Locks and Security News: your weekly locks and security industry newsletter
10th April 2024 Issue no. 700

Your industry news - first

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Lock out criminal locksmiths, says trade association

Industry spokesman calls on new government to tighten up industry vetting.

Better regulation of locksmith training is needed in a move to prevent criminals learning a highly lucrative trade, says Steffan George, Development Director at the Master Locksmiths Association (MLA), who called on the new Liberal Conservative coalition to make sure all organisations providing training had proper vetting procedures to keep undesirables out.

The MLA has the power to carry out a Criminal Records Bureau standard level check on potential locksmiths, which provides information on current and spent convictions. But Steffan George believes all industry entrants should be vetted before entering training.

"The MLA provides training, and those passing our courses all go on to earn a City and Guilds award. But unfortunately there is so much training that is completely unregulated, and this is something that we would like government to look at.

"You only have to consider the potential benefits to a career burglar who has been trained as a locksmith - the consequences could be fairly disastrous."

Steffan George believed that a nationally recognised qualification was the best way forward to accredit locksmiths and keep the industry properly policed.

5th June 2010