SIA will not be abolished

25 March 2011

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has been removed from Schedule 1 of the Public Bodies Bill, which lists public bodies and offices set to be abolished.

The government announced there would be changes to the regulatory regime within the private security industry in October 2010. As a result, the SIA could have found itself obsolete.

However, its removal from Schedule 1 this week confirmed that would not be the case. Ruth Henig, chair of the SIA, welcomed the news.

She said: “The government’s intention is to bring forward new legislation to develop and replace the SIA’s regulatory regime. This shows welcome commitment to ensuring that the private security industry throughout the United Kingdom continues to be effectively regulated.”

Henig continued: “This confirms that regulation of the industry will continue, along with measures to enforce compliance with the current Private Security Industry Act until the new regime is in place. The SIA will continue to work with the government in establishing a new regulatory regime.”

The controversial Public Bodies Bill lists seven schedules of public bodies and offices under consideration for abolishment or adaptation.

While Schedule 1 lists those that are to be abolished, Schedule 2 lists those that are to be merged with others.

Schedule 3 is for those whose constitutional arrangements will be modified, and Schedule 4 is for those whose funding arrangements will be modified.

Finally, Schedule 5 is for bodies or offices whose functions may be transferred, Schedule 6 for those whose powers will be delegated, and Schedule 7 is for bodies that may be added to one of the previous schedules.