The Cowboys simply must be stopped!

We firmly believed that the Security Industry Authority (SIA) and its inspectors would finally nail the ‘cowboys’ and allow us to trade on a level playing field. However, we are now beginning to question whether or not widescale enforcement is ever going to happen, and if we will soon begin to see a continuation of the same old story – the only difference being the sound of the Government’s cash registers ringing with Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) ‘subscriptions’ and licence fees.

We are a small-to-medium size security guarding company with a wealth of experience. We are also proud holders of the National Security Inspectorate’s (NSI) Gold Award for guarding, having been QS accredited since 1998. We are members of the British Security Industry Association (BSIA), and have enjoyed Investors in People status from 2001 onwards.

However, despite all these ‘Badges of Honour’, our experience and reputation, we have been continually undercut on contracts by some of the aforementioned ‘cowboys’ who gain work with – among others – local Government and educational establishments. They use bogus ISO 9001:2000 accreditation, employ untrained staff who are not vetted, pay them cash-in-hand and operate illegal (or at best highly suspect) payment systems. Just the sort of operation, I’m sure you’ll agree, that the SIA should be eradicating.

Why do these suspect companies win those contracts? Simple. They are unbelievably cheap. Charge-out rates of between £6.50 and £7.00 are not out of the ordinary by any means.

During the run-in to the licensing deadline, we worked closely with the local SIA enforcement officer. We were asked for – and duly provided – details of other security companies in our area, including those operating at the murkier end of the street. We know that the Regulator is fully aware of these companies, and has a handle on which ones they need to watch.

Imagine our surprise, then, on the 31 July when one of the chief culprits we had pinpointed appeared on the SIA’s website as an Approved Contractor. We complained immediately via e-mail as requested, and also via our local enforcement officer (who, by the way, was astonished at this company’s inclusion).

Until our e-mail was ‘chased up’ on 21 August, we received no reply from the SIA. What communication we did receive, belatedly, said very little to assure us that the appropriate action would be taken.

We also registered our concern with the NSI, who tried to placate us, and the BSIA, who only managed to provoke yet another non-committal reply from 50 Broadway. As a result, we are now furious, and wonder how many other companies are in the same boat?

Sawley Security spends thousands of pounds maintaining its quality accreditations with the NSI – and now thousands more on the ACS – in the full expectation that we are going to see the ‘cowboys’ being removed from our industry, and sooner rather than later. Instead, what we have found is that they’ve been invited to the party and granted access to the legitimate section of the security world. Stetson hat, spurs and all.

Are we wasting our money, then? Why pay funds to the NSI when others lie, cheat and misrepresent their way towards ACS status (which is, perhaps, the one ‘medallion’ we really need to have)?

We ask that other security companies experiencing similar problems to ourselves contact us. Perhaps we could then form a pressure group and force the SIA into doing what it should be doing. Enforcement.

Paul Ritchie, Human Resources Director Sawley Security

Interested parties should contact Paul direct at: Sawley Security, Innovation House, Daleside Road, Nottingham NG2 4DH (telephone: 0115-911 0213, e-mail: paul.ritchie@sawleysecurity.co.uk)