GMB Say The Public Will Be At Risk If Security Industry Licensing Is Removed

23 Sep 2010

GMB says that the public will be put at risk if licensing of the security industry is removed by Government.

It is important to remember that licensing in the security industry was brought in to keep out crooks, drug dealers and those convicted of criminal assaults to protect the public and create decent standards in the industry

GMB, the main trade union in the private security industry, commented on the announcement by the Home Office that it intends to consult regarding the future of the Security Industry Authority (SIA) that licenses security companies and security staff and maintains standards in the industry. As of June 2010, the total number of approved security contractors was 672. There are almost 350,000 security workers with valid SIA licenses across the UK.

Paul Kenny, GMB General Secretary said, “GMB understands that the government is looking at all sorts of things so you would expect. This is not about red tape and it would be a serious mistake to confuse a measure that is on the Statute Book to protect the public as ‘red tape’.

It is important to remember that licensing in the security industry was brought in to keep out crooks, drug dealers and those convicted of criminal assaults to protect the public and create decent standards in the industry. If the security licensing authority is removed it will hit decent employers, it will expose the public to unnecessary risks and will undoubtedly end in tears and in the courts.

GMB is happy to provide evidence as to why a move to abolish the SIA would be disastrous and be a threat to the safety of the public.”