The cost of private security in Great Britain
Published 19 May 2023
© Crown copyright 2023
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-cost-of-private-security-in-great-britain/the-cost-of-private-security-in-great-britain
1. Request
I would like to know how much Great Britain spends on private security, the ratio of business to direct service in organisations, and how quality is monitored
2. Response
I can confirm that the SIA does not hold this information.
2.1 Money spent on private security
The SIA does not report on this category of spend as this is not within our remit.
2.2 Ratio of business to direct service
The SIA does not hold the information. This is because we do not keep track or hold any records on the number of purchasers of security services versus in-house provision. This is not within the SIA’s remit.
2.3 Quality monitoring
The SIA does not hold this information as we license individuals and not businesses. We also do not run a complaints scheme in respect of individuals as any complaints about an individual would be reported to a security company or the venue itself.
2.4 Clarification on what the SIA does
We are the organisation responsible for regulating the private security industry. We are an independent body that reports to the Home Office, established in 2003 under the Private Security Industry Authority 2001 (the PSIA). The SIA has a number of statutory functions, which include:
- the duty to administer applications for licences for persons engaged in ‘licensable conduct’
- enforcing compliance with the regulatory regime
Broadly, there are two types of licences:
- front line, for guards and other security operatives themselves, and
- non-front line, for those who manage and supervise front line workers or are directors/partners of security businesses.
The SIA has a range of compliance enforcement options falling short of prosecution, and most cases are dealt with by those lesser measures. However, the SIA may act as a public prosecutor for offences against the PSIA as well as other offences that could have a detrimental impact on the private security industry. This recourse it reserves for the most serious cases.
The SIA also runs a voluntary scheme called the Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS). The SIA’s ACS regime is established under Sections 14-18 of the PSIA 2001. The objective of the SIA’s Approved Contractor scheme is to raise performance standards and to assist the private security industry in developing new opportunities. The scheme as mentioned is voluntary and was developed in consultation with representatives from across the industry. Approval is granted for a period of 3 years and upon grant the applicant is added to the SIA’s register of approved contractors, which is available on the SIA website.
[Reference: FOI 0411]