SIA to regulate private security industry in Northern Ireland

Following on from extensive consultation by the Northern Ireland Office to explore options for regulating the private security industry in the Province, Paul Goggins MP the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pictured has made a firm commitment to create a single regulatory scheme for the United Kingdom’s private security sector.

Goggins commented: “The consultation process showed that there is an overwhelming desire within the Northern Irish security industry for regulation, and that it should be in line with Best Practice in the UK. Extending the remit of the Security Industry Authority (SIA) into Northern Ireland will realise that aim, and yield a major improvement on the current arrangements. It will also improve the quality of service offered by security companies, help to protect the reputable solutions providers and drive out those who have been acting with little or no regard for the law.”

In welcoming the announcement, the SIA’s acting chairman Robin Dahlberg (pictured above, right) told SMT: “A single, UK-wide regulatory body for the private security industry with one licensing scheme and agreed standards creates tremendous commercial opportunities for the industry and, at the same time, invokes long-awaited safeguards for members of the public. Building on the success of regulation in England and Wales, and with the introduction of licensing in Scotland next year, the industry, the police service and the public can now expect improved standards of training, professionalism and probity across the entirety of the UK’s private security sector.”

Proposals to extend the SIA’s remit to the Province were first put out to public consultation by the Northern Ireland Office on 29 August (‘Licensing in Northern Ireland “being explored” by the Regulator’, News Update, SMT, October 2006,). The eight-week consultation period ended on 24 October.

According to an official press statement issued by the Regulator, until its remit is extended to Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Office will continue to be solely responsible for the issuing of licences to private security companies.

John Saunders – chief executive of the SIA who announced his resignation at the recent Security Excellence Awards Ceremony in London – has been appointed as managing director with responsibility for commercial services at the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA).

The CIPFA is one of the leading professional accountancy bodies in the UK, and the only one to specialise in public services. It is directly responsible for the education and training of professional accountants, and for their regulation (through the setting and monitoring of acceptable and measurable professional standards).

Welcoming the appointment, Brian Smith chairman of the Commercial Services Board at CIPFA told SMT: “We are delighted that John is going to lead our commercial operations. He brings a wealth of experience and a strong track record across public and private sectors.”

In looking ahead to his new role, John Saunders commented: “I am tremendously excited by the CIPFA’s ambitions, and by the enormous opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for the organisation. We are in an era of sustained and positive change across public services, and I’m very much looking forward to contributing to the CIPFA’s development.”