Exclusive! Mike Reddington, Chief Executive, British Security Industry Association updates us on the BSIAs activities and future plans.
The BSIA is proud to lead from the front representing and working with its members; through this approach we look at opportunities and challenges that the professional security market faces and what as a collective we can do to address these. Throughout 2024 we will continue to promote many of the important schemes and projects currently in progress or recently launched.
We are working with our members and partners on a range of projects and schemes to benefit the industry and society as a whole; we remain committed to seeing Martyn’s Law progress – the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill was published in draft form this year, with a final version drawn up for the Government to progress. Whilst waiting for the final guidance and regulations to be provided we will continue to inform our members, encouraging them to consider preparations and understanding of the expected requirements.
We continue to experience labour shortages within our sector and the BSIA and its members are actively working on encouraging the next generation into the Professional Security sector. A key initiative in this drive is our People Property, Places: Professionally Protected campaign, which continues to promote a career in security as a career of choice, whilst raising the value of security in society; we will also continue to promote the Security Officer Apprenticeship, which was launched in 2023 and continues to see demand increase.
Other work recently completed or in progress is to tackle recruitment challenges through education on how to attract and secure the right candidate. The promotion of the Home Office’s brochure, Future Security Careers, produced by the Joint Security and Resilience Centre (JSaRC) following in-depth research within the Professional Security sector. Also, the SIA’s Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Forum, which the BSIA co-chairs and is currently developing an industry-wide code of practice to assist every company with recruitment and retention with regards to EDI.
We have also been working with our members in mitigating the rising tide of shoplifting, with new initiatives launched such as Pegasus, which is a UK Government crime unit partly funded by some high street retail operators that targets prolific offenders and Organised Crime Groups (OCGs). This is following work done by the RCAG (Retail Crime Advisory Group), a collaboration of retail and police representatives and private security companies.
Pegasus will deliver a new digital interface to streamline information sharing between retailers and the police and provide training for retailers on appropriate information and intelligence to share with policing. BSIA members were heavily involved in its creation, and we will continue to engage and listen to our members concerns on this issue whilst encouraging them to be involved in the process.
Next year will see further developments on the AI front and the BSIA will continue to guide and promote best practice through its AI & Biometrics Special Interest Group. This group was established in 2023, to focus on utilising AI in various biometrics for innovative development and application, aiming to advance biometric tech with AI, explore its innovative uses, and contribute to governance, policy and ethical discussions.
Mike was appointed as Chief Executive of the BSIA in 2019. He has worked in the security industry for over 25 years, having begun his career in electronic engineering before moving into sales, marketing and management, rising into senior roles for a variety of leading blue-chip organisations, such as Honeywell and ADI.
