In February 2006, we announced a delay to the development of licensing for security consultants until late 2007. In May 2007, we conducted a consultation exercise looking at whether our recommendation to the Home Office should be for a further long term delay - effectively postponing the development of licensing for security consultants until at least 2010.

We received 89 responses from respondents as diverse as sole practitioners, private companies and public sector organisations such as the police. The majority wanted to defer consideration of licensing until 2010 at the earliest. The main argument supporting this postponement was that there is little or no evidence of risk to the public.

In light of these findings the Home Office has agreed to postpone consideration of licensing security consultants until at least 2010. Proposals for regulation will then be published for consultation in a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA).