The chief executive of the government body which licenses Close protection Officers has resigned.
Mike Wilson, who was head of the Security Industry Authority, resigned after it emerged that some of its own agency staff had not been security cleared. That this could happen after they had already owned up to giving licences to more than 6,600 illegal immigrants. The official government position was that there were “some failings”. The Tories called the government “staggeringly complacent”. 38 temporary workers hired by the SIA had not received “appropriate security clearance.”

That this can happen is no real surprise to those that have to deal with the organisation. The SIA have missed the perfect opportunity to really make the industry professional, but in effect they have dumbed it down. Wheel clamper’s might now have to have special training before they can work, but bodyguards need only pass a simple tick test to become licensed.

All the industry needed was the ability to have quick and efficient criminal record checks before employment, but what we got was an organisation that made the Child Support agency seem efficient. Even though every security officer, doorman, and countless thousands pay them £250 every three years they are still losing money. I wonder how long the organisation will last in its present form.