Security Association explains how to take the lead
by Catherine Park

The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) is the UK professional trade association covering all aspects of the security industry. Our members provide over 70% of security products and services in the UK. We set stringent requirements for membership so that customers can rely on receiving high quality products and services from BSIA companies.

The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) is the UK professional trade association covering all aspects of the security industry. Our members provide over 70% of security products and services in the UK. We set stringent requirements for membership so that customers can rely on receiving high quality products and services from BSIA companies. We also work on technical standards and codes of practice, which regularly become British Standards. The BSIA represents its members and the interests of the industry as a whole to influential bodies, including Government. The most recent example of this is the lobbying we have done in relation to the Private Security Industry Act, in order to ensure that regulation of the industry is both comprehensive and effective.

The Private Security Industry Act 2001

The Private Security Industry Act 2001 became law in the UK in May. It will introduce licensing and a voluntary registered companies scheme to certain sectors of the industry, including the contract manned security sector. For the last 15 years, the BSIA has lobbied the Government for regulation and now looks forward to working with the new regulatory body to improve standards across the whole industry.

The Act will introduce licensing for contract manned security officers, as well as company managers and directors. Door supervisors, private investigators, security consultants, wheelclampers and keyholders will also be licensed. Of particular importance is the fact that licenses will only be issued after an individual’s full criminal record has been considered (applicants will be exempt from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, meaning that spent convictions will also be considered).

Despite the absence of legislation to regulate the industry in the UK, the BSIA has always required that its members operate rigorous vetting procedures to become members of the Association. This has made it extremely difficult for individuals with criminal records to slip through the net amongst our members. Therefore regulation holds no fears for BSIA companies. The real importance of regulation is in isolating the less responsible elements of the industry and making them accountable for any breaches of the new laws.

Quality

In line with our work to secure legislation to regulate the industry, one of the BSIA’s top priorities is the maintenance of high standards. The BSIA became the first trade association to achieve the British Standard 5750 (now the International standard ISO 9000) for quality management, and we place the same rigorous requirements on companies wishing to be become members. Firstly, it insists that they meet general requirements such as being financially sound and that their directors and senior executives are of good repute. They must also achieve registration to ISO 9000 and prove that they conform to the relevant codes of practice and standards.

The BSIA has helped to develop the independent industry inspectorates for manned security (the Inspectorate of the Security Industry) and for installation of security systems such as alarms and closed-circuit television (the National Approval Council for Security Systems). These independent bodies have in fact recently merged to form the National Security Inspectorate. The NSI’s role is to ensure that companies are conforming to the security industry’s recognised standards.

The BSIA regularly updates codes of practice and technical documentation as well as introducing new publications to cover recent developments. Our representatives work on European standards to ensure that these will meet the practical needs of the industry and its customers. We have a designated standards area on our corporate website (www.bsia.co.uk).

Training

Technical and product standards alone cannot guarantee top quality installation and maintenance of products, or excellent customer service from security staff. It is vital that security industry staff are well-trained if they are to perform to their optimum level and inspire confidence in end-users. Recognition of this fact led BSIA to create the Security Industry Training Organisation (SITO) in 1991 which has now gone on to become a highly successful independent organisation operating both nationally and internationally.

The BSIA is continually exploring ways of making training more economical and accessible for smaller companies. For example, the BSIA helped to establish the Security Systems Co-operative Scheme for apprentice alarm installers, which has proved a real success across the country.

Availability

The 1500 plus branches of BSIA member companies mean that high quality, professional security services are available both nationally and regionally in the UK. A framework of BSIA run regional committees also provides special opportunities at local level. Local initiatives include seminars, conferences and exhibitions; these help end-users to make decisions about the most appropriate security solutions and also ensure that our members are up-to-date with the latest industry developments.

Information

The BSIA launched a revamped version of its website in 2001. The site now contains sector specific pages, a comprehensive database of members, a standards page, a public forum, information about exporting companies, a document download and publications facility, as well as an even bigger and better news and articles section. So there’s no excuse not to be up-to-date with all the latest developments in the security industry!