surveillance and the sia

[nickdaykes]

Littlwoman is quite right, at the moment PIs do not licensing with SIA, but the HO are looking at regulating the industry.
Nick

[ESS]

In regards to Surveillance courses, if you're considering spending money on surveillance training, please go with an accredited organisation with a good reputation. It doesn't make sense to go anywhere you won't receive officially recognised qualifications now.

As for the sia and PI licensing, having been up to date with this issue from the start as an active participant of the ABI, I can tell you that should PI licensing be enforced (which is still not certain but 99% likely) the competency criteria will cover the following: 1.Implement investigations 2.The search for information and evidence 3.Conduct interviews 4.Carry out basic surveillance 5. Laws, standards and regulations. The competency criteria is likely to be run within a 3 or 4 day course; quite amazing when you consider the amount of knowledge and skill necessary to become a competent investigator.

As for surveillance, the basic surveillance competency included will be the absolute minimum and most probably ½ a day or 1 day at best with hardly any practical work.
So, two points:
a. If you’re waiting to see what is needed for the competency criteria for PI licensing before undertaking any surveillance course, don’t bother. You will learn nothing about surveillance from a course designed to meet competency criteria of PI licensing.
b. If you’re about to enrol on a surveillance course, I hope you have not wasted your money by going with an organisation that is not accredited now. Get a recognised qualification.

I do employ CPO’s on an occasional basis, however they must be competent surveillance and counter surveillance operatives and I would want to see they have a level 3 certification now.
Regards
Jason Clear.

[carl salmond]

i am currently at Task international. At this present moment their is no requirement for an sia Licence in Surveillance. but i understand it may be brought out in the future, more money for the SIA. The task course on passing and completing gives you a level 3 surveillance qualification from Edexcel, East Kent College. Have you thought of doing the Close Protection course provided by Task Internation?

[ESS]

Hi,
Surveillance will not be licensed seperately, it will come under the umbrella of a PI licensing.

Anyone undertaking any kind of Surveillance for the purpose of investigating any individual or organisation will need a PI license.

My CP training was done in the UK and Sweden, I respect Task but they have had their problems, having said that I have done level 3&4 Investigation NVQ’s through Task and was satisfied with the support process. I couldn’t comment on their Surveillance courses as I know nothing of them or who the trainers are.
Regards
Jason.

[Miles Overton]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ESS I have done level 3&4 Investigation NVQ’s through Task and was satisfied with the support process.

How long did it take to do the NVQ level 3 and 4 and how much roughgly was it?

[cpt291]

The sia are planning to licence Surveillance in the future, but reports are that it is a couple os years away. At the moment there is a working group that is establishing the core competencies for the Private Investigators lic, so I would advise steering clear of that until whe know that everyones course complies.

[ESS]

[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']Hi, well it took me 2 1/2 years to complete level 3 & 4. There's a lot of work needed to be submitted. It’s not cheap either, I think it cost me in the region of £2,000.[/font]
[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif'][/font]
[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']Is it worth it? Probably not actually, but the NVQ’s are the only worthwhile and credible investigation qualifications available. The good news is I'm reliably informed that level 3 will far exceed the competency criteria for PI licensing and thus should exempt the holder from further training. It will not, however, exempt the holder from a final competency examination if and when the criteria is announced.[/font]
[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif'][/font]
[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']Hope this helps.[/font]
[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif'][/font]
[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']Kind regards[/font]
[FONT='Verdana','sans-serif']Jason.[/font]

[stuckinarut]

hi guys, my name is kev, im just getting into the security industry. my aim to be a cpo. i`m undertaking the ten day iss course and the electronic Surveillance course at the start of may, then a 4 day first aid at work course, defensive driving and finally the Close Protection course. i`m currently a carpenter but ive been doing it waaaay to long. basically, i cant afford to pay for all the courses in one hit so i was hoping to move into surveillance for a time while i get the money together for the cpo course, but.. i`m guessing it will be hard to get a job with no experience?
also, are there any other qualifications i would need to work in that area or would the iss course be enough to get a job?
many thanks, kev

[isstraining]

Hello Kev,

It will be good to see you when you arrive for the course.

Don't be too hasty to book onto other diverse training courses just yet, unless you have a very reliable recommendation.

On our course you will meet like minded individuals from different security backgrounds, take their advice, listen to what courses they have attended and then make your mind up. We normally have at least 2 or 3 CPO's on each course so it would be good to ask their opinions for good CPO training.

We hear all sorts about all different training companies (CPO & driver training) but can not judge because we have not attended any of them, so the other students should be able to give you a realistic heads up..

As to getting a job with no experience - if you have the aptitude you will do well. After the course we can point you in a few directions. We had a 'full on' tricky Surveillance last week and one of our recent students was employed on the team who did very well. No previous experience but had the aptitude and did well on the course.

If you want any more info, please call me in the office.

Cheers

Peter

[stuckinarut]

thanks, will ask others on the course, see you there