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SIR – I MUCH ENJOYED NATIONAL SECURITY Inspectorate chief executive Tom Mullarkey’s ‘Raising The Standard’ article in January’s edition of Security Management Today (‘Will Ye Go A’Hunting?’, p41). He and I share a background where clarity of the ‘Aim’ – and the assessment of its achievement – are always the essential factors before the launching of any enterprise. Whether invading Iraq, banning fox hunting or restructuring the House of Lords, our present political leaders seem to embark on ventures with little or no idea as to where or when they will conclude.

Tom is entirely right to point out that lesser standards rigidly enforced would be a much better option for our industry than strong standards suffering from weak compliance. There’s not a great deal wrong with the strength of British Standards BS 7499 and BS 7858. All that was needed to regulate our industry was enforcement of those standards on all who provide manned guarding services.

As we now embark on the tortuous and very expensive process of individual licensing while still awaiting full details of the Security Industry Authority’s Approved Contractor Scheme, I cannot help but wonder as to where the industry is headed.

Clearly, the Government would have the police fully employed on impossible tasks such as carrying out door-to-door enquiries in Baghdad, barring ‘hereditaries’ from entering Parliament or chasing foxhounds up hill and down dale at every opportunity.

Tally Ho, then, Tom… There could yet be a compliance role for your Inspectorate – despite the fact that you actually know what you’re doing!