Training & qualifications – Approach
Following extensive consultation with the close protection industry (police, military and civilian) it was clear that the SIA should take into account a number of specific factors concerning the close protection industry in specifying training and qualifications for licensing. These are:
- The existing requirement for high standards in training of close protection operatives and current best practice
- The length and content of current training programmes and the required level for a new qualification (likely to be set at Level 3 in the National Qualifications Framework)
- Despite high standards in training, the lack of any nationally recognised qualification or award in this sector and the difficulties involved in developing and delivering assessment strategies
- That close protection is by and large a second career for most entrants to this industry, the majority coming from the police, military or associated occupations e.g. paramedics, firemen etc.
- The large numbers currently trained to work overseas but who would require a licence to work in this country
- Overseas companies who train and deploy close protection operatives in this country to provide security for their own nationals
- A workforce that is difficult to quantify
The approach is intended to provide a clear specification for the core competence training leading to a level 3 qualification for licensing close protection operatives. The competencies have been chosen following full consultation with the close protection industry – suppliers, buyers and training organisations. In determining which competencies should be mandatory, the SIA has chosen not to include either specific skills for employment such as physical intervention skills or skills for specific assignments such as fire arms training (illegal in the UK) or surveillance skills. These areas of training are the responsibility of the employer and/or the training provider as shown diagrammatically below.
A current first aid award is also required as a condition of licensing and close protection operatives are required to produce evidence that they have attained a recognised First Aid award (a list of acceptable awards will be published in due course).
Close Protection Training Model
