Training malpractice affects SIA licence holders

Whilst the SIA” Security Industry Authority” is busy working with a number of industry stakeholders to draw up plans for what it refers to as a ‘phased transition to a new regulatory regime’, it has emerged that the holders of 654 SIA licences have been contacted and informed that their licenses will be revoked unless they obtain a ‘valid qualification’ within 28 days of the notice. Whilst the licences were issued by the SIA, the move to revoke follows an investigation into training malpractice. Highfield Awarding Body for Compliance (HABC) has withdrawn a number of certificates which had been awarded via the training providers Get Licensed and Adult Learning Network (previously operated as AAB Training). The certificates in question relate to the physical intervention unit required to gain the Level 2 Award in Door Supervision. In total, 1,001 certificates awarded by the two centres have been withdrawn. It has been stated that 654 of the qualifications had been played a role in the obtaining of an SIA licence. Dave Humphries, director for Compliance, Intelligence and Communication at the SIA stated, ‘The SIA, our awarding organisation partners and the qualifications regulator, Ofqual, take malpractice issues around training very seriously. These allegations came to light earlier this year that suggested that training providers Get Licensed and ALN were involved in malpractice between October 2010 and February 2011. Whilst training malpractice is not endemic, this recent investigation demonstrates that we will not allow people to think that they can get away with it.’ Jason Sprenger, HABC Chief Executive, stated, ‘HABC received allegations of malpractice within ALN, AAB Training and Get Licensed. Upon receipt of the allegations, we carried out a full and thorough investigation in partnership with the SIA. This included analysis of test papers and interviews with tutors and learners. We found substantiated evidence of malpractice and consequently withdrew more than 1,000 HABC Level 2 Awards in Door Supervision across all three organisations.’ Since the investigation, both Get Licensed and ALN no longer have HABC approval.