The private
security industry has attracted Government attention in recent
years as it is a massive provider of security services. Increasingly,
it is seen as part of the ‘wider Police family’ and
such had a vital role to play in the prevention of crime.
Through the Private Security
Authority (PSA), Government has moved to tighten control of
contractors
(companies) and individuals offering their services in this
sector.Concern about the lack of control, lack of consistency
and lack of quality assurance had led to the regulation of
this sector. The PSA became open for licensing application
on 3rd October 2005 and from 1st April 2006 it will be an offence
for a company to provide services to this sector without a
licence. It will also be an offence to employ an unlicensed
contractor.
Approval or certification against this SSAIB scheme
will demonstrate compliance with IS 999: 2004. SSAIB approval/certification
is acceptable to the PSA as evidence of compliance with relevant
standards.
SSAIB offers this scheme as a product certification
scheme. Whilst this scheme
requires providers to demonstrate that they operate a management
system which satisfies SSAIB’s
scheme criteria, it is not required to be certificated to ISO
9001: 2000. However, for guarding service providers SSAIB recommends
certification of management systems to ISO 9001: 2000.
Guarding service providers who
demonstrate product and management systems compliance will
have greater market acceptance. The PSA requires that companies
demonstrate both technical and operational competence. They
must demonstrate an awareness of all the management and service
standards requirement
relevant
to
the operation
of
a professional
and ethical guarding business. The licensing of security
services providers is aimed at raising standards and performance
in the industry and providers of guarding services will
be required to demonstrate that they have complied with all
relevant management and service standards.
For more information on guarding security services
approval and certification download a leaflet or request
an application pack using the links below,
alternatively Contact
our office directly.
Download
a scheme leaflet
Download an application pack
Request an application
pack
| 
