Over the past two weeks I’ve fielded a number of questions from members of the security industry relating to the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006. This legislation will require all those involved in working with children and vulnerable adults to register with the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA).
The concerns expressed to me are that security operatives employed in the education and health services sectors would need to register with the ISA, be subject to a pre-employment screening process – in addition to that conducted by the Security Industry Authority (SIA) – and incur a fee on top of that paid for an SIA licence.
Despite the suggestions made to me that this legislation is part of some conspiracy against the security industry, fuelled primarily by the similarity between the acronyms SIA and ISA, I can – with a degree of certainty – state that it is not.
Information in a number of hands
This legislation is the result of a recommendation made by the Bichard Enquiry into the Soham murders. Information held on individuals that could pose a threat to children and vulnerable adults is currently held by a number of agencies – the Protection of Children Act (POCA) list, the Protection of Vulnerable Adults (POVA) list, List 99 (those people whose employment has been barred or restricted, either on the grounds of misconduct or for medical reasons) and the Court-imposed disqualification order regime.
From 12 October next year, these lists will be replaced by a list of those barred from working with children and a list of those barred from working with adults.
I’ve reviewed the legislation for another piece of research I’m conducting into the lawfulness of including criminal record checks within the pre-employment screening process. I’m reasonably confident that this legislation will not affect a security operative working in the education or health services sectors.
Issues raised in a given sector
That said, I also recognise the limitations of my knowledge with regard to all aspects of the security function. I’m therefore circulating this missive to those organisations and individuals that I feel cover most of the security activities. If my conclusions are incorrect, it will give you some time to address the potential issues that this legislation could raise with your sector of the industry.
If either you as a security professional or your organisation does come to the conclusion that I am incorrect, I would very much welcome the feedback.
Chris Brogan MA LLM is managing director of Security International
*Security International is based at 130 St Johns Road, Isleworth, Middlesex TW7 6PL (telephone 020 8847 2111)
