Home Office launches consultation on Manchester Arena Inquiry recommendations

Security Minister Dan Jarvis MBE commented: “The safety and security of our citizens is the Government’s top priority. Private security operatives play a crucial role in this. They hold positions of responsibility, interact with vulnerable individuals and can be first responders to terrorist incidents. It’s therefore essential that high standards of regulatory oversight of private security are delivered consistently.”

That regulatory oversight is, of course, provided by the Security Industry Authority (SIA) through its licensing regime. The Manchester Arena Inquiry found that this regime could be extended to improve preparedness.

“The consultation is open to the public,” continued Jarvis, “and is targeted at security businesses, in-house and SIA licensed security operatives, the in-house employers of security operatives, buyers of security, local and public authorities and industry associations. It seeks views on a range of options to understand which, if any, should be implemented. These include regulatory and non-regulatory options to ensure that any new costs and regulatory burdens are proportionate, consider the impact on business and are highly effective in improving public safety.”

Monitored Recommendation 7: CCTV operatives

The Manchester Arena Inquiry noted that two CCTV operators working at the venue had differing levels of vetting and training: one operator was a contractor and required to hold an SIA licence, while the other was in-house and therefore exempt from SIA licensing.

The Inquiry Panel chair noted that in-house CCTV operatives should be licensed by the SIA in order to bring uniformity of training and vetting standards, regardless of type of employment (in-house or contracted). MR7 recommended the requirement that only those monitoring CCTV under a contract for services need to hold an SIA licence should be reviewed.

While the Manchester Arena Inquiry only suggested the licensing of in-house CCTV operatives, the same logic applies to extending licensing to other in-house operatives. These operatives can also be in positions of responsibility, interacting with vulnerable individuals, as well as be first responders to major or terrorist incidents. Extending licensing to these categories of in-house security operatives would standardise vetting and training requirements for them.

The SIA currently licenses individuals who perform certain security roles specified in the Private Security Industry Act 2001 for a contract for service. The exceptions to this are door supervisors and vehicle immobilisers, who are always licensed regardless of employment type.

Monitored Recommendation 8: Security businesses

The Manchester Arena Inquiry also noted that the current regulatory regime doesn’t allow the SIA the oversight of security companies required to ensure that they are ‘fit and proper’ businesses who comply with requirements under the Private Security Industry Act 2001 (ie deploying appropriately licenced staff) and the SIA licensing regime (ie ensuring the SIA’s standards, as set out in the Get Licensed documentation, are met).

The chair noted: “Companies carrying out security work which may include a counter-terrorism element [should be] required to be licensed.” The finalised Monitored Recommendation 8 recommended: “Contractors who carry out security services should be required to be licensed”.

Proposals developed by the Home Office and the SIA for delivering the intent of Monitored Recommendation 8 (ie improved oversight of security businesses by the SIA) are as follows: 

Option 0: ‘Do nothing’ 

Option 1: Improve SIA oversight of security firms through regulatory reform of the current licensing of directors, partners, supervisors and managers

Option 2: Improve regulatory compliance and standards and increase public confidence through encouraging voluntary take-up of a redesigned Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) soon to be called the Business Approval Scheme (BAS)

Option 3: Business licensing with businesses having to undergo a ‘fit and proper’ test consisting of identity, criminality, integrity, financial probity and competence checks

Option 4: Business licensing with businesses having to undergo a ‘fit and proper’ test consisting of identity and criminality checks

For both Monitored Recommendation 7 and Monitored Recommendation 8, the Home Office doesn’t have any preferred policy options. All options (including not taking any action) are open for consideration.

The Home Office is keen to understand industry views on the different options, their costs, benefits and effectiveness, their impact on different sectors and who should be exempted from any changes.

*View the open consultation online. Note that the consultation process is launched for a 12-week period and closes on 12 March