JSIC appoints Patrick Somervil as chairman and vows to carry on

The Joint Security Industry Council (JSIC) used its recent Annual General Meeting (AGM) at The Middle Eastern Association in St James’s, London as the platform for appointing a new chairman and an opportunity to quash a raft of industry rumours that the organisation had become a “spent force” following the recent resignation of short-term chief executive Richard Childs (‘Childs resigns from JSIC’, News Update, SMT, June 2005, p9).

Patrick Somerville QPM, head of the International Professional Security Association (IPSA), has been elected to the post of chairman following the retirement of Richard Flenley QPM from his long-time position as group security manager and associate director of Canary Wharf Management. In recent times, Flenley had done much to stabilise JSIC in the wake of former long-term chief executive Mike Welply’s sudden departure, overseeing a thorough review of the organisation’s administration functions and restoring it to financial stability.

At the AGM, held on Wednesday 6 July, JSIC members were apparently “unanimous” in their support of the continuing role of JSIC as “the principal representative of the 50-plus associations and other organisations from various sectors of the private security industry that make up the membership body.”

On accepting his appointment, Patrick Somerville – who retains his role at the helm of IPSA – told SMT: “JSIC is not a ‘spent force’, as some would have you believe. On the contrary, there is now a renewed vitality about the Council and an encouraging pledge of co-operation from members and other organisations that augurs extremely well for the future. We aim to respond with vigour and determination to the clear desires and needs of our membership.”

Somerville added: “We are still in regular contact with the Security Industry Authority with a view to identifying how JSIC might fulfil its role in a fully-regulated security industry. Indeed, there are many issues which are yet to be settled through consultation.

“In the absence of any other credible industry body, it is JSIC’s job to help the various industry associations and other organisations gather the views and concerns of their members, and then effectively present them to Government departments and the Regulator.”

Certain associations have remained outside of the ‘JSIC Family’, perhaps unaware that there is a place for them within it. “All relevant associations should join JSIC, enter into the dialogue, contribute to policy decisions and influence regulations that will be made in spite of us if we do not come together to protect and promote our legitimate interests,” urged Somerville.