Security Industry Authority

Approved Contractor Scheme

2

What is the scheme about?

• Industry designed quality assurance scheme

• Intended to – raise industry standards and conditions, plus promote

best practise– recognise best practise organisations

• Creating opportunity through– enhanced capabilities– greater buyer understanding and preference– facilitating new partnerships

3

What will ACS mean?

• Allows our company to demonstrate that– it has reached nationally recognised quality standards– it is committed to the compulsory licensing of staff

• Provides assurances about the capability of our organisation and systems for

• existing customers• new customers• general public• authorities• insurers

4

Overall shape of ACS

• Developed in collaboration with the private security industry

• Open to those parts of the industry that are regulated by licensing

• One scheme with sector specific approval

• A single level of approval (either pass or fail)

• Application to ACS is voluntary

5

Scheme philosophy

• Accessible for all sizes of organisation– micro, small, medium and large

• Voluntary, with no obligation– will stand on its own merits

• Will meet the requirements of the Private Security Industry Act 2001

– including standards and best practise

6

Regulated (licensed) sectors

• Manned Guarding– Security Guarding– Door Supervision – Close Protection– Cash and Valuables in Transit– CCTV in Public Space Surveillance

• Vehicle Immobilising

• Key Holding

7

Scheme identity and benefits

 

This tells them how well we do it.

         

This tells buyers what we do.

         

8

Benefits for our company

• Operational flexibility– can deploy staff with licence application in process– by issuing staff with an LDN (Licence Dispensation Notice)

• Create opportunity– be part of a nationally recognised scheme– be recognised by other authorities (Extended Police Family)

• Business opportunity– enjoy independent endorsement and promotion– differentiate our business from others– demonstrate our quality commitment– illustrate our customer focus

9

Benefits for our customers

• Ensures continuity of service– be confident that the supplier has a resourceful and

flexible organisation

• Endorses good employment practice– acknowledges supplier compliance to licensing legislation

• Enhances the reach of the security network– recognition from the Police and other authorities

• Receive high levels of customer service

10

Approval materials

Brochure for security buyersPlaque for supplier company premises

Lapel pin to wear on site

11

Licence Dispensation Notice

• ACS organisations may deploy unlicensed staff provided that

– training completed– licence applied for and application acknowledged – on request, operatives can produce the LDN, a proof of

identity and licence application acknowledgement – no more than 15% of total licensable staff operate under

licence dispensation – staff do not work on assignments where restrictions apply

(children or vulnerable adults)– LDN will be withdrawn immediately if a licence application is

refused or withdrawn

12

Licence Dispensation Notice

• Organisations without ACS cannot legally deploy staff who do not possess (i.e. physically hold) the appropriate licence

• Records must be maintained as to– staff issued with LDNs– date issued and date of expiry

• Misuse of LDN facility may result in– withdrawal of dispensation facility– rejection of annual re-registration– immediate withdrawal of Approved Status

13

Building awareness

• The SIA is promoting ACS to buyers and users of private security services within

– public sector • local government• central government

– commercial sectors

– not for profit organisations

14

Awareness activities

• Communications include– press advertising– journalist briefings, press releases and articles – direct mail campaigns– e-mail bulletins and website updates – brochures and newsletters– exhibitions and seminars – road shows and other events– partner / shared initiatives

15

Further information from the SIA

• available on the SIA website at– www.the-sia.org.uk/acs

• or speak to the ACS team by calling– 020 7025 4190

• or email the ACS team at– ACSenquiries@the-sia.org.uk