And so it shall be written... and so it shall be done. 2004 promises to be a monumental year for practitioners working in the private sector as the Security Industry Authority (SIA) begins its licensing strand by first tackling the door supervisor and wheel clamper fraternities.

After much reasoned debate, the road to professional status begins in March with the pilot licensing scheme for door staff in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

The tremendous amount of work that has already been carried out at 50 Broadway deserves the very highest accolades. Following the Private Security Industry Act 2001's Royal Assent on 11 May that year, SIA chairman Molly Meacher, chief executive John Saunders and all of their fellow Home Office appointees have toiled long hours with the prime aim of turning Parliamentary legislation into reality.

It's perhaps the way in which the SIA has gone about its business that has been exceptionally pleasing. There has been constant and consistent engagement with stakeholders, and a willingness to listen and act upon suggestions made by professionals of many years standing. This is the way regulatory procedures should be conducted in the modern age. And the SIA is truly a modern regulator.

Evidence of that engagement was tangible throughout last year, none more so than at a series of hugely informative end user seminars run in conjunction with the British Security Industry Association ('BSIA and SIA spell out the future of private security to end users', News Special, pp10-12).

That said, the New Year begins on a rather sad note for Security Management Today (SMT) and, we'd suggest, the industry at large with the announcement that Molly Meacher has stepped down from her post as chairman of the SIA ('Meacher resigns chairmanship of the Security Industry Authority', News, p7). Molly has undoubtedly been a superb figurehead and focal point for the organisation.

Before a permanent replacement is appointed in June, Peter Hermitage QPM takes the chair on a temporary basis. We urge readers to afford Peter every assistance in his role.

Despite Molly's departure, the SIA remains in very safe hands. Our Profile of John Saunders ('Look of Authority', pp20-24) is proof of that. A man who'll make sure the Authority really makes its mark in 2004 and beyond.

Source

SMT