The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has called for the Home Secretary to carefully consider the implications of the rumoured abolition of the Security Industry Authority (SIA), following recent speculation in the press that the security industry regulator is about to be scrapped.

In a letter to Theresa May MP, BSIA Chief Executive, James Kelly, appeals for the Home Office to engage with the security industry over any planned changes to regulation, citing issues such as industry maturity, public confidence, and lighter-touch regulation as key considerations when planning the way forward.

The BSIA sits at the centre of an industry-wide alliance that has been formed over recent weeks to plan a strategic response to the rumoured abolition of the SIA, a coalition that also encompasses Skills for Security, the Security Institute and the Worshipful Company of Security Professionals, as well as representatives from a range of private security companies and other industry stakeholders.

"We anticipate that this working group will represent a collective voice, one that has already declared itself in favour of continued regulation in some form." Says James Kelly. "The private security market is complex and ever-changing, and industry participants take great pride in the significant improvement of standards and behaviour achieved in the last decade. Much of this improvement has been achieved with the valuable oversight of the SIA."

Regulation in the future could take many forms, not least that of 'lighter-touch' regulation signalled by the SIA's Chairman, Baroness Ruth Henig, earlier this year. The BSIA had already responded positively to this initiative, and pledged the industry's support in principle for such a path. Continued policing and enforcement by the SIA has also been mooted among the industry, and the BSIA, along with its partners, feels that the SIA would be best placed to undertake this since independent oversight is key to maintaining public confidence in the private security industry.

James Kelly concludes: "As an industry-wide alliance, we stand ready to work alongside the Home Office to develop the most suitable framework for addressing the needs of government, the public and the private security industry, and look forward to working with government to shape our industry's future, if and when an announcement regarding the SIA is made."

But last week, the Security Alliance cautiously welcomed the decision of the Government to undertake a phased transition of the Security Industry Authority (SIA) to a new regulatory regime. The Security Alliance believes that the transition will be successful if there is proper and meaningful consultation with the security industry and is consistent with the regulatory blueprint as set out by the Chairman of the SIA, Baroness Henig earlier this year. The proposed new strategic direction for the SIA includes a move to lighter touch regulation and increased partnership with private industry.  The Security Alliance has confirmed that it supports this initiative.

The Security Alliance was formed to provide all key security industry bodies with a forum where all members could debate and formulate a unified response to the challenges of future regulation. Initial membership of the Security Alliance includes the UK Chapter of ASIS International, the British Security Industry Association, the Security Institute, Skills for Security, and the Worshipful Company of Security Professionals

Meanwhile, BSIA has supported CFOA's guidelines for reducing false alarms

The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has welcomed the recent publication of a series of best practice guidelines by the Chief Fire Officers' Association (CFOA).

The CFOA Protocol for the Reduction of False Alarms and Unwanted Fire Signals was launched last week, and represents a significant step forward in the reduction of false alarms, affecting both fire and security industries.

Alex Carmichael, Technical Director at the BSIA, comments: "Reducing false fire alarms and unwanted fire alarm signals represents a constant challenge in our industry, and the BSIA is committed to an ongoing effort to ensure that all fire alarm systems remain as effective as possible in order to increase public safety and save fire and rescue service time."

"The BSIA was actively involved in the development of CFOA's recent protocol, which aims to provide clear guidelines to fire and rescue services (F&RS), fire alarm monitoring organisations, fire alarm companies and end users to ensure effective measures are implemented and maintained there by ensuring the reduction of false fire alarms and unwanted fire signals A uniformed implementation of this CFOA protocol by F&RS, supported by the industry will cut costs, improve efficiency and enable the correct F&RS response to remotely monitored fire alarm systems. This can only be good for the F&RS, the Industry and public at large.”