SIR – My brief comments follow on from Lt Col Richard Evans’ Letter To The Editor in the March edition of Security Management Today (SMT) (‘Where is the SIA taking us, exactly?’, pp15-17).

BSIA chief executive David Dickinson has suggested that the recently revised BS 7858 offers a clear standard which security contractors can work towards. I fundamentally disagree.

We must not forget that BS 7858 is a Code of Practice containing a series of recommendations and guidelines which can be difficult to enforce.

As it stands, the document is peppered with the word ‘should’ which, in itself, is not an enforceable word by any stretch of the imagination. When BS 7858 was being revised, why didn’t the Committee use words like ‘shall’, ‘must’ and ‘will’? In other words, terminology that is properly and easily enforceable?

One other point if I may be so bold… Why do people insist on referring to ISO 9000:2000? It is ISO 9001:2000.

Just look at your Certificates of Registration, people!

Martin Turner

Source

SMT