From 1 July 2012, OFT and the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR) will be administering a six month Brisbane-based trial which will enable OLGR inspectors to monitor and report on certain aspects of the SPA. This trial will increase the regulatory presence and further protect Queensland consumers from harm caused by unsuitable security providers.

OLGR inspectors will identify offences while visiting licensed premises by completing a Spot Check Form and will have all of the powers of an inspector under the Act to inspect licenses and documents. Where evidence of breaches are found, OLGR will provide a report and available evidence to OFT who will consider relevant enforcement history and take appropriate action. (more)

Queensland bodyguards and crowd controllers need to complete units of competency every three years as part of licensing requirements. This refresher training – known as revalidation training – makes sure licensees remain up-to-date with the latest industry standards and techniques.

Bodyguards and crowd controllers are required to provide the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) evidence they have completed these units of competency by the required dates. Many of these security providers only provide their Certificate of Completion from their training organisation. However, this certificate does not detail whether the units of competency were completed via recognition of prior learning or not.

The units of competency required to be completed every three years are:

CPPSEC3002A – Manage conflict through negotiation

CPPSEC3013A – Control persons using empty hand techniques

HLTFA301B – Apply first aid

These units are specifically prescribed as revalidation training and OFT will not accept these units of competency completed via recognition of prior learning.

To ensure bodyguards and crowd controllers have been retrained in the required revalidation units, OFT also requires a copy of the Record of Results. The Record of Results details whether a security provider has completed the units of competency required in the three year period, and not via recognition of prior learning.

For more information, visit www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au/security or call the Office of Fair Trading on 13 QGOV (13 74 68).

Changes to legislation

Amendments to the State Penalties Enforcement Regulation 2000, which came into effect on 1 July 2011 impact on compliance activities in the security provider, second hand dealer and pawnbroker industries.

The amendments give officers of the Queensland Police Service (QPS) the authority to issue on-the-spot fines for breaches of legislation in these industries.

What does this mean for me?

Currently, police give OFT written advice on suspected breaches of the legislation and these cases are then managed by the OFT investigation team. Once trained, QPS officers will be authorised to issue on-the-spot fines for security providers, second-hand dealers and pawnbrokers who operate outside the law.

These changes to the law will result in a wider and more efficient reach of enforcement activities by allowing police officers to issue on-the-spot infringement notices for offences detected during their normal activities.

This increased compliance is good for the security provider, second-hand dealer and pawnbroker industries. It will improve consumer confidence in these industries. Licensed individuals and businesses will also benefit as greater compliance monitoring will improve trading conditions by keeping dishonest traders out.

OFT continues to be responsible for administration of all infringement notices – whether issued by a QPS officer or Fair Trading Investigator. QPS will be responsible for the prosecution of any contested matters arising from infringement notices issued by police.

When does it start?

QPS officers in the Gold Coast and selected Brisbane areas already trained to issue infringement notices started an active compliance operation during this year’s Schoolies event. This helped to protect the general public and particularly young people who converge on the Gold Coast at this time.

Further roll out of this important initiative across regional areas in Queensland will occur in the New Year.

More information on these changes can be found on the Office of Fair Trading website.

Queensland's acting privacy commissioner Lemm Ex said the review will include an online survey of almost 200 Queensland government agencies, to establish why they are using CCTV and if they are complying with the information privacy act.

"There are a number of obligations in relation to the collection, use, access, storage and security of footage to protect the personal information of the community," he said in a statement.

"This review will assess whether government agencies are complying with their privacy obligations when using camera surveillance.

"The community has legitimate expectation to be confident their personal information is collected, stored and used responsibly by government."

From 1 July, 2011 all new licence applicants will be required to be fingerprinted by Police and from 3 October, 2011 all existing security providers will be required to be fingerprinted when renewing their licence. Read more

SPAAL has been appointed as an approved security industry association for Queensland. From 24 February, 2011 all security firms must be a member of an approved security industry association. SPAAL is also an approved industry association for New South Wales, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory.

SPAAL offers personal professional service, support and assistance with security industry and business requirements and information, expert resources in industrial relations, legal services and insurance, plus a range of other member services. Membership is available to all security providers throughout Australia involved in Access Control, Alarm Installation, Alarm Monitoring, Alarm Response, Bodyguards, Cash in Transit, CCTV Installation, Crowd Control, Guards, Guard Dogs, Hotels & Clubs Security, Mobile Patrols, Locksmith, Private Investigations, Safes, Security Consultant, Security Doors & Grills and Traffic Control. SPAAL provides information about Security Industry Issues, Australian Security Industry, Security Industry Licensing, Security Industry Education and Training.  Read more