A regulator must be established to oversee compliance with, and enforce, the requirements placed on duty holders. The role of the regulator in the first instance will be to support and provide guidance on how best to achieve compliance.
The SIA will have several legal powers to fully exercise its functions (schedule 3: investigatory powers).
Inspect:
• Operating on a regional level.
• Allowing inspectors to link in with regional CT networks
• Use a toolkit of sanctions and powers in cases of serious non-compliance
Guide:
• Produce guidance for businesses on how to prepare and comply with the legislation
• All advice aligned closely with protect UK
Advise:
• Providing tailored advice on how to build reasonably practicable security plans.
Link to: Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill: Regulator factsheet
Regulator Q&A
Who is the Regulator?
- The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has been named as the regulator for Martyn’s Law. This will be delivered as a new function of Authority.
- The Security Industry Authority already plays an important role in safeguarding the public through its statutory and non-statutory work. It has a wealth of experience in inspecting and enforcing legislation which better protects the public.
- With its years of experience in increasing security standards around public safety, we believe that this is an exciting opportunity to strengthen the Security Industry Authority’s work to create a body that improves public safety around people and places across the UK.
- In their new regulatory function the SIA will build on their existing expertise and knowledge. They will also bring in the right people, with suitable qualifications and expertise, to ensure an effective and proportionate regulatory approach, which sits in line with the Government’s clear direction for the SIA to provide support, advice and guidance first.
- The Government will continue to engage with stakeholders to ensure that they are kept abreast of the latest developments surrounding the regulator.
Who are the Security Industry Authority (SIA)?
• The SIA is a Home Office arm’s length body established by the Private Security Industry Act 2001 as the regulator of the private security industry. It was set up to raise standards and drive out criminality from the industry and now plays a key role in public protection.
• The SIA has two key statutory functions:
1) Licensing individuals who perform certain security roles specified in the Act (e.g. door supervisors and security guards). This includes setting the standards for, and ensuring that individuals have completed, mandatory training, as well as running criminal record and other checks to ensure that they are ‘fit and proper’ to hold a licence.
2) Administering the Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS), a voluntary quality assurance scheme for the private security businesses.
• The SIA also supports key government public safety priorities by collaborating with local and national Government and the police and business operators on activities relating to counter terrorism, violence against women and girls, and spiking.
The SIA will issue guidance about how it will exercise its enforcement powers. This guidance will be approved by the Home Secretary.
Will inspections/registering cost my business anything?
No. Registration and inspections will not be charged for. Any advice and guidance provided by the SIA will also be free.
Will my premises receive a public rating after inspection, such as food standards?
No. Premises will not be given a public rating. Any communication between a site and the regulator will remain confidential.