Sydney Trains (ST), including NSW TrainLink, has released a request for proposal (RFP) for the provision of security services for up to the next eight years (4+2+2). The tender will close 10am on 24/12/2015.

Scope Headlines:

• Security Officers to provide security at Maintenance Centres, Stabling Yards, Stations and the rail corridor and at Special Events when requested.
• Mobile, static and foot patrols of ST and NSW TrainLink locations, partnering with ST Security and NSW Police.
• The option of providing Canine (Dog Handling) and other specialist security services, e.g. alarm monitoring
• Employ Mobility Technology to improve the detection and reporting of security incidents and the management of Security Officers.

We are looking for companies with proven experience, capacity and capability to handle a large body of employed Security Officers, with a strategic vision heavily influenced by technology and provision of high quality services.  We expect proactive suppliers driving continuous improvement and optimising available resources, while still achieving better outcomes.

More information

The first closure of George Street to general traffic for the construction of Sydney Light Rail will occur at 8:00pm this Friday, 23 October, between Market and King streets.

The attached maps show the new George Street access arrangements and key freight and servicing routes into and out of the CBD.

City Access Inbound/Outbound Map

George Street Access Map

A few key points to remember:

• Access to driveways on George Street between Market and King streets is controlled and only permitted southbound from King Street.
• Only those drivers delivering to loading docks in the block, making service calls, residents, car space owners and emergency vehicles will be given access.
• If you are not accessing those driveways you will not be permitted to enter this section of the street.
• Please plan ahead and follow the signs and directions from traffic controllers.

Mysydney.nsw.gov.au remains the best place to get the latest information on the upcoming changes across the CBD.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact Michael Stokoe, Project Director CBD Freight and Servicing on CBDfreight@transport.nsw.gov.au.

SPAAL identified that Certificate IV Security Risk Management only allows the ability to assess not write a report and leaves a serious gap in the NSW 2A consultancy licence unless two units from the Diploma of Security Risk Management are included as additional core units.

SPAAL made a submission to the Security Licensing Enforcement Directorate (SLED). SLED agreed that it would be beneficial to add the two suggested elective units from the Diploma of Security Risk Management:

CPPSEC5004A Prepare security risk management plan
CPPSEC5005A Implement security risk management plan

Accordingly, from 1 January 2016, applicants for a Class 2A licence will be required to complete the two units from the Diploma. The SLED will publish the revised requirements on its website.

SLED thanked SPAAL for our interest in assisting the NSW Police Force's efforts to further strengthen the professionalism, competence and integrity of the NSW security industry.

The SLED has released the attached extracts from its draft Compliance Guide for Master Licensees for comment by the security industry. These extracts detail the proposed "approved manner and form" requirements for incident and Sign-on registers for Master Licensees employing Class 1 Licensees.

• Incident Register
• Sign-on Register

Feedback on the draft register requirements should be submitted to SLED via email to sled@police.nsw.gov.au by 31 July 2015.

Please note that while the SLED may be unable to respond to all submissions directly, SLED will seek to address all relevant feedback by making necessary changes to the draft Compliance Guide or through FAQs that we will publish on the SLED website in support of the final document.

On 8 January 2015, minor changes to the Security Industry Act 1997 (the Act) commenced. The changes mainly provide more clarity, including that:

• Class 1A, Class 1B, Class 1C, Class 1E and Class 1F licences do not authorise the licensee to carry on a security activity with a dog;
• a Class 2A licence authorises the licensee to:

sell security methods or principles; and
act as a consultant by identifying and analysing security risks and providing solutions and management strategies to minimise those security risks;

• a Class 2B licence authorises the licensee to: - sell (and provide advice in relation to) security equipment;

sell the services of persons to carry on any security activity;
act as an agent for (or otherwise obtain contracts for) the supply of persons to carry on any security activity, the supply of any security equipment or the supply of any security activity; and
broker any security activity by acting as an intermediary to negotiate and obtain any such activity for a person in return for a commission or financial benefit;

• a master licence (other than a renewed licence) comes into force on the date specified in the licence;
• a Class 1 or Class 2 licence (other than a renewed licence) comes into force on the day on which the licence is collected or, if the licence is posted to the licensee, 4 working days after the latest photograph of the licensee was taken.

Security Industry Act 1997

A survey  targeting unlicensed security activity being carried on in NSW has been published on the SLED website.

The purpose of this survey is to ascertain industry knowledge and perceptions of the extent and types of unlicensed security activities carried on by organisations and/or individuals.   This anonymous survey will assist the SLED in developing a targeted approach towards unlicensed activities by means of educational and compliance programs.

Click here to complete this short survey.

A “conditional licence” is a licence that has a condition placed on it under section 23E of the Security Industry Act 1997 requiring the holder to provide evidence of attainment of all units of competency for the licence.

In July 2014, a “Notice of Intention to Revoke Security Licence” was mailed to all licensees holding a conditional licence.  The notice contained steps that could be taken to avoid revocation action.

Holders of conditional Class 1 licences who failed to take action to avoid the revocation of their licence are hereby notified that the revocation of their licence is effective on and from Wednesday 1 October 2014.

If you hold a revoked licence, you are no longer authorised to carry on security activities.  Penalties apply for persons who carry on security activities without a current licence.

ID scanners came into operation at up to 35 high-risk licensed venues at Kings Cross on 13 June.

High-risk venues are required to operate ID scanners from 9pm to 1.30am seven days a week to align them with the new lockout laws... Read more

RSA/RCG paper certificates in NSW that were issued up to 31 December 2008 have now expired.

Certificates issued in 2009 will expire on 30 June 2015 and certificates issued from 1 January 2010 to 21 August 2011 will expire on 30 June 2016... Read more

OLGR is taking a tough stance on industry staff who are not able to produce their RSA Competency Card, interim certificate, or valid old-style paper certificate.

Competency card requirements

Graduates of approved Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) and/or Responsible Conduct of Gambling (RCG) courses in NSW should obtain a photo competency card from a participating Australia Post outlet to work in roles that require this qualification.

For RSA, this includes jobs involving serving or selling alcohol, as a liquor licensee, or working in a security role at licensed venues or licensed events in NSW. For RCG, it involves any staff who will have gaming machine related functions, including licensees, secretaries and managers.

Venue staff that fail to produce their Competency Card when requested may be issued with a penalty notice for $55 for non compliance with a request.

Remember, copies of the card will not be accepted.

If a Competency Card holder has lost their Competency Card, or changed their name, they must complete the Replacement Competency Card form to obtain a new one.

Interim certificates

The interim certificate allows most course graduates to immediately work for up to 90 days in roles that require this competency and provides sufficient time for a graduate to visit a participating Australia Post outlet, apply for their card and have it processed and mailed to them.

Interim certificates are not valid in the Kings Cross Precinct. Course graduates (including licensees, bar staff, RSA marshals and security staff) wishing to work in the Kings Cross Precinct must obtain their photo competency card before commencing work in the area.

Old-style RSA and RCG paper certificates are no longer issued in NSW. They are being phased out according to the timetable below.

RSA and RCG paper certificates issued

• Up to and including 31 Dec 2006    Expired
• 1 Jan 2007 – 31 Dec 2008              30 Jun 2014
• 1 Jan 2009 – 31 Dec 2009              30 Jun 2015
• 1 Jan 2010 – 21 Aug 2011              30 Jun 2016