Thanks

Please see below for the full update from the Ministry of Justice:

“Today the Government has published updated National Standards for Enforcement Agents which defines acceptable behaviour for bailiffs.

“The voluntary code has been tightened so that people are protected from rogue bailiffs who use unsound, unsafe or unfair methods, while at the same time making sure businesses and authorities can still collect debts fairly.

“Additions to the National Standards tackle intimidating and threatening behaviour, prevent bailiffs from misrepresenting their powers, and reinforce rules about how firms should resolve complaints about rogue agents. Councils and other authorities will adopt the standards which will be used to set rules for any bailiffs working for them.

“The updated National Standards outline the minimum standards of behaviours expected by bailiffs and bailiff firms, including;

• Bailiffs must not behave in a threatening manner or use unlawful force to gain access to a home or business;
• Bailiffs should avoid discussing the debt with anyone except the person owing money, and bailiffs must never behave in a way that would publically embarrass a debtor;
• Bailiffs must withdraw when only a child is present; and
• Bailiffs have a duty of care towards vulnerable people, such as the elderly, people with disabilities, single parents and unemployed people and must use discretion when collecting debts from these groups.

“The announcement today is the first step in Government plans to change the way bailiffs are regulated, to make sure they operate fairly for all concerned.  As Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly announced the standards, he also outlined proposals to create a new legally-binding regulatory regime for bailiffs.  They include:

• New rules around the modes and times of entry to make it clear when and how an enforcement agent may enter a home or a business;
• Which goods are exempt to make it clear which items an enforcement agent may not take from someone’s home or business premises; and
• What fees bailiffs can charge for the range of debts that they collect for local government, courts and businesses.

“The full proposals will be consulted on in Spring, with a view to the proposals becoming law as soon as possible.

“Alongside the revised National Standards the information available on DirectGov has been updated to provide guidance on bailiffs for debtors and creditors. This guidance also provides information on where people can go for help if they feel they have been a victim of unacceptable behaviours by bailiff.”

Friday  20/01/2012

Address:

12 Cameron Court, Warrington, Wa2 8RE

Start time:

09:00

From 1 January 2012, licences for individual doorstaff will be reduced from £245 to £220. The reduction applies to both new applicants and those renewing existing licences. Doorstaff applying for a discounted second licence after this date will pay 50% of the reduced fee.
Current fee levels have been held since 2007 and the SIA claims it has reduced the costs further as a result of both Government austerity measures and continuing improvements to working practices.

SIA Chairman Ruth Henig said: “We are very aware of the challenges faced by both businesses and licensed individuals in this difficult climate.

“We are committed to driving down costs in the new regime and this is the first step in that process.”
Home Office minister Lynne Featherstone said: “The Government has set a clear challenge to all its agencies and other bodies to ensure they are proving the best possible value for money.
“So I have been very impressed to hear how the SIA has been working to improve its practices and processes to ensure that they are as efficient as possible.”
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SIA cuts licence fees

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) is reducing its charges to individuals and businesses from next month as part of its commitment to driving down costs.

Source: Doorwatch

On the 12th of October National Doorwatch (NDW) attended the the SIA conference (part 2) in Sheffield. In the morning session the conference focus was on the impact of the proposed changes on busnesses, individuals, and the Approved Contractor Status (ACS) scheme.

The government, through the SIA, outlined that they would be introducing compulsory licensing for all those businesses involved in security provision. This would of course potentially generate additional revenue for the government. The government will further reduce their costs, by streamlining the internal processes and devolving responsibility back to the newly licensed business.

What this means to you

What this means in reality, is all newcomers to the industry would have to apply to the SIA via a licensed business or a mediated access partner (MAP), such as the Post Office. Consequently the SIA would no longer be the first point of contact for applicants, once they had commenced the licensing process. From that point the applicant would have to go through either the employer or the MAP. This will inevitably result in an administrative charge being required for this service. The going rate for this type of service can be anything between £25 and £50 plus VAT. If going through these organisations was mandatory the charge may be higher. This cost will have to sit on top of the licence fee. This may result in you paying more rather than less..

Potential for abuse

Whilst there are undoubtedly many professional companies who would provide a superb service; there are far too many who will let the system down. It is already common practice for some security companies to deduct all their own running costs (licence, insurance, uniform, training, etc) from the individuals weekly wage. They achieve this through the cynical manipulation of the individual employees general lack of knowledge of their legal rights and responsibilities. This allows these companies to create a false market, which depresses wages, impacts on public safety, and makes responsible companies look bad. Hence the need for business licensing to create a level playing field.

Good news for renewals

The good news is the proposals for the renewal process should should at least make things much simpler and quicker. The new legislation will allow the SIA to change the way it does business. At present a renewal is in effect a reapplication, which makes things overly complicated. The new legislation will also mean they can also actually change the way it gathers evidence on a form. (At present, they can legally, only use the existing formThe other notable benefit will the use of new and emerging technolgy to deliver a better service. Finally it is expected that your badge (proof of licence token) will need to have the photo renewed every 5 years.

Over reliance on intelligence

The main concern is the proposals rely far too much on intelligence-led risk assessment models as a mechanism for enforcement. At present the proposed system is open to abuse, and therefore it will be abused. One of the biggest flaws in the current system is the lack of incentive for anyone to report anyone for malpractice throughout the licensing process. At present there are no details as to how any of the proposals will be enforced in the future, and how that will impact on public safety.

So i just wanted to say many thanks for all the help and support from your team.

Stuart