BSIA guide to Northern Ireland licensing released

08 Jun 09

By Anthony Hildebrand

The British Security Industry Association has published new advice to Northern Ireland's business community ahead of the introduction of regulation of the security industry.

From 1 December 2009, it will be illegal to work in certain designated security roles in Northern Ireland without a licence. This includes working as a contract security officer, door supervisor or a cash-in-transit courier.

"Businesses should be ensuring that any contract security officer or door supervisor that works on its premises has a licence from the Security Industry Authority," said BSIA chief executive John Bates.

"The introduction of regulation of the security industry brings Northern Ireland in line with the rest of the UK, where licensing has already been successfully introduced. It means that security professionals will have been trained and subject to identity and criminality checks before they are allowed to work.

"Northern Ireland's businesses have a duty of care to ensure that the contract security personnel they use to protect their premises and people are suitably trained, vetted and licensed. They can check the register of licence holders on the Security Industry Authority website to ensure that this is the case.

"The licensing of security personnel will mean that businesses will reap the rewards of a regulated and professionalised industry. They will have peace of mind, safe in the knowledge that their people and assets are being looked after by trained and approved officers."

The BSIA has produced a new guide to regulation of the security industry in Northern Ireland to support businesses in the run up to licensing.

Download it from the BSIA’s site, or the link on the right.