Vigilance can confirm that preparations are now in top gear for the holding of a conference being planned by the Security Industry Authority to discuss future regulation of the private security industry in March this year.

The SIA conference tagged: Phased Transition to a New Regulatory Regime - will take place in central London on Wednesday 30 March. It is said that the conference will provide participants the opportunity to discuss the phased transition, as announced by the Cabinet Office in October, 2010 and for the SIA to both inform and consult with stakeholders.

Vigilance learnt that the purpose of the conference is to consider plans and timelines for the transition, the future of regulation in the private security industry and security requirements for the London Olympics and Paralympics 2012. As well as keynote speakers there will be breakout sessions to discuss specific topics in greater detail.

According to a source at the SIA, this year, the Authority will host two conferences instead of the usual annual event. This, the source said is to ensure that there is adequate opportunity for consultation and discussion as plans for the new regulatory regime are developed. The second event will be held later in the year.

Meanwhile, the Security Alliance has outlined its official position on the future of regulation in the security industry, citing reduced regulatory costs and administrative burdens among the key objectives for the new regulatory regime. 

The SA’s official position was made known in a letter to Lynne Featherstone MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State with responsibility for the Security Industry Authority (SIA), where Chairman of the Security Alliance, James Kelly, reinforced the importance of ongoing consultation between Government and industry in order to establish a consensual vision on the way forward for the regulated security industry.

The SA’s key elements position paper include the introduction of compulsory business registration, a concept that will significantly reduce regulatory costs for businesses and licence holders, allowing quality businesses the opportunity to have more responsibility for their own regulation while maintaining and improving standards across the industry. Emphasis was also placed upon achieving a consistent regulatory regime that meets the approval of the devolved governments in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Also, the Alliance has outlined a set of overarching principles that its members collectively agree will need to be central to any new regulatory process. These principles include:

• Regulation – The regulatory function should continue to encompass the licensing of individuals, compliance and enforcement, and should be expanded to include business registration. Enforcement should be robust, targeted and intelligence led.  A single system of regulation for the whole of the UK should be retained.
• Compliance – Existing external auditory systems (UKAS Accredited) which are industry specific should be part of compliance system. A single individual training qualification should be the compliance indicator.
• Governance - The security industry should be represented on the board of the regulator.
• Simplicity – Licensed categories should be reduced in number and simplified.
• Skills and Standards – Standards should be based upon nationally recognised competency standards and should embrace existing British Standards. Development of skills and standards is the role of industry.
• Competition – Regulation should not discourage competition or new entrants.
• Value for Money – All costs should be transparent, proportionate and lower than the current system. Alternative methods, including devolved licensing, should be examined.

James Kelly, Chairman of the Security Alliance, disclosed: "Our partnership represents over 80% of the regulated industry with a shared aim of ensuring that a new 'smarter' regulatory framework is established based on our agreed principles. We strongly believe that by working together we can provide the most efficient and practical approach to help inform and support both the SIA and the Government as the new regime is developed."