SIA responds to Home Office public body review

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has responded to the publication of the Home Office public body review of the regulator.

The Home Secretary appointed Cristina Bizzi, a senior civil servant at the Department for Transport, to lead an independent review into the SIA. The review focused on identifying efficiencies that the SIA can sustain as it continues to mature.

The scope of the review included the SIA's efficacy, efficiency, governance and accountability.

It also offers a background of the SIA, purpose and sets out the purpose of the review. The review concludes with 11 recommendations.

The review found that the SIA is well-run organisation with a Board, Executive and staff committed to improving public security and there are strong and positive relationships between the SIA and both policy and corporate components of sponsorship at the Home Office.

In response to the review, Heather Baily, chair of the SIA, and Michelle Russell, chief executive of the SIA, said: "We welcome the publication of this review of the SIA and of the regulatory regime for private security. The SIA embraced the review with a collaborative, open, and transparent approach. We are pleased the review provides the necessary assurance to ministers and the public that the SIA is a well-run organisation doing good work.

"The focus of this review was efficiency, and the review confirms the SIA has challenged itself to increase efficiency to contain the cost of its operations.

"The review also confirms the SIA is best placed in its current form to deliver the licensing of regulated security roles and the regulation of private security."

They continued: "We are particularly pleased that the review acknowledges the work licensed security operatives do to protect the UK. The review encourages them to “continue to work with the SIA as an expert and authoritative regulator that is punching above its weight to encourage the highest standards in the profession.

"We seek and continue to benefit from the support and co-operation of those working in the private security industry and our many partners to provide effective regulation and pursue robustly those who choose not to comply.

"We will work with the Home Office and the devolved governments to implement the recommendations of this review."