9 March 2004 - New Legislation for Site Security
Contractors will no longer be able to use a site labourer as a "gateman" when the Private Security Industry Act comes into force in 2005. Requirements will include any person guarding a building site to hold a licence and to have passed a five-year criminal record check. It will also become a criminal offence to employ an unlicensed company or individual to provide site security.
To obtain a license, an individual will have to pass a recognised training course at an approved centre, with the cost around £190 per person and to last three years.
There are concerns over the costs of the vetting process and the impact of higher pay rates causing spiralling costs for contractors.
