Bakshi Kanwaljit Singh: Private Security Personnel and Private Investigators Bill — First Reading 
Bakshi Kanwaljit Singh: Private Security Personnel and Private Investigators Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:653;Page:2727] 
KANWALJIT SINGH BAKSHI (National) 
: 
 I stand to support the Private Security Personnel and Private Investigators Bill. This bill was introduced by the previous Labour Government but was left without anything being done. That Government kept introducing bills but did not have time to pass them. The bill is very important because security personnel have become a very important part of our lives. Security personnel can be seen at large public events and sports events where they have the huge responsibility of maintaining discipline. As members may have recently seen at one of the cricket matches between India and New Zealand the public became very rowdy and started throwing bottles on to the grounds; it became a security issue for the players and other officials. Security personnel need proper training so that they can handle such situations and this bill provides special instructions for them to have special training. As members know the Rugby World Cup is coming to New Zealand and we will need to have a lot of tight security during that big event. It is a prestigious event for our country and we cannot labour that point enough. 
This bill will require the following groups of people to hold licences: private investigators security technicians security consultants property guards and crowd controllers. This bill will stop any Tom Dick or Harry from becoming a private investigator which is what many members opposite claim would happen. These categories of licences can be held by either individuals or public companies. In-house security personnel who are required to provide security directly to their employers do not have to have licences with the exception of people employed by bars like bouncers; they will be required to have a licence or a certificate of approval. Security personnel can find themselves in situations where there is a risk of violent physical confrontation. It is in the best interests of both the public and the industry that security personnel are adequately trained and briefed for such situations if they arise. 
The bill also requires security personnel to take special training for these purposes. It ensures that there will be better screening and monitoring of individuals who want to enter this industry. It will disqualify any individuals or companies from holding a licence if they have been previously convicted or if an individual wanting to enter the industry has a history of mental health issues. A licensing authority will be established and it will manage and monitor the industry to enforce the licensing requirements. The cost of the licensing authority will be met through the licensing revenue. The bill intends to reduce the compliance burden as it requires full renewal of the licence after 5 years. There will be an annual return with updated information about the licence holder and responsible employees. Licence holders will have to pay an annual fee but they will not have to go through a full licensing process each year. 
This bill will create flexibility in relation to the different types of training that can be imposed on different classes of personnel. The use of regulations will provide the power to impose training which also creates the flexibility to respond to the changing circumstances and technology. As we know the technology is changing on an everyday basis and we need to have security personnel updated through training so that they can maintain the technology. I stand here to support the bill. Thank you. 
Bill read a first time.