Brian Sims
Editor
Brian Sims
Editor
ON 30 July, senior leaders from the six Awarding Organisations responsible for approving training providers and quality assuring the examination process joined representatives from Ofqual and the Security Industry Authority (SIA) to explore further measures for tackling training malpractice and fraud.
The Awarding Organisations in attendance were the BIIAB, Highfield Qualifications, Laser Awards, Pearson, QNUK and SFJ Awards.
Convened by the SIA, the meeting explored several areas including:
*the need for strengthened intelligence sharing to root out poor Training Centres and individual trainers and the practical and legal obstacles to achieving this aim
*the presence of organised crime in training malpractice and fraud,and the links to labour exploitation
*the operational implications of dual regulation by Ofqual and the SIA for the Awarding Organisations and the need for joined-up working
*a potential review of ‘Get Training’, the SIA’s published rules for Awarding Organisations and training providers
Quality and integrity
Subsequent to the meeting, Paul Fullwood (the SIA’s director of inspections and enforcement) explained: “The public safety role of SIA licence holders means that the quality and integrity of the training they receive at the beginning of their career is critical. We all need to be confident that those who hold SIA licences receive the correct entry-level qualification.”
Fullwood continued: “The aim of the latest discussion session was to bring everyone together to establish a joint vision for tackling this issue. We are not naïve and acknowledge this problem will not be eradicated overnight or independently by each of the parties concerned.”
Further, Fullwood observed: “What’s clear from these discussions is that there’s a genuine commitment from everyone to do their best in creating a hostile environment for anyone seeking to undermine the integrity of the SIA licence-linked qualification. This is the co-operation we need to build on in taking forward strategies designed to root out any training malpractice in this sector.”
Further information on how the SIA is tackling training malpractice is available on the Security Matters website.
Protecting the public
The SIA, of course, is the regulator of the UK’s private security industry. It’s core purpose is to protect the public through effective regulation of the private security industry and work with partners to raise standards across the sector.
The regulator is directly responsible for licensing individuals who transact certain roles in the private security industry (among them security officers and Public Space Surveillance CCTV operators) and for approving private security companies who wish to be part of the voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme.
In 2024, the SIA is marking 20 years since the organisation was established and issued the first SIA licence cards.
The SIA is an executive non-departmental public body sponsored by the Home Office. Additional detail is available online at www.gov.uk/sia.
Access the SIA’s pages on LinkedIn @Security Industry Authority, Facebook @theSIAUK, YouTube @TheSIAUK and X @SIAuk.
