The Way Forward Group was conceived at the Joint Security Industry Council’s (JSIC) Annual Security Forum, held last May at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, Westminster (‘Security matters’, SMT, July 2001, pp31-32). Proposed and endorsed by a wide range of delegates representing most sectors of the industry, its formation was timely – the JSIC Forum taking place within a week of Royal Assent being granted to the Private Security Industry Act.
Effective co-ordination
Since JSIC is not a trade association, the organisation was unanimously selected as the facilitator and co-ordinator of action across the industry leading to the formation of set standards and criteria for licensing of individuals working in the private sector.
In reality, any such action would be carried out in conjunction with the Home Office, the latter holding discussions with other ‘stakeholders’ – including local Government authorities, police forces and related factions of the private security industry – who wished to make an independent submission. In this way, the broadest possible spectrum of views relating to the Act’s implementation could be captured for presentation to the Security Industry Authority.
Working with Government
The Way Forward Group’s inaugural meeting was held on 20 July, when discussions with the Home Office determined a broad programme of future events. Also debated were the best ways for measuring the Group’s progress, the formation of sector sub-groups aimed at taking forward discussions on definitions, the criminal and non-criminal criteria required for licensing, what standards are needed for academic and professional competency and the training packages necessary for achieving those standards.
In addition, the first meeting also concentrated on the procedures that ought to be applied for vetting, and how appeals against non-selection might be conducted.
Ultimately, six sector sub-groups were then established, one of them concentrating on manned guarding and also including dog handlers and key holders, door supervisors, wheel clampers, private investigators and security consultants. In other words, those sectors covered under the first version of the Private Security Industry Act.
The Way Forward Group’s second meeting was held on Tuesday 11 September, a day that will live long in the memory for all of us. At the meeting, it became clear that important progress had been made since the first get-together by several of the sub-groups, particularly in terms of definitions, competency criteria and standards. For its part, the Home Office had also produced a draft workplan – as yet unendorsed by Government ministers – setting out the appropriate actions for the next few months.
Advertisements for the chair and chief executive posts at the Security Industry Authority had been issued (all applications were due in by 16 October), and an additional sector workgroup focusing on training agreed upon.
At the time, the Home Office representatives stated that they hoped to hold meetings with other stakeholder groups “in the very near future”, as well as joining in with some of the sector group discussions.
The Way Forward Group
The next meeting of the Way Forward Group is scheduled for 28 November, with JSIC chairing the event. By this time it’s hoped that the various sector sub-group concerns will be defined in dedicated reports.
While the Criminal Records Bureau’s disclosure system – a process vital to licensing – will not be ‘going live’ until April next year, much procedural work needs to be carried out in the interim.
In the light of 11 September, the Government should now bring several issues to the fore.