Forward-thinking security company First Security (Guards) recently tackled the issue of private sector regulation and licensing head-on by sponsoring a presentation on the subject given by John Saunders – chief executive of the Security Industry Authority (SIA) – at the Institute of Directors on London’s Pall Mall.
Saunders’ enlightening discussion included the announcement that the SIA has now signed a four-year, GB pound 23 million contract with BT for the latter to use its Syntegra division in processing applications for the national licensing scheme. The deal was ratified by Home Office minister Bob Ainsworth, and there’s an option for the SIA to extend the contract by a further year if required.
Saunders was followed on to the podium by Steve Head – of the City of London Police’s Specialist Crime Department – who offered an intelligence overview (and practical guidance) on the current terrorist threat for the many end users present in the audience.
