A look at BS7858: Security Screening of Individuals Employed in a Security Environment.

The BS7858 standard is a widely recognized and followed standard within the UK security industry. It specifically pertains to the screening and vetting of individuals employed in security-related roles, ensuring that they meet certain criteria and possess the necessary integrity and reliability.

The standard outlines a comprehensive set of guidelines and best practices for conducting background checks on employees, with the aim of minimizing security risks and maintaining a high level of professionalism and trust within the industry.

Here are some key aspects covered by the BS7858 standard:

1. Identity and documentation checks: It emphasizes the need to verify the identity of individuals applying for security roles and validate their documents, such as passports, driving licenses, and work permits.
2. Employment history verification: The standard stresses the importance of verifying an applicant’s employment history, including contacting previous employers to confirm their dates of employment, job titles, and reasons for leaving.
3. Character references: It encourages obtaining character references from credible sources who can vouch for the applicant’s integrity and reliability.
4. Criminal records checks: BS7858 emphasizes conducting thorough criminal records checks, including both standard Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks and enhanced checks where required.
5. Financial history checks: The standard recommends assessing an applicant’s financial history to identify any potential vulnerabilities or indicators of financial distress that may compromise their reliability.
6. Qualifications and training verification: It emphasizes the need to verify an applicant’s qualifications and training certifications relevant to the security industry, ensuring they possess the necessary skills and knowledge.
7. Continuous monitoring: The standard recognizes the importance of ongoing monitoring of employees’ conduct and performance throughout their employment, including periodic re-screening to maintain the required standards.

BS7858 is not mandated by law or external audit requirements. It is a voluntary standard developed by the British Standards Institution (BSI) and is widely adopted and recognized within the security industry as a best practice for employee screening and vetting.

While compliance with BS7858 is not legally required, many security companies choose to adhere to this standard to demonstrate their commitment to maintaining high levels of security, professionalism, and trustworthiness in their operations. Additionally, some regulatory bodies or clients may require security providers to follow BS7858 as a contractual or industry-specific requirement, but it is not a legal mandate.

By adhering to the BS7858 standard, security organizations aim to minimize the risks associated with employing individuals who may pose a threat to security, enhance the overall professionalism of the industry, and provide clients with confidence in the integrity of their security personnel

//

Marshal provides a compliance based hiring platform that enables you to request and access document proofs at the point of application, via a secure exchange, to mitigate the burden imposed by screening requirements. begin building your compliance based Talent Pool by signing up via the homepage link.