HC Deb 15 December 1988 vol 143 c718W
95. Mr. Martyn Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he intends taking to control the unregulated proliferation of private security firms.

99. Mr. George

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policy towards matters raised in the report on the private security industry produced by the Association of Chief Police Officers.

Mr. John Patten

The Government have made it clear that they look to the private security industry to provide self-regulation. However, following publication of the report on the industry by the Association of Chief Police Officers, I have asked officials to consider with the police and the industry ways in which self-regulation might be improved.

102. Mr. Allason

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider extending to England and Wales the regulations concerning the registration of private security company employees to be registered and vetted, currently in force in Northern Ireland.

Mr. John Patten

The reason for regulating security firms in Northern Ireland is to prevent proscribed organisations from benefiting from their activities. There is no equivalent need for statutory regulation in England and Wales, but following publication of the report by the Association of Chief Police Officers on the private security industry, we are considering ways in which the industry's self-regulatory role might be improved.