Despite Prime Minister David Cameron’s campaign to scrap more than 3000 regulations affecting small businesses, the fire and security industries are still in danger of being strangled by red tape, says Pat Allen, chairman of the Fire and Security Association (FSA).
There’s no question that the introduction of SIA licensing has successfully raised standards in the manned guarding sector. But, the plan to license monitoring centre businesses that sub-contract a licensable monitoring activity from systems installers and maintainers, as well as the individuals carrying out the work, we believe is a step too far.
The monitoring sector already has in place two British Standards (BS5979 and BS8418) and these are certificated by NSI or SSAIB who in themselves are accredited by UKAS. The Home Office has determined that CCTV operators reactively monitoring private property should be categorised under ‘surveillance’, along with operatives who proactively monitor public spaces, therefore such operators must be licensed. Remote video response centres (RVRC) now have to send their CCTV operators on a four day course, culminating in an exam and a qualification.
Under the latest SIA proposals (see the SIA ‘Get Licensed’ online booklet), it appears that any installer-maintainer who sub-contracts a licensable monitoring activity, may have to be licensed as a business as well, probably to manned guarding standards. If upheld, this will apply in addition to public space CCTV systems, to BS8243 visually or audibly confirmed alarms, both of which alarm receiving centre (ARC) operators are required by law to hold a valid SIA licence. Businesses will be responsible for arranging the underpinning training and applying for the licensing of their staff, leaving the SIA (or its agents) to undertake the CRB checks.
For the monitoring sector, the situation is further complicated by a mis-match of British Standards referenced in the SIA licensing sectors. The SIA matrix of standards for business licensing doesn’t include BS5979 (CAT2) that ARCs or BS8418 that RVRCs hold as current certification. In addition, monitoring businesses will probably be obliged to achieve certification to Standards used within the manned guarding industry. Surely, it should be possible for the respective UKAS accredited certification bodies to undertake a linking process with the SIA, to provide evidence that the business meets and maintains the criteria as a licensed business under statutory regulation? We believe that additional regulation of a sector that has been successfully self-regulated for 43 years through UKAS accredited certification bodies is not required and will only result in increased costs.
We are in the business of protecting client sites. Any licensing should support our ability to do business efficiently and improve the services we offer to our clients. For the monitoring sector, installers and maintainers, the FSA will continue to lobby the SIA and defend the interests of its members to ensure they can continue to provide an excellent service without being overburdened by additional regulation.
Pat Allen is Chairman of the Fire and Security Association Standing Committee and Director of Abel Alarm Company Ltd.
