with this regulation," stressed Titcombe.