Private Security Act 2001

The Private Security Act 2001, received Royal Assent on the 11th May 2001 and creates the mandate for the formation of The Security Industry Authority, (an independent body) to regulate, by licence, the security industry in this country.

In March 1999, the Government set out the proposals for regulation of the whole industry:

• regulation would help to raise standards and ensure greater consistency, building upon the progress the industry has already made through self-regulation.
• arrangements should be introduced to vet people working in the industry.  This is to ensure consistency and exclude criminal elements, who abuse their positions of trust and who, as a consequence, tarnish the industry as a whole.
• companies providing a satisfactory service, measured against relevant standards, should receive recognition and be able to demonstrate such recognition to customers, through a voluntary inspection scheme.

The requirement for security staff to be licensed under the Private Security Act 2001 came into effect on 20th March 2006 and makes it illegal for private providers of security to provide unlicensed staff, and also for establishments to use unlicensed staff.

Where departments need to use security staff, they should in the first instance contact:

Robert Moore

Telephone: 0113 21 43693

Robert is operations manager of the council's in-house security service and will be able to provide the appropriate guidance and advice whilst ensuring that services operate in line with the requirements of the above act.