Dirk Wilson Chairman of the BSIA s Police and Public Services Section
Present provision of service in giving communities the feeling of safety. A change in the provision of safety and security for communities whether large or small. To look at options available. Quality marks and British Security Industry Association membership to aid in procurement.
The amalgamation of any number of organisations to adopt the strength in numbers appears to be a trend waning in recent years. This can be pushed to the idea that there is a question whether the UK should leave Europe or not. Trends on an international scale are more about separation than unity and that control can be better provided by smaller faster organisations than the super corporate. Costs and savings and reduction of services and the push of responsibility from the State to the individual in all spheres of existence, from pension provision to health to managing income and the reduction of services from the state as we get older.
Personal security, family security, business and work security are something which in the UK has always been pushed onto the shoulders of the police. Reduction in funding and more recent reduction in size have changed perceptions on police availability and the priority of their actions. Increase in population, increase in risk from unknown new members of the community and the fear agenda from the recent terrorist attacks in the most benign environment have highlighted the need for more from less.
Power to communities and local and regional authorities have resulted in the search for ways to provide safety and security in a different way to traditional Policing. Sir Peter Fahy Ex Chief Constable of Greater Manchester stated that: all parties agree that private security industries should not be involved in the routine patrols of public open space. Although private security has been employed to do just that for decades and responding to alarm systems is a whole business model on its own, very well established and is now becoming linked in with CCTV monitoring systems across the country.
Community safety then becomes something which is open for tender, and yet: Sir Ian Blair said in 2009 that more use should be made of community officers and civilians working within the police, otherwise there could be more private police patrols. He said: "I do not see community safety as a commodity to be bought and sold and therefore we shouldn't be having the private sector in policing.
In 2012 Sir Ian Blair stated: Once the strait jacket of officer numbers is removed police forces can modernise their budgets in the way any other institution would do, namely by reducing unit costs. The correct question that should have been asked by the home office is, which functions currently carried out by sworn, fully warranted, fully trained police officers do not need to be? David Taylor Smith head of G4S for the UK and Africa predicted that private companies would be running large parts of the British police service within 5 years driven by a combination of budgetary pressure and political will (2012).
Sir Ian Blair has also said there should be no role for the private sector in Britain's law enforcement. This view is fully endorsed, Law enforcement is an activity best left to the highly trained police officers. Safety and security can be provided by anything ranging from good advice through to manned guarding services and physical access control systems.
Guarding and patrols seem to be the most headline grabbing and perhaps that is due to the immediate impact on perception by the public. Alarm response has been carried out for decades with little comment, perhaps because the generalised ratios on attendance is that over 90% of the times an alarm goes off there is a reason other than that there is mischief afoot. Vehicle Patrols sponsored by Councils for decades. CCTV monitoring at work and at home.
What can be provided to give communities a feeling of safety and security is a service given by national or even local organisations who employ formally trained; licensed, screened and vetted personnel with back up in the event of an unforeseen incident. Level of Quality or ability. Standards set nationally and how are they met. What is the kitemark for security.
British Standards 7499 Static site guarding and mobile patrol service British Standard 7958 Closed circuit television management and operation British Standard 7858 Security screening of individuals employed in a security environment British Standard 7984 Keyholding and response services British Standard EN ISO 9001 Quality management systems A bench mark in performance which can be used as a comparator, as a quick check to see if the company can or does do what it says on the tin.
British Security Industry Association Over 85% of the industry s turnover has membership with the BSIA Choose a provider from the largest to the smallest A reassuringly selective trade association How to buy Security (from Business to individual purchase) Procurement guide One step check Saves Time Saves Money Best guarantee of BEST value
Community and safety/security through direct purchase NOT law enforcement Private services for hire Check the provision Check the proposition Check the professional status Hallmark Standard Reliability