I was delighted to be able to attend the NTIPDU Information Seminar ‘The Birth of Licensing’ – Realisation of Regulation in Telford on Thursday 13^th January 05.

 The choice of speakers was very well thought out with all presentations being extremely informative. In my role as Chairman of the SIDCG (Security Industry Dog Consultation Group) I have responsibilities, in consultation with the other members of the group, in presenting the views of this specialised sector of the industry to the regulator (SIA) and promote the standards to industry. The seminar not only covered my overall objectives by being informative on how National Occupational Standards (NOS), qualifications and role of the regulator all come together as one, but also gave me the opportunity to speak to those attending to hear their viewpoint on how current changes affect them.

 I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the speakers for their clear and more importantly understandable presentations.  Also my thanks go to the organisers, the NTIPDU and in particular Sandra and Ian, for providing members of the security industry with this all important opportunity to promote the security dog sector of the industry. The setting up of seminars such as these, demonstrates how the NTIPDU are striving to ensure that best practice and professional standards are adopted by all.  I know that during their relatively short life, the directors have pushed for an understanding from the regulator that the dog sector needs to be promoted correctly and they will not rest until the ultimate task of licensing this sector comes to fruition.

 I would welcome and support more seminars of this kind, held on a regional basis, as they are particularly useful in assisting all those involved to spread the word of the unprecedented changes that are taking place within the security industry as a whole.

 Jerry Lathbury Chairman SIDCG