The Association’s Police and Public Services Section was established for companies that provide support services to the police and other public sector organisations. The top priority of this Section is to create new standards and develop training methods specifically aimed at this kind of activity, while recognising the need for a different approach from standard security services.
New research into the activities of the Section has revealed a number of key trends. 90% of respondents to a BSIA survey, for example, supply services to educational establishments and local authorities, with 70% of those that responded affording services to health authorities.
Our town centres and retail establishments are also benefiting from the use of private security services. 50% of respondents supply services to town centre management schemes, and 20% to their local police service.
Services offered by BSIA members
Of the types of service offered by BSIA members, 60% said they supply street patrols to local authorities, while 60% also provide public sector CCTV schemes. 40% of respondents provide warden schemes, with 20% supplying solutions to the Immigration Service. Other activities that respondents undertake include: the supply of Community Support Officers, custody services, drug testing services, evidential property management, prisoner escort and scenes of crime protection.
Police and Public Services Section chairman Mick Lee comments: “The research has revealed that the public sector has embraced the use of private security services in what were previously traditional policing roles. However, there is more work to be done in encouraging police forces to make use of the private security industry as a valuable resource.
“There are many examples of Best Practice where police forces have successfully entered into partnership with the private sector. A significant aim of the BSIA’s Police and Public Services Section is to further links with police forces in order to promote the many valuable services that security guarding companies are able to provide.”
With private sector security companies harbouring such a breadth of service, security managers should consider how they can take advantage of the expertise available. One of the main areas to bear in mind is ensuring that you engage the services of a quality company whose officers are all licensed, and which complies with the relevant industry standards.
The BSIA can provide you with a list of such contractors, and advise on the many services offered. Telephone 0845 389 3889 or take a look at: www.bsia.co.uk/pps
