Security Industry Inspectorate and Enforcement Bodies

The National Security Inspectorate (NSI) is an independent, not-for-profit approvals body providing inspection services for the security and fire industries.

For over 30 years, NSI has been protecting the customer through insisting on the highest standards and operating the toughest inspection regime. Companies are inspected regularly, by highly qualified, full-time inspectors, to prove their ongoing delivery of the highest standards. NSI’s Customer Care support process reinforces the reliability and integrity of the companies it inspects.

All NSI schemes exceed the appropriate requirements of the Police, Fire Service and Insurers.

NSI is accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS), which operates on behalf of the Government under a Memorandum of Understanding from the Department of Trade and Industry.

UKAS ensures that bodies like NSI are run in an appropriate manner. Each accredited organisation must be run by a board who take into account the opinion of all interested parties, so that no one party can dictate its actions or activities.

In order to fulfil this requirement and to ensure both the probity of the organisation and the balance of its strategies, the board of NSI has been drawn from a wide variety of organisations, including:

Insurers

NSI Approved Companies

Consumers of Security Products and Services

Government Departments

Trade Associations

Police

To identify which schemes have UKAS Accreditation click here

There are three levels NSI companies may be approved under. Which level very much depends on the stage of development of the business.

Gold

NSI’s premier scheme is for companies who consistently meet the industry’s highest standards through ISO9000 Quality Management as well as the relevant British and European Standards. Companies choose this route to demonstrate that their business is run in a competent professional manner operating to the highest standards.

Silver

NSI’s Silver schemes are designed primarily for smaller and newer companies who comply with the requirements of the relevant British and European Standards relating to their business. This scheme provides credibility to smaller companies where Quality Management is not the most appropriate route, whilst also providing a stepping-stone towards NSI Gold, for those business that intend to grow.

Bronze
An entry-level scheme for companies involved in manned security through NSI’s Guarding division. This scheme has been designed for new companies who are unable at the time, to satisfy the full requirements of the relevant industry Standards and therefore, cannot qualify for approval with the Guarding Silver Scheme. However, Bronze companies must work towards and achieve Silver status within a specific time scale.