Private Security Industry (Hansard, 7 November 1995)

§ Mr. Michael
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if it is his policy to introduce legislation in the coming Session of Parliament to bring into effect statutory regulation of the private security industry; [41930]
(2) if he will make it his policy to establish a system of regulation in the private security industry to provide for (a) the international nature of operators and (b) the range of inter-related services provided by some operators; [41936]
(3) if he will make it his policy to introduce a statutory system to regulate the private security industry; and if he will set a target date for these measures; [41929]
(4) if he will make it his policy to protect those companies in the private security industry which his Department assesses to be well run under statutory regulation of the industry; [41939]
(5) if he will make it his policy to establish a system of regulation for the private security industry which can respond quickly to changes in the market. [41937]

§ Mr. Maclean
The case for regulation is being considered in the light of the Home Affairs Select Committee report. We will provide a full response to the Committee as soon as possible.

§ Mr. Michael
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanisms are in place in his Department to ensure that any private security company providing services to his Department is and remains a member of the relevant voluntary regulatory body for the industry. [41934]
811W

§ Mr. Howard
No formal systems are in place, but membership of voluntary regulatory bodies may be taken into account with other factors when assessing companies for the award of security services contracts.

§ Mr. Michael
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to bring into effect arrangements to allow for proper vetting procedures for(a) employees and (b) employers within the private security industry within statutory provisions to regulate that industry. [41938]

§ Mr. Maclean
We are aware that there are concerns about the employment within the industry of individuals with criminal records. The whole issue of disclosure of criminal records for employment vetting purposes is currently under review. A White Paper containing the Government's proposals in this area will be issued during the next few months.

§ Mr. Michael
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to give powers to the police to intervene in the work of the private security industry in circumstances where there is a threat to public safety. [41926]

§ Mr. Maclean
The police have comprehensive powers to protect the public and to deal with criminal behaviour whenever it occurs.

§ Mr. Michael
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will include(a) manned guarding and (b) patrol duties and (c) door supervision within statutory provisions to regulate the private security industry. [41931]

§ Mr. Maclean
The issue of regulation for the industry is under review. We are aware that concerns lie mainly in the contract manned guarding sector, which includes private patrolling services. Door supervisors raise particular difficulties which are being tackled through local registration schemes—a measure which the Home Affairs Select Committee supported—and guidance on these will shortly be issued.

§ Mr. Michael
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will list the private security firms undertaking work for his Department during the present financial year and for each of the last five financial years, listing in each case and for each year the total number of full time equivalent posts paid for by his Department and the numbers in each category of role in each year; [41932]
(2) how many private security firms employed by his Department have ceased to be a member of the relevant voluntary regulatory body during the period in which such services were being provided; and if he will indicate (a) the firms and (b) the regulatory bodies concerned; [41935]
(3) if he will list the organisations providing private security services of any sort to his Department or to any agency responsible to him or to his Department in the current financial year and in any part of each of the past five financial years; indicating against each name the voluntary regulatory body or bodies to which each belongs. [41933]
812W

§ Mr. Howard
The following organisations have provided private security services to my Department over the past five years. Those marked are currently employed.

Airline Security Consultants Ltd.

Arrnaguard Ltd.^*

Aviation Defence International

Aviation Security Consultants^*

Burns International Security Services Ltd.^*

Care Security Systems Ltd.^*

Chubb Wardens Ltd.

Chubb Alarms Ltd.^*

Defence Security Services

Defenco Security Services^*

Felixstowe Security Co

Group 4 Court Service Ltd.^*

Group 4 Remand Services Ltd.

Group 4 Prison Services Ltd.^*

Group 4 Securitas (Security Express)^*

Group 4 Total Security Ltd.^*

Grundig International Ltd.

Harlow Security Systems Ltd.

Lisburn Security Services^*

Maritime Aviation Security Services^*

North Essex Security Services Ltd.

Potton Leisure Ltd.

Premier Prison Services Ltd.^*

Reliance Security Service Ltd.^*

Rentokil Security Services Ltd.

Scrottons Aviation Security^*

SDA (1979) Ltd.

Securicor Custodial Services Ltd.^*

Securicor Ltd.^*

Securicor Management Group

Securicor Security Services Ltd.^*

Securiguard Services Ltd.^*

Securite Service Ltd.

Security Express Guards Ltd.

Security Ulster Ltd.^*

Security Wales Ltd.^*

Sigma Security Ltd.^*

Shorrock Security Guards Ltd.^*

Sterling Granada

UK Detention Services Ltd.^*
Information about the voluntary regulatory bodies to which these organisations belong, and whether the membership of such bodies has been maintained for the duration of the contract period, is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Information about the number of staff employed on each contract and their role is also not readily available; in some cases the number varies from day to day for operational reasons.