Security Industry Authority Approved Contractor Scheme

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Security Industry AuthorityApproved
Contractor Scheme

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Scheme identity and benefits
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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

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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

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Approval materials
Plaque for supplier company premises
Brochure for security buyers
Lapel pin to wear on site
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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

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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

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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

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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

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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_at_the-sia.org.uk