Ten Companies Have Already Met ACS Requirements

7 March 2006: On 16 February 2006 Home Office Minister, Paul Goggins, announced the details of the Security Industry Authority (SIA) Approved Contractor Scheme and the scheme went live the same day. To date over 300 companies have requested Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) application packs and 50 completed applications have been submitted to the SIA.

Ten companies have now been informed that they have met the ACS eligibility requirements; more are expected to meet the requirements in the next few weeks. Subject to finalisation, these companies will be approved on 20 March when the necessary legislation is enacted.

On 20 March a public register of approved contractors will appear on the SIA website. Companies achieving ACS accreditation will be registered as approved and may advertise themselves as such.

ACS Fast Track applications are being processed by the SIA in five to ten working days. The successful applicants to date cover several security guarding sectors and include organisations ranging from less than ten to several thousand licensable staff.