Day One dawns for licensing in Northern Ireland

01 Dec 09

Today, compulsory licensing and regulation of the private security industry in Northern Ireland comes into force, and has this morning been heralded by a special gathering at Stormont.

By Brian Sims

As of Tuesday 1 December, it’s now illegal to operate in the designated security sectors (such as door supervision, vehicle immobilisation and security guarding) without benefit of a Security Industry Authority (SIA) licence.

The SIA’s extension into Northern Ireland creates a single consistent licensing scheme for the private security industry throughout the United Kingdom.

Alongside this, the voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) has also been introduced for private security suppliers. The ACS raises standards in the private security industry in support of the Regulator’s wider aim of protecting the public.

A new era for Northern Ireland security

Officially launching regulation and licensing for Northern Ireland at this morning’s Stormont gathering of sector professionals, the SIA’s chief executive Bill Butler welcomed the first security suppliers – namely Risk Management Solutions, Mercury Security Management, Resource Northern Ireland, Property Support Services and Sword Security – to achieve Approved Contractor status.

Butler said: “Today heralds a new era for the private security industry in Northern Ireland. We have worked closely with the Northern Ireland Office, the Police Service of Northern Ireland, those operating in the private security industry and other key Stakeholders to ensure that all those requiring an SIA licence are aware of the new legislation and ready for today’s deadline.”

Butler continued: “I firmly believe that a professional, regulated private security industry has a valuable and worthy role to play in helping to reduce crime, disorder and, importantly, the fear of crime. We’ll be liaising closely with our partners at the Police Service of Northern Ireland to ensure that those working in the industry do so legally.”

In conclusion, Butler praised the pioneering ACS-registered companies mentioned. “They have shown a commitment to raising standards within the private security industry. Buyers of security services can have peace of mind and confidence knowing that these approved companies have reached stringent and wide-ranging standards.”

Eradicating the infiltrators

Also attending the Stormont event, Northern Ireland security minister Paul Goggins commented: “Northern Ireland will now benefit from the tough regulation offered by the SIA. People working in the private security industry should be properly trained and checked. An SIA licence will show that they are.”

Goggins went on to state: “We all rely on this industry to keep us safe and to protect our property and possessions. On that basis, it’s only right that we should expect set standards of competence and honesty.”

In forceful tones, Goggins concluded: “I’m fully determined to tackle infiltration of this industry by crooked operators who exploit it for their own personal gain or for the gain of criminal gangs. SIA regulation is the right tool for the job.”