Security Industry Authority
Approved Contractor Scheme
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What is the scheme about?
• Industry designed quality assurance scheme
• Intended to – raise industry standards and conditions, plus promote
best practise– recognise best practise organisations
• Creating opportunity through– enhanced capabilities– greater buyer understanding and preference– facilitating new partnerships
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What will ACS mean?
• Allows our company to demonstrate that– it has reached nationally recognised quality standards– it is committed to the compulsory licensing of staff
• Provides assurances about the capability of our organisation and systems for
• existing customers• new customers• general public• authorities• insurers
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Overall shape of ACS
• Developed in collaboration with the private security industry
• Open to those parts of the industry that are regulated by licensing
• One scheme with sector specific approval
• A single level of approval (either pass or fail)
• Application to ACS is voluntary
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Scheme philosophy
• Accessible for all sizes of organisation– micro, small, medium and large
• Voluntary, with no obligation– will stand on its own merits
• Will meet the requirements of the Private Security Industry Act 2001
– including standards and best practise
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Regulated (licensed) sectors
• Manned Guarding– Security Guarding– Door Supervision – Close Protection– Cash and Valuables in Transit– CCTV in Public Space Surveillance
• Vehicle Immobilising
• Key Holding
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Scheme identity and benefits
This tells them how well we do it.
This tells buyers what we do.
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Benefits for our company
• Operational flexibility– can deploy staff with licence application in process– by issuing staff with an LDN (Licence Dispensation Notice)
• Create opportunity– be part of a nationally recognised scheme– be recognised by other authorities (Extended Police Family)
• Business opportunity– enjoy independent endorsement and promotion– differentiate our business from others– demonstrate our quality commitment– illustrate our customer focus
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Benefits for our customers
• Ensures continuity of service– be confident that the supplier has a resourceful and
flexible organisation
• Endorses good employment practice– acknowledges supplier compliance to licensing legislation
• Enhances the reach of the security network– recognition from the Police and other authorities
• Receive high levels of customer service
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Approval materials
Brochure for security buyersPlaque for supplier company premises
Lapel pin to wear on site
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Licence Dispensation Notice
• ACS organisations may deploy unlicensed staff provided that
– training completed– licence applied for and application acknowledged – on request, operatives can produce the LDN, a proof of
identity and licence application acknowledgement – no more than 15% of total licensable staff operate under
licence dispensation – staff do not work on assignments where restrictions apply
(children or vulnerable adults)– LDN will be withdrawn immediately if a licence application is
refused or withdrawn
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Licence Dispensation Notice
• Organisations without ACS cannot legally deploy staff who do not possess (i.e. physically hold) the appropriate licence
• Records must be maintained as to– staff issued with LDNs– date issued and date of expiry
• Misuse of LDN facility may result in– withdrawal of dispensation facility– rejection of annual re-registration– immediate withdrawal of Approved Status
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Building awareness
• The SIA is promoting ACS to buyers and users of private security services within
– public sector • local government• central government
– commercial sectors
– not for profit organisations
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Awareness activities
• Communications include– press advertising– journalist briefings, press releases and articles – direct mail campaigns– e-mail bulletins and website updates – brochures and newsletters– exhibitions and seminars – road shows and other events– partner / shared initiatives
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Further information from the SIA
• available on the SIA website at– www.the-sia.org.uk/acs
• or speak to the ACS team by calling– 020 7025 4190
• or email the ACS team at– [email protected]
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