UK security contractors will “transform or die”

Regulation will greatly improve training and skills, yielding broader career opportunities for the operatives employed in the UK security sector, while private security provision will also become more professional and play an increasing role in the wider police family. However, contractors must be aware that their relationship with clients will change dramatically as a direct result of the licensing process, which begins next January.

Those are the firm beliefs of John Saunders, chief executive of the Security Industry Authority, who elicited his views at the recent conference held by Reliance Security Services at the head offices of Deutsche Bank in London.

Saunders stressed that the cost of manned security will rise dramatically in a post-licensing landscape, beginning to equate with the higher charges seen in many parts of mainland Europe. “That will lead to a totally new relationship between security supply and security demand,” stressed Saunders. In many cases, security companies must now “transform or die”.

Saunders also welcomed the appointment of former SIA Board member Richard Childs as the next chief executive of the Joint Security Industry Council (JSIC). “The SIA has enjoyed a close working relationship with JSIC,” stated Saunders, “and the organisation has been an enthusiastic sponsor of regulation and licensing. JSIC has met the challenges placed before it, not been backward in fighting its corner and acted as a welcome and trusted advisor. We’re looking forward to building upon that work with Richard in place as chief executive.”

Also speaking at the Reliance seminar, David Dickinson – chief executive of the BSIA – suggested that licensing and the implementation of the Approved Contractor Scheme could eventually lead to a decline in the number of manned security contractors from the present level of 2,000 to around 200.

Dickinson added that, although the increased skills needed to meet the demands of licensing will create a shortage of licensed personnel in the short term, in the longer term it would enable the security industry to provide customers with higher added value services (including the wider use of technology).