CP Industry without the SIA

[SH4DOW]

How would you feel about an industry without the sia ?
How would you feel about an alternative route than the SIA?

Think carefully about the pros & cons.

Would the scales tip in favour of a lawless industry - or would government approval win the day?

Who would benefit the most?
Who would lose the most?
Who would be at the biggest disadvantage?
How would this affect the client?
How would this affect you & your business?

Let's have an "intelligent" discussion about this lads & lasses;

"What if ?"

[Ram Man]

Me scrap the sia, security and badgeing should be given back to the local councills ,maybe adjust it, but it would be a better much better without it,they are my thoughts m8.

[Heno]

It was a good idea...........in theory, but then to quote Homer "Communism works....in theory"

The problem being it was put together in a half arsed way by the Govt, given to Civil servants (with very little understanding of the industry) to run it.

I can understand the need for licencing and having CPO's out there that have had some form of training, however it started badly and was allowed to continue in that fashion, in my opininion, the sia should be scrapped and start afresh with some real input from the people involved in the industry, people who know exactly what a CPO does.

[SH4DOW]

Come on guys - put ya backs into it....

How would it affect you if the sia was abolished and not replaced?
How would it affect the industry if we were left to our own devices?
Benefits & downsides?

[Paul999]

Bear in mind that I've next to zero experience in the industry so may be talking poo, but would it make more sense to have a badge/licence from an agency recognised all over europe? That way it would hopefully make it less difficult to work europe wide? (maybe I'm looking at his too simply through my inexperienced eyes! lol)

I appreciate that the sia fall way short of getting Europe wide recognition!

I do feel that there should be some kind of regulation though. I'd hate to have paid out getting myself qualified, only to have some knob head just giving him/herself said title and being downright dangerous or at best shoddy. It would devalue everything that people had worked hard to get.

I'm a Paramedic and I'm pleased to have the knowledge that it's a protected title that some walter mitty can't just go using without ramification. Not only that, my patients can be safe in the knowledge that I am what I say I am and that they can quickly and easily verify that on the HPC online register: HPC Check

Not sure what else I have to offer this discussion really.

Cheers,
Paul

[Heno]

Ok,

If it were abolished and not replaced, then anybody that's read a few books and has the gift of the gab can come and be a CPO, which is what was happening before the sia.

If the industry were to become self regulating then there would be even more childish bitching about who's organisation is the best and who is most recognised, the kind of stuff that belongs in a school yard.

I still think the SIA is a joke, (I'm from Ireland, we have the PSA, which is just as bad, if not worse than the SIA, but seeing as I work in bot.h Ireland and occassionally the UK, I get double the headache) and it should be scrapped, I do beleive that there should be high standards and some form of recognised licencing in place that will give CPO's the legitimacy that is required.

Scrap it, start again but properly with more input from the guys on the ground.

[a5955]

The way I see it there is a need for an outfit like the sia, having talked to a SIA employee in depth they told me the biggest problems they have are
1. Understaffed there is only 11 people dealing with licensing
2. The background checks they do are done by the licensing people and ideally should be outsourced
3. The bulk of the staff are involved in accounting
4. Time wasted on incorrectly filled out applications
5. Majority of normal Security Guards are not British Nationals which requires double the work now, with regards to immigration issues

Thats what they say.

Guys
I did my CPP with ASIS three years ago and this is recognized worldwide and does not expire, I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a career in the industry and its also recognized by the EU

[Heno]

Understaffed with only 11 people dealing with licencing says it all really doesn't it?

The Govt, with all it's wisdom saw the security industry as a cash cow and sought to get licence money from evrybody involved, they obviously understand that it is a massive industry so why, oh why did they see fit to employ 11 people to deal with the Eleventy Billion applications????

[SH4DOW]

Great input guys...

[SH4DOW]

Pre-SIA there was the PBA.

They are British. Born from the need for an independent training program for Special Units, Military and Police.

Name a government agency - they were trained by the PBA. Even the US Presidential Protection Team were trained by them.... they were the Worlds Industry standard in CP.... their licence was recognised Worldwide.

Once we lead the industry - now we've been shut out over the poor performance of the SIA.

If we aren't happy with our governing body, we should consider the alternatives.

Keep the thoughts coming guys - answer the questions I posed.