RiskUKAugust2017

BSIA Briefing
References
1 https://www.theguardian.
com/money/2017/jun/18/
high-street-security-guardsshoppers-theft
2 https://www.bsia.co.uk/
Portals/4/Publications/231-
security-searches-cop.pdf
Code outlines good practice recommendations
for the conducting of searches by personnel
employed to ensure the security and safety of
property and individuals alike.
First, consent to search is always required,
except in those circumstances where statutes
or regulations provide otherwise. There are
serious implications for any person or company
enforcing a search without explicit consent.
Second, those people being searched may
consider the search to be invasive. It’s therefore
important that the searcher understands and
respects the person concerned and operates in
a manner that reduces the impact of that
search. In particular, searchers should avoid
discrimination and show respect for privacy,
cultural differences and religious sensitivities.
As part of this, there should be a definition,
which is understood by all parties, of the object
of the search and a clear definition of when the
search is complete or has been carried out to a
sufficient degree of thoroughness.
Other factors that require to be considered to
ensure that respect is given at all times include
precautions about additional needs such as
medical conditions or disabilities, advising
individuals of their rights, confirming that
individuals fully understand the search process,
distance from other persons and the
information that’s afforded to individuals
following the search.
There should be procedures in place that
clearly define the principles under which an
individual is searched and they shouldn’t be
discriminatory. Such criteria might include
whether all individuals carrying bags are
searched, whether individuals are randomly
selected to be searched (preferably where the
decision-making isn’t controlled by the
searcher) or the search of individuals where
there’s suspicion (such as the activation of an
Electronic Article Surveillance system).
In terms of the case featured in The Guardian,
it would appear that many of the good practice
recommendations outlined in the BSIA’s Code
of Practice hadn’t been followed. It’s an episode
that may well have exerted a negative impact
on the supermarket’s brand and reputation.
Maintaining reputation
The private security industry has built a solid
and trusted reputation that’s favourable among
“Consent to search is always required, except in those
circumstances when statutes or regulations provide
otherwise. There are serious implications for any person or
company enforcing a search without explicit consent”
Government, the police service and the general
public, largely down to the very high standards
maintained by the industry. Since the Private
Security Industry Act 2001 was passed, the
industry and the personnel working on the front
line have upheld the image of a business sector
that’s professional, whose staff are well-trained
and which is, in broad terms, an essential
component of public safety in today’s world.
However, it may be argued that experiences
like the one reported in The Guardian can have
a negative impact on the reputation of the
private security industry, as it’s unlikely that the
general public will distinguish between a
licensed security officer and an in-house one
during any interaction they might have with
them. Therefore, a bad experience with an inhouse
security officer has the potential to cloud
a member of the general public’s perception of
licensed security personnel.
Given the increasingly important role that the
private security industry plays in protecting
people and assets, maintaining the industry’s
reputation is essential. To this end, the BSIA
has been lobbying for the inclusion of the inhouse
sector in the regulatory regime for many
years now. Indeed, this was one of the
Association’s positions during the 2016
Independent Review of the SIA. It’s hoped that
this position – along with the reaffirmation of
business licensing in place of the current
system and greater recognition of the industry’s
vital role in protecting the public – will be
recognised in the final report when published.
Sourcing a supplier
Members of the BSIA’s Security Guarding
Section must comply with the Association’s
stringent eligibility criteria which is an
assurance that they’re reputable service
suppliers. This includes demonstrating that a
given company is financially sound, that its
directors are of good repute and that the
company possesses ISO 9001 certification
(accredited by a UKAS certification body).
In addition to this, members of the BSIA’s
Security Guarding Section must also meet the
Section-specific criteria which include ensuring
that all employees are security screened to BS
7858 Security Screening of Individuals
Employed in a Security Environment and
conforming to the latest version of BS 7499
Code of Practice for Static Site Guarding and
Mobile Patrol Services.
For retailers employing their own in-house
security staff who may be required to conduct
on-premise searches of individuals, the BSIA’s
Code of Practice for Security Searches can be
downloaded free from www.bsia.co.uk
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