Article Taken From The Construction News 29.01.04. Page 5 column 4

New legislation set to send the cost of site security soaring

CONTRACTORS could see the cost of site security soar next year when new laws come into force.

The Private Security Industry Act applies from 2005 and will require anyone guarding a building site to hold a licence and to have passed a five-year criminal record check.

It will become a criminal offence to employ an unlicensed company or individual.
The licenses are expected to cost around £190 per person and to last three years.

To get a licence, an individual will have to pass a recognised training course at an approved centre.

Gary Sullivan, director of logistics at security firm Wilson James said the industry would lose 20 per cent of its workforce because of more thorough vetting, which would send pay rates spiralling.

He said “The security industry is short of good people already. Those with licenses will become very marketable commodities. It is hard to say how much costs will rise for contractors but I estimate that a typical £30 million project of 18 months duration, will see its security costs rising by between £15,000 and £20,000”
He added that contractors would have to ensure that the security company was properly licensed and met the criteria.

He said, “Contractors will no longer be able to use a site labourer as a ‘gate man’.”