The Security Industry Authority (SIA) might set up a bursary scheme for disadvantaged people who otherwise could not afford to pay for the SIA licensing process and training, as one use for the money recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act. So Ian Todd, the new chief executive of the SIA, told Professional Security in an interview at the UK regulator’s Canary Wharf offices yesterday.
He said: “There’s a range of things we can do; it’s a limited pot, but for the benefit of the profession.” Since 2015 SIA has had the power, and is using it, to claim from people convicted under the Private Security Industry Act 2001, ‘proceeds of crime’.
In the interview at the SIA’s offices at 10 South Colonnade Ian Todd ranged over his own background – starting his working life as a paramedic, he has experience of what it can be like on the ‘front line’, including attempted assault on him, when only trying to do his job and serve people.
He spoke about the SIA, admitting that with the continuing political impasse over Brexit there continues to be little prospect of any legislation to change the SIA’s powers or ways of working – such as licensing of businesses rather than individuals. Even when or if Brexit is resolved, there would be a logjam of other legislation across government requiring action. Also in the political background is the make-up of the Conservative Government that looks to avoid regulation of business as a ‘burden’. He confirmed, as featured in the March print issue of Professional Security, the potential changes to the SIA’s work raised during the Home Office review and industry consultation (begun in 2015) won’t be acted on by Government.
Ian Todd also spoke about how he sees the private security industry, noting that whereas at his previous regulation posts – such as in midwifery, and his previous job at the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), based on the same floor as the SIA – an industry is represented by only one or two trade bodies or associations, that’s not the case for UK private security; which does make it harder to make any industry case to a government minister.
Ian Todd also answered Professional Security questions about training malpractice, and the diversity (or lack of) in the security sector, notably only about a tenth of security people being women. More in the August 2019 print issue of Professional Security magazine.
About Ian Todd
He joined the SIA officially on February 25, from the IOPC, the former Independent Police Complaints Commission, where he was Deputy Director General.
He took over from acting chief exec David Humphries, who was standing in for the previous chief Alan Clamp, who was at the SIA for three years and has become head of the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) for health and social care.
