Today’s change takes the total number of licence holders in Great Britain to nearly a quarter of a million, with 398 companies recognised by the SIA as approved contractors.
Scottish Justice minister Kenny MacAskill said the Authority’s extended remit heralds a new era for the private security industry north of the border.
“Much work has been done over recent years to develop the private security industry and to ensure that it plays a full role in helping to protect the public.
“Regulation will assist this process by driving out the bad guys and continue the development of an industry for the 21st century.”
The SIA has been working closely with the Scottish Government, the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) and the Scottish security industry to ensure that all those who required a licence were aware of the legislation and could be ready for today’s deadline.
However, as info4security reported earlier in the week, around 8,000 of the licensable operatives in Scotland still do not have the documents they need to work within the law.
But Chief Superintendent Andrew Laing of Fife Constabulary said the ACPOS would be supporting the SIA in all of its efforts to ensure the industry is free of criminal influence.
“The industry plays a major role in providing a safe and secure environment for communities – whether that be safeguarding property, stewarding licensed premises or managing crowds at football matches and other major events.”
He added, “It is vitally important that the services they provide are professional and trustworthy”.
