COMPLIANCE… IT’S NOT JUST BOX-TICKING

Some people are maverick in the way they do business, and sometimes, depending on the nature of the business, it can mean being entrepreneurial and ground-breaking, speedy or efficient, not to mention money-saving… to cut corners, disregard rules and regulations and break free from time-consuming and unnecessary red tape.

However, sometimes, being maverick can mean being irresponsible, scrooge-like or inefficient, which can have far-reaching, or even dangerous consequences. It certainly shouldn’t be the normal way to run a business, especially so if it is in any way connected with security, whether it is for people or possessions.

Everyone knows what happened at Grenfell and the consequences of cheap and inappropriate cladding, along with inadequate fire precautions and safety information for the tenants. If all of this had been well-thought out, properly checked and regulated, and efficiently monitored and run, without cut corners or cost cutting, many lives would have been saved.

Thankfully, it has been a wake-up call for many organisations to check their health and safety, and fire precautions, but there are still some who are either inefficient, lazy or downright irresponsible.

Compliance is a key word in many areas of business. For instance, in the world of finance, banks, brokers, insurers and other similar institutions are monitored and regulated to ensure they comply with rules concerning everything from tax to money laundering and much more. Most have entire compliance departments to ensure everything is legal and done by the book, concerning their clients and the services they carry out… and if they don’t comply they risk fines and penalties from the regulatory authorities.

Our industry – property and security – is not so tightly policed, but we still need to comply with the appropriate laws, rules and regulations. Global Guardians Management is a company that looks after vacant property, sometimes more complex and demanding than occupied premises, and we also have a responsibility for the people who secure the many and varied buildings with us. As CEO of the largest property guardian organisation in London, with additional properties across the country, I have always striven to ensure our staff aspire to the highest standards and it has been the motto of our company for years – a safe pair of hands – for our staff, our clients and our guardians, who rely on us to provide safe accommodation for them while they are part of our guardian family. We don’t just box tick – the rules and regulations mean something to us, as does everyone’s safety and security.

We are accredited by all the most important and relevant bodies and institutions, as well being active members of the appropriate industry and professional trade associations. I expect my company to lead from the front in terms of the way we work, and I am always pushing for our industry to raise standards and tighten regulations where health and safety are concerned, along with having a social conscience in these increasingly difficult times when affordable or social accommodation is in such short supply.

But sadly, mavericks still abound in our industry, and they give us all a bad name. Only a couple of weeks ago I read in the papers and watched the reports on a local TV news programme about a guardian company who had lost their contract with a local council to safeguard some former respite and healthcare accommodation, up for refurbishment/redevelopment, which in the meantime was providing homes to some 37 guardians. These included many key workers – health professionals, teachers, a pregnant woman and council workers. The guardian company had been warned they were not complying with fire prevention and safe evacuation measures for the building, but having been given a virtual ultimatum, they still didn’t comply, so the Council were forced to evacuate the building and 37 people lost their homes, almost immediately, and needed urgent re-housing. A very sad state of affairs and totally unnecessary. I found the entire story infuriating, and worrying, as I wondered if such irresponsible neglect was being manifested in other properties ostensibly secured by this company. That is why I believe our industry needs to tighten its regulations in some areas.?

Fires start so easily and can be fatal; smoke alone can kill; so can carbon monoxide. All it takes are inexpensive alarms to save lives. The Government have recently tightened legal requirements covering the necessity for all landlords – private and social – to have alarms installed in their properties. (see below). My company goes above and beyond what is legally required, but I sincerely hope everyone involved in providing homes for people ensures they comply. This isn’t box-ticking, this is people’s lives. How do they sleep at night if they don’t comply, or have they forgotten already what happened at Grenfell??