Slugger O'Toole

“achieve the regulation that the industry wants..”

Northern Ireland Justice Minister, Paul Goggins, MP, has made a couple of announcements recently – A timetable for the regulation of the private security industry by extending the remit of the Security Industry Authority (SIA) to Northern Ireland, announced on 2 October, and a new multi-agency approach to the monitoring of sexual and violent offenders on their release from prison, announced on Monday 6 October. You might have thought that those keenest to devolve policing and justice powers would have something to say about these new instruments being put in place.. wouldn’t you? As I mentioned when the proposals on regulating security firms were made in August 2006, it has been on the IMC’s to-do list. Oh, and does Mr Goggins know something we don’t? – “Government intends to commence the legislation in December 2009.” Just asking..
From the statement on extending the SIA’s remit.

Notes to Editors

A project board has been set up to manage the delivery of the new regulatory scheme which includes senior representatives from the Northern Ireland Office, the Home Office and the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Timetable for implementation:

· December 2008 training leading to the SIA approved qualifications will be available in Northern Ireland.

· May 2009 – the SIA will start accepting licence applications and applications to the Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS).

· December 2009– it will become illegal to engage in licensable conduct in Northern Ireland without a licence.

The sectors requiring a licence in Northern Ireland are:

· Cash and Valuables in Transit (contracted)

· Close protection (contracted)

· Door supervision (in house and contracted)

· Public Space Surveillance (CCTV) (contracted)

· Security Guarding (contracted)

· Key Holding (contracted)

· Vehicle immobilising (in house and contracted)

The proposal to extend the remit of the SIA to Northern Ireland was put out for public consultation by the Northern Ireland Office in August 2006. The results showed an overwhelming desire within the industry for regulation and that this should be in line with best practice in Great Britain.