Friday 06 February 2026 - Security Industry Authority
Since our last update, we were delighted to travel to Glasgow and Belfast to engage face-to-face with ACS businesses and explain our proposals for BAS and listen to their thoughts. We received some excellent feedback and several ideas for potential security specialisms. Thank you to everyone who took time from their busy schedules to join us.
Another huge thank you to everyone who responded to our last survey concerning suggestions for the BAS scheme name. We extended the deadline and had just under 150 responses which is terrific. We will analyse those responses and update you with the results next week.
Turning to BAS, we are proposing to reduce the compliance burden for businesses by streamlining the assessment process. Currently ACS comprises 78 indicators across 7 criteria (or subject areas). Our proposal is to reduce that to just under 40 indicators across 5 criteria which, when combined with a digital portal to facilitate the easier sharing of key information, will ease the time spent by businesses completing the necessary submissions.
We are also considering all options open to us for the assessment process. That might include extending the certification cycle from the current three-year timeframe to five and what options there might be to further reduce the assessment burden in the intervening years.
Everyone will have the opportunity to respond to all our proposals when we open a second public consultation later in the Spring and we look forward to receiving your responses.
??? Finally, as ever, if you want to join our BAS Focus Group and learn more about our scheme design proposals, please contact us at: bas@sia.gov.uk
Mike White
Design and Delivery Lead, Business Standards, Security Industry Authority