This year, the extensive remit of the Security Industry Authority (SIA) is to be extended to Northern Ireland, creating a single regulatory scheme for the private security industry throughout the United Kingdom.
The proposal to extend the remit of the SIA to Northern Ireland was put out for public consultation by the Northern Ireland Office in August 2006. The results showed an overwhelming desire within the industry for regulation, and that this should be in line with Best Practice in Great Britain.
The SIA initiated a Project Board to manage the delivery of regulation for the Province, under the chairmanship of Andy Drane. That Board includes senior representatives from the Northern Ireland Office and the Police Service of Northern Ireland. There’s also a senior observer from the Private Security Authority, which regulates in the Republic of Ireland.
The introduction of licensing for the private security industry in Northern Ireland will affect those who work within the sector, and those who buy security services.
Both parties can find out more about licensing and how it will affect them by attending one of the Security Industry Authority’s (SIA) forthcoming Roadshow briefings.
Belfast and Coleraine
There are two briefings in Belfast. On 16 February, those working in the private security sector are invited to attend, while end users who buy solutions have their own educational day on 16 March.
For those working in the industry in the Coleraine region, the date for your diary is 17 February.
Londonderry, Omagh and Newry
The respective dates for Londonderry are 18 February (solutions providers) and 18 March (buyers), and for Omagh 19 February and 19 March.
For Newry, the dates are 20 February (solutions providers) and 20 March (purchasers of security services).
If you wish to attend one of these events you’ll need to fill in the form uploaded to the Regulator’s web site. Click on the dedicated link on the right hand panel of this page.
Register of SIA Approved Contractors
The very latest news (as of 3 February) is that there are currently 597 SIA Approved Contractors.
Buyers who’d like to check on those companies registered should click on the link on the right hand panel of this page.