The Security Industry Authority (SIA) is extending the Security Consultant licensing development period to late 2007. After consultation with the industry and SIA research it became apparent that the potential scope of activities undertaken by security consultants is diverse and wide ranging; taking in areas such as equipment installation, fraud prevention, protection advice and information security.

To implement effective regulation, as part of the SIA’s commitment to raising standards across the private security industry, the SIA acknowledged the requirement for wider consultation across the security consultant sector, research to fully identify the range of activities undertaken by security consultants, and to assess potential risks to the public that would justify regulation.

John Saunders, SIA Chief Executive, said:

"I would like to thank all those individuals from the security consultancy sector who have worked with us in our research so far. I am impressed by the level of their commitment and their dedication to establishing standards and raising professionalism.

Listening to feedback, and the results of our own research, it became apparent that security consultancy is a most diverse and wide ranging sector. As a regulator we need to identify the full scope of the activities conducted by security consultants, determine any risks posed to the public that would justify intervention, and eliminate any unnecessary regulation. Extending licensing development until late 2007 will enable us to do all of this more effectively."