In addition I was equally encouraged to find out that companies have also recently qualified to certify companies to the ISO 280000 Maritime Security Standard.
I believe that these early accreditation's, if managed correctly, are the starting blocks to ensure the legitimacy of the International Code of Conduct, ICOC, and the industry as a whole.
As published by UKAS in November 2013 the following companies have now been approved to certify companies to the following standards:
- Certification of land based private security companies to ANSI/ASIS PSC 1-2012
- Intertek Certification Ltd
- MSS Global Ltd
- Certification of Maritime Private Security Companies to ISO 28000:2007
- LRQA Ltd
- MSS Global Ltd
However it is not the end of the journey, as the pressure and responsibility now lies with UKAS, the Certification Companies and the PMSCs to ensure that standards are maintained within the Lead and Internal Auditing Processes so that these standards are upheld to enhance confidence in their effectiveness and maintained by the PMSCs for the right reasons of continual improvement.
It remains the responsibility of the PMSCs themselves to ensure that these certifications are achieved, maintained and continually improved and not just treated as a tick in the box or a certificate for the reception wall which allows them to tender for jobs.
These standards have been written and developed for the enhancement of the control, transparency and oversight of the industry, for the formulation of a growing industry which is vastly misunderstood and written as a framework to demonstrate how companies comply with human rights as well and international law.
PMSCs now have the opportunity to formally gain certification to these standards and prove that their company, their personal and their actions are legitimate and that through their actions their market can be made more sustainable.
