Dickinson defends the BSIA's role in a post-regulation landscape

David Dickinson has counter-attacked the ‘snipers' who have been questioning the role of the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) in the wake of Security Industry Authority (SIA) licensing and the Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) by making an impassioned speech at the IFSEC Security Industry Awards Dinner.

Although representing a large part of the industry, the security guarding sector is "only one part of our industry," stated Dickinson. "The other sectors will continue to be set apart from their competitors by the fact that they subscribe to the standards and ethics of our Trade Association," suggested its chief executive.

Dickinson stressed the need for a stronger-than-ever BSIA that can protect, for example, its member guarding companies from (potentially) "overbearing regulation". The ACS is a benchmark of quality, but it is not designed to act as a representative organisation for industry practitioners. "That is where the BSIA steps in," asserted Dickinson.

The BSIA has pledged to support the Regulator if Government mandarins attempt any merger of the SIA with the Health & Safety Executive - a move which the BSIA would not support. "If that were to happen, though, the need for a strong and influential Trade Association would be greater than ever before."

Dickinson then stressed the way in which the BSIA always tries to act for the benefit of the entire industry. "Many of you will recall that, at this event last year, I had some harsh words to say concerning Government policy on support for security exports. I also expressed concerns over the possible impact of the proposed European Directive on Services. We have campaigned vigorously over the ensuing 12 months. I'm glad to be able to tell you that a one-to-one meeting with Ian Pearson, the minister responsible for UK Trade and Investment and the EU Directive, offered assurances that the British Government would support the exemption of the private security industry from the Directive."

Dickinson concluded: "The need for this sort of lobbying activity does not diminish just because there is a statutory Regulator. Neither does the demand for standards diminish with time, or the need for those same standards to be constructed by committed industry practitioners meeting for the common good.

"The BSIA has not even reached early middle age. There's a long, long way to go before anyone starts to think about obituaries."

See also this month's BSIA Briefing. In the July edition of SMT, look out for an exclusive interview with David Dickinson in which he maps out the future for the industry and its premier Trade Association