2010: A year of change for the private security industry
by Ernie Davitt, National Affairs Editor, ASM
Major changes are in the pipeline to help clean up the private security industry in Australia in 2010, with an emphasis on reform of licensing systems, upgraded training standards and a new focus on the technical side of the industry.
Between new requirements agreed between the Federal and State governments, and changes to be made by the industry itself, the face of private security is set to change dramatically.
The Government and industry have been taking a wide variety of action in response to allegations and evidence gathered by Australia’s national criminal intelligence body, the Australian Crime Commission (ACC), concerning criminal infiltration of the private security industry.
Although law enforcement agencies including the ACC believe the majority of security operators are legitimate, there is concern that the industry’s access to firearms, licensed premises, major events, and a range of public and private assets provides incentives and opportunities for infiltration and exploitation by organised crime groups.
ACC intelligence has uncovered organised criminal involvement in some industries including the security, entertainment and maritime industries.
A spokesman said the ACC’s work would “inform the national policy agenda and support national law enforcement investigative efforts in relation to the security industry and serious and organised crime groups who are active in that industry, through use of the ACC’s coercive powers and operational capabilities.”
The Federal Government has gone on record saying that criminal infiltration was an impediment to closer cooperation between law enforcement agencies and the private security industry in areas such as crowd control in the immediate aftermath of terrorist incidents and other emergencies.
Last year, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed to adopt a nationally consistent regulatory approach to the private security industry. For the ‘guarding sector’, this means implementing standards which focus on improving the trustworthiness, competence and skills of security personnel.
All jurisdictions have agreed these reforms will come into place in 2010, and will apply to both new and existing licence holders.
The States and Territories are also looking at whether national minimum standards need to be applied to the industry’s ‘technical’ sector. More will be known about their thinking on this issue by the end of the year.
Finally, COAG has also agreed that all governments need to consider a national registration or licensing system for the private security industry.
It should be emphasised, however, that it is not just governments which recognise the need to drive improvements in the industry.
Federal Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, has gone on record as saying the industry body, the Australian Security Industry Association Limited (ASIAL), has long championed better standards and the safeguarding of public interests, and he commends the organisation for ‘rigorously’ enforcing them.
“Indeed, I am advised that over 10 per cent of applicants for Association membership are rejected because they cannot meet these standards,” he told an industry meeting late last year. “Importantly, everyone has a role to play in improving standards. The expanded range of issues included in the national security framework, coupled with uncertainties in our security environment, demand that we remain constantly vigilant.
“To ensure the private security industry continues to play its important role, we must do all we can to improve industry standards.
“This means increasing confidence and trust in the industry and its personnel by removing criminal elements. It means increasing the competencies and skills of security staff. And it means increasing the performance standards demanded by customers and delivered by businesses. These are challenges for everyone, Government and industry alike.
“I am confident that ASIAL and its members will continue to play a crucial role in helping achieve these objectives on behalf of the Australian community.”