Security Update November 2016
The Security Industry Authority (SIA) is running a public consultation on physical intervention training, addressing issues around disability and the need for Close Protection Officers to have physical intervention training.
SIA Physical Intervention Skills Consultation
They would be grateful for your opinion and ask that you respond to their consultation.
Respond to SIA Physical Intervention Skills Consultation
Please note, the closing date for the consultation is 20 December 2016.
If you have any queries regarding this consultation, please email the SIA: intervention.consultation@sia.gsi.gov.uk
Safeguarding Vulnerable People
The SIA want to reinforce some of the key messages from the door supervisor training and emphasise the importance of safeguarding vulnerable people in the night time economy.
The following content is required to be covered as part of the door supervision qualification:
1.Understand how a door supervisor can help to keep vulnerable people safe.
2. Recognise the risks to vulnerable people being ejected from, or refused entry to a venue:
- Being under the influence of drink or drugs
- Being assaulted
- Being alone
- Receiving unwanted attention
- Domestic violence
- Being too young to look after themselves
- Becoming the target of a sexual predator
3. Identify actions that can be taken by a door supervisor to protect vulnerable people:
- Call friend or relative to assist them
- Call a licensed taxi to take them home
- Use a ‘safe haven’
- Ask street pastors or street marshals to assist
- Call the police
- A lone male seen pestering a customer or member of staff
- Heavily intoxicated female leaving with a male
- Regular attendee leaving often with different intoxicated females
- Finding a date-rape type drug on a person during a search
PASS Proof of Age Card
In June 2014, the PASS (Proof of Age Standard Scheme) 18+ Design Standard, was relaunched introducing a common look and feel across all PASS hologrammed cards.
PASS has strong support from the UK Government through the Home Office, the police through the National Police Chiefs Council (formerly ACPO) and the SIA.
PASS is also backed by a number of Trade Bodies and the industry in general as a viable and reliable alternative to passports and driving licences. However a number of PASS card holders are being refused admission to licensed premises.
PASS National Director, Marc Catchpole has responded:
“We want to reassure door staff that all our PASS card issuers are rigorously audited to ensure they operate to the highest standards. Our processes follow those used by the Passport Office themselves.
We have had reports that some door staff are refusing to accept PASS cards because they fear there may be fakes on the market.
The police have made it clear that provided the 5 Step Due Diligence Process is followed when IDs are being checked and that this is part of your training, then should an underage person make it inside despite those checks, then no one is going to be prosecuted or fined.”
5 Step Process, as applied to PASS Cards:
1. Check the card – does it conform to the PASS 18+ template, or is it an old style card (which are still valid, but please encourage an upgrade) or a Young Scot card (which features the ‘saltire’ (the Scottish flag) across the face, BUT with a PASS hologram on the RHS?
2. Check the hologram – is it a genuine 3D hologram? Rub your thumb over the card, it should be flush with the card not raised or indented.
3. Check the photo – does it match the card holder?
4. Check the card – has it been tampered with in any way?
5. Check the person – are you satisfied?
If you are in any doubt, retain the card and return it to PASS for inspection.
If you would like more information about PASS or to receive training materials/sample cards, please contact Marc Catchpole, the PASS National Director at marc@pass-scheme.org.uk or on 07921 689026.
Change to Standards Verification for Security qualifications
Centres are advised that standards verification for all qualifications under the ‘Level 2 Security’ remit will now be completed by an SV visit. This includes qualifications that have previously been verified via postal sampling, i.e. Working as a CCTV Operator (Public Space Surveillance) within the Private Security Industry, Working as a Vehicle Immobiliser with the Private Security Industry and Understanding Stewarding at Spectator Events.
English language requirements for learners on Security Licence to Practise qualifications
Centres are reminded that it is their responsibility to ensure that each learner is sufficiently competent in the use of the English language. Before putting learners forward for assessment you must ensure that learners have sufficient English language skills in all 4 key aspects:
- reading
- writing
- speaking
- listening.
Learners must be able to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing, having the appropriate communication skills to be able to, for example, make calls to the emergency services or to resolve conflict.
As a reminder, you are required to explain to your Standards Verifier how you ensure each learner is sufficiently competent in the use of the English language before they commence any programme and how you record this. You are required to retain English assessment records for non native speakers with the other assessment documentation for learners for a period of 3 years after certification.
In line with SIA requirements, Pearson sets tests which are available in English only. Therefore, it is not appropriate for learners for whom English is their second language to be provided with a scribe or reader to assist them in their assessment. To do so would provide an unfair advantage to the learner. The policy on the use of English is available on the SIA website.
You are advised to carry out an initial assessment of learners to identify their particular needs at the earliest stage. In the case of learners for whom English language communication skills are a weakness (and other particular special needs considerations do not apply), it would be appropriate to direct them to undertake additional learning to develop these skills. You are required to retain English assessment records for non native speakers with the other assessment documentation for learners for a period of 3 years after certification.
The SIA is taking allegations that licence holders do not have the requisite language skills very seriously, and as a result of their investigations into this matter a number of licences have been revoked this year.