UK government pledges its support for the international standard recently published by the International Organisation for Standards and as pilot projects for certification are about to start to regulate private security companies.

See http://www.lloydslist.com/ll/sector/regulation/article414584.ece

The 100 Series Rules currently in the final drafting stages by David Hammond and Steven Kay QC are aimed to be annexed to the ISO PAS 28007 standard. 

The need for the regulation of the industry is not only to ensure lawful conduct but also to ensure liabilities under the Corporate Manslaughter and Homicide Act 2007 are avoided.

Under s. 1 of the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007, (UK) it is an offence for an organisation to cause a person's death due to a gross breach of a relevant duty of care. An organisation will be guilty of an offence only if the way in which its activities are managed or organised by its senior management is a substantial element in the breach. International liabilities in foreign jurisdictions may often be even more stringent.