Security Contractors to Be Licensed; Security Industry Authority Launched

Ciaron Dunne
Member - 85 posts

I notice that the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has undertaken to produce a strategic analysis for the Security Industry Authority (SIA), arguing the case for in-house security officers to be included in regulation under the Private Security Industry Act.

The BSIA lobbied for in-house security officers to be included in the scope of regulation during the passage of the Private Security Industry Bill. The Association maintains its position that in-house security officers are part of the manned security services community and should, therefore, be subject to the same legal requirements.

Ciaron Dunne

Editor

Anonymous

As a NHS Trust, our sercurity officers are directlty employed by the Hospital and are not subject to the regulations. Next year the FM services will be transfered through the Private Finance Initiative currently being negotiated and Security staff will be still retained by the Trust, but seconded to the PFI partner who will directly manage the security service. Will this arrangement come within the regulations.

Thanks

Roy

Adrian Waltho
Member - 27 posts

Roy,

In answer to your question, the legislation specifically only applies to security guarding services that are under contract - not in-house services. You don't, therefore, have to register your guards.

You can see the relevant designated activities by following this link:

http://www.the-sia.org.uk/legislation/the-act3-6.asp

The list at the top shows you who is affected.

Adrian Waltho

Assistant Editor

Anonymous

hi can any body give me the correct so i can get a close protection application form as i seem to be getting nowary with www.sia.org.uk

many thanks shaun

Gillian Nightingale - Workplace Law Network
Online advisor - 175 posts

Application forms and further information about the new licensing regime, including for close protection, can be found on the Security Industry Authority's website at http://www.the-sia.org.uk/home/licensing

joseph mfum
Member - 4 posts

hi can anyone tell me where the sia headquarters is and also their post code .i have sent my application for the past eight weeks but i am unable to talk to the sia people on their official line which is(08448921025).i havent heard from them either.thank you.



joe

David Potter
Member - 1 post

Joe,

The contact details for the SIA are:

Security Industry Authority
PO Box 1293
Liverpool
L69 1AX

You can also telephone us or send us a fax on the following numbers:

Telephone:
0844 892 1025

Fax:
0844 892 0975

Good luck!


David

joseph mfum
Member - 4 posts

i have traced the sia address which is;p o box 1293,liverpool,L691AX.it took me to a royal mail building.i couldnt find their office or headquarters.i have tried their official number which is(08448931025)but unable to talk to anyone.can anyone give me any other number or any other address.thank you.

Justin Bentley
Member - 10 posts

Joe,
The reason that they only give a Postal Office Box number is because they don't have an enquiry desk for people to turn up to. The idea is that you either phone them or use their on-line application tracker. Go to their website at www.the-sia.org.uk and click "Application Status Checker".
They also explain on the website that applications are currently taking 6 - 9 weeks, so you may find if you wait another week that you will receive your licence.
Any address you find on the internet is likely to either be a PO Box or the SIA head office in London, either way you are unlikely to get any information by turning up at an address - you are stuck with using the phone or internet.

joseph mfum
Member - 4 posts

why is it imposible to talk to anyone from the sia.i have tried on several occasion to talk to someone on the phone but all i get is ,`all our people are busy some one will talk to you as soon as possible`.you can wait for a whole hour on the phone and still no one will talk to you.is it a deliberate way to charge people no phone bills or they dont want to talk to anyone.thank you.

Justin Bentley
Member - 10 posts

Have you tried the online Application Status Checker yet, which will give you exactly the same information as a call center operative?

joseph mfum
Member - 4 posts

i have tried the sia online application status checker but anytime i ried i get no responds.i am unable to talk to anyone on their phone,so do i have to keep waiting, and if i have to for how long?as they have all my important documents.

CECILIA COFFIE
Member - 1 post

I HAVE REQUESTED AN APPLICATION FORM FOR THE PAST TWO MONTHS AND I STILL HAVE NOT GOT IT. I HAVE TRIED MANY TIMES TO RING THEM BUT I NEVER GET THROUGH. HOW COULD I GET AN APPLICATION FORMS. CAN I DOWNLOAD IT FROM THE WEBSITE? MY E-MAIL ADDRESS IS: ceciliacoffie@yahoo.co.uk

Justin Bentley
Member - 10 posts

There are plans for the SIA to improve their website so that you can complete a form online, but they haven't got this in place yet.
If you go to http://www.the-sia.org.uk/home/licensing/security_guarding/wizard/request.htm you can request an application form.
I have heard other cases of requests for application forms being ignored so it isn't just you!

Justin Bentley
Association Secretary
International Professional Security Association

will robinson
Member - 2 posts

i interviewed a young man for a job as a security guard, he was and is totally suitable, he has pasted his level two in guarding with nocn and vetting is well underway, he is unemployed and was really excited about his new fresh start, he saved hard to pay the 400 pounds its cost so far for training and his license application.

to my horror his license has been refused on the grounds of a single conviction which he was fined £50 for at his local magistrate court, and to make matters worse his crime which i would describe as very minor carrys a mandatory 5 years ban, and our local magistrate will not hear an appeal on the grounds of case law.

i am a very reasonsible employer and feel this is 3 very bitter pills to swollow, the desicion is wrong, the catorgory for this crime is very wrong and to top it off no right to appeal.

i have just read the case law document on the net re the sia v nicoles, and to be honest im sat here in shock, where did it all go wrong. is there anything in the pipeline that will put this insane situation right? are the sia board happy that pepole who have committed crimes that warrent a £50 fine be branded serious criminals and prevented from working in the industry that they are qualifed to work in?

william. mancheater

shoaib khan
Member - 3 posts

I had sent my documents to SIA 5 moths ago and still waiting for my licence.but more often I have concerned about my Documents .SIA keep my passport and my driving licence since november 2007 and still it seem that they feel no responsibility to send it back to me.I am jobless due to lack of passport from the last 4 moths and whenever I went for interview thy ask about my passport which Sia keep.I phoned have been phoning SIA every day and they just advise me to keep waiting.OK i will but how long , one year or two year.I am sick of listining it again and agian and SIA don't want to send me .What should I do no... I don't know

will robinson
Member - 2 posts

Well Mr Khan, what you should do is write to your local MP who will write to the sia on your behalf, this will get your application processed and will highlight to your local MP that someting must be done about the situation, i also have 2 men who applied late november who were in the same boat as you.

the problem is the SIA does not have any indepentant body that monitors its service thats why they get away with what they are doing, in one hand they say you must have a licence to work, then it takes them 3-6 months to process an application, its really poor, please make a complaint to your local MP and if you have been unable to work due to the fact you have no license then you should claim loss of earnings from for the period of time inbetween 6 weeks and the time you finally get your licence.

william (manchester)

shoaib khan
Member - 3 posts

Thanks you for your valuable information ,now I am going to do the same because SIA made me metal torture.I am so disturb that no one can imagine.and when I hardly get through to talk to SIA they just told me ,ooo shoaib we are sorry for you and we write your request and hopfully you will find your application within a few days but then count down start and after passing the specified time the cycle repeat agian.but now I am writing to my local MP and hopefully he will do something. Thanks