Accreditations

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) is an independent body reporting to the Home Secretary in the United Kingdom, under the terms of the Private Security Industry Act 2001. The SIA is responsible for regulating the private security industry and their objectives are to regulate this industry effectively; to reduce criminality, raise standards and recognise quality service. They have two main duties.

One is the compulsory licensing of individuals undertaking designated activities within the private security industry; the other is to manage the voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS), which measures private security suppliers against independently assessed criteria. Licensing ensures that private security operatives are ‘fit and proper’ persons who are properly trained and qualified to do their job. Guardforce Security Services Limited complies with all the licensing requirements by the SIA.

The objective of the SIA’s Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) is to raise operational and performance standards to assist the private security industry in developing new opportunities for its accredited members. The scheme is voluntary and is based on a relevant set of qualifying criteria. The SIA’s Approved Contractor Scheme provides all purchases of private security services the independent proof that a contractor affiliated to the scheme shares a quality commitment.

Since Guardforce have always adopted the Quality Management Systems and have been accredited with ISO 9001 since 24^th August 2006 and are recognised by the SIA as one of their Approved Contractors.

With the Private Security Industry Act 2001 now law, and with the licensing of security officers since 20^th March 2006 together with the responsibilities that it places on you as the end user, choosing the right security contractor is more critical than ever. As a principal member of the BSIA, we have put into place many of the controls that are imposed on all security companies from 2006. We are committed and have adopted a parallel voluntary code so that you may be certain of Security Industry Authority standards.

As members of the British Security Industries Association we rigorously enforce fully documented procedures and promote the principals of Total Quality Management.  We hold full accreditation for the following:

• ISO 9001 – Quality Management Systems
• BS10800 – Provision of Security Services
• BS7499  – Industry Standards – Static Guarding & Mobile Patrol
• BS7984 – Keyholding and Response
• BS7858 – Vetting and screening of personnel

Every organisation has a legal right to ensure that contractors working on their premises operate in a safe way in accordance to Health, Safety and Environmental guidelines. Guardforce Security has been accredited with the Safe Contractor scheme, which demonstrates to our existing and potential clients the high health and safety standards.

We are proud members of the Bedfordshire Police Partnership Trust since the scheme started in 1997. The objective of this scheme is to improve the quality of life of all communities in Bedfordshire, especially the more vulnerable groups. To support community based initiatives such as crime prevention, community safety, drug awareness, schools liaison, road safety and accident prevention, to offer the business community a way of supporting and working with their local police in tackling the important issues of maintaining a safe and happy environment for their customers and staff.

In 2006, the Metropolitan Police service and safer London Foundation, the charitable arm of the Metropolitan Police Service, launched Operation Quadrant Business Partnership. The objective of the scheme is to form a business partnership approach to tackle crime within all regions of London. Our company supports Operation Quadrant.

ACT (formerly Project Griffin) was developed to help counter the threat from terrorism and major civil disasters in the city by training security staff, facilities managers, and others responsible for the security of premises. It was an immediate success and has since been adopted in many areas across the UK as well as in Australia, Canada, South Africa and the United States. Guardforce Security Services Limited supports this scheme and is eager to train our security officers, particularly the ones who are likely to be working on areas where they will come across members of the public.

The Information Commissioner’s Office is a non-departmental public body which reports directly to Parliament and is sponsored by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). It is the independent regulatory office (national data protection authority) dealing with the Data Protection Act 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulation, the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003 across the UK; and the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and, to a limited extent, in Scotland.

The objective of an accrediting body is to reduce the need for suppliers to be assessed by each of their customers. SSAIB is part of the United Kingdom Accreditation Services (UKAS) that provides a cost- effective registration scheme and assessment service for management systems to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the SIA Approved Contractor Scheme.

Guardforce Security Services Limited is assessed by SSAIB who are affiliated to UKAS accredited certification, testing and calibration and inspection. UKAS’ involvement in international groups provides for mutual recognition which further reduces the need for multiple assessments of suppliers and as a consequence helps to reduce barriers to trade. It is therefore Business Innovation and Skills Conformity Assessment and Accreditation Policy to recommend the use of UKAS accredited conformity assessment services whenever this is an option.