The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) is pleased to announce the official launch of the Association's newest section of membership - the Specialist Services (SpS) Section, an amalgamation of the BSIA's previous Civil Aviation Security, Security Consultancies and Close Protection Sections.

While companies from these sections will form the basis of the new SpS Section, they will also act as a 'parent' for specialist working groups within the section, ensuring that issues affecting particular niche areas of the UK security sector are dealt with in a timely and focused manner.

The new section consists of members that can assist security buyers with specialist and challenging requirements both in the UK and internationally, offering specialist services such as Close Protection, Technical Surveillance Counter Measures, Surveillance, IT Forensics, Cyber Security and Security Consulting including Critical National Infrastructure.

Mike O'Neill, Chairman of the former Close Protection Section, has officially been nominated to Chair the new section. Explaining the purpose of its formation he comments: "The section has been created because the UK security sector is very well respected internationally for its products and services, particularly within the specialist security area. The new section recognises this and provides opportunities for smaller specialist suppliers to join the BSIA and benefit from being a member of the Association.

"I believe the new section better represents the interests of existing and potential members, by allowing them to have the strength of a full section behind them, with the subsequent working groups allowing for a focus to be placed on specific areas that may be of interest to a smaller number of companies."

All members of the new section will be required to meet the membership criteria for the BSIA, and as such must have ISO9001 or be committed to achieving the essential accreditation within one year of joining. Alongside this, each company must also comply with the relevant British Standards for the specialist services they deliver.

A key focus for the new section members is their commitment to improving standards within the specialist security sector. As such, they are keen to begin developing their own Code of Ethics over the next few months in order to reflect the broader section membership.

Discussing the impact the new section will have on the wider Association, Trevor Elliott, BSIA Director of Manpower and Membership Services, says: "The aim of the new Specialist Services Section is for the BSIA to become more inclusive and broaden the scope for some sectors of the security industry who traditionally may sit outside or on the fringes of the existing section structure of the BSIA, and were therefore not as well represented as they should be.

"The new section is a welcome addition to the BSIA offering; helping to enhance the brand and provide both our members and end users who are wishing to utilise specialist services with a more focused approach to accessing the relevant information. Most importantly, the section will continue to reflect the high standards of service demonstrated through membership of the BSIA."

To find out more about the new section, visit its brand new section homepage: http://www.bsia.co.uk/specialist-services-section/about-bsia-specialist-services-section