INDUSTRYNEWS
SPONSORED BY DAVENPORT BURGESS
BSIA calls for clarity from government
on future of security regulation
Calls for clarity from the Home Office
on the timing of regulatory change for
the private security industry have been
issued by the British Security Industry
Association (BSIA), following the recent
announcement that the regulation of
private investigators is to be introduced
as early as 2014.
James Kelly, Chief Executive of the
BSIA,comments: “We welcome the
regulation of private investigators;
however, it is ironic that the wider
security industry still awaits clarity
from Government after three years of
discussions on the future of the licensing
of security businesses.”
Talks on the future of the security
sector’s regulatory regime began in
2010 with an announcement from the
Government that the current regulator
–the Security Industry Authority – was to
be abolished. Lobbying from the industry
soon softened this message to one of ‘a
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phased transition to a new regulatory
regime’ involving business registration as
well as individual licensing, but despite
continued contact between Government
and industry, the planned timing of the
primary legislation needed to effect this
change is still unclear.
James Kelly continues: “It surely makes
sense to include the private investigation
industry into the new business licensing
regime that is close to implementation
for the wider security industry. However,
despite unprecedented consensus
across industry stakeholders, we remain
deeply concerned that the proposals
forged jointly between the industry, its
regulator and the Government will not be
capitalised upon.”
“As an industry, we are in a state of
limbo, where companies are attempting
to make business forecasts with no idea
of the cost or administrative implications
of a new regulatory regime. We need
confirmation from the Home Secretary as
to the Government’s intentions in terms
of introducing the primary legislation
necessary to effect this change, and I will
be writing to her directly to seek clarity on
this matter.”
The BSIA will be engaging with
politicians on a wider scale regarding
this issue later this year as it attends
both Conservative and Labour party
conferences.
THE SEP/OCT 2013 ISSUE
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