You will now know that at the Annual General Meeting held on 6 July 2005 I was elected to succeed Richard Flenley as Chairman which arose consequent to his retirement as Associate Director of Canary Wharf Management Ltd. During his short term in office Richard made an important contribution in time and effort not least in enabling JSIC to put its house in order, reduce expenditure and stabilise its financial position. I am sure you join me in thanking him for all that he has done and wish him well in the future.

These measures having been taken, the Council pledged their support for the continuing role of JSIC as the principal representative body of the fifty plus associations and other organisations that make up the membership body. I am much encouraged by this and by the promises of support from other associated organisations - it augers well for the future. Our aim is to reinvigorate JSIC and make it more effectively responsive to the needs of the membership. The changes being wrought on the industry by regulation and other developments demand coordinated and effective representation at the highest level.

We are however also being challenged by the launch of an embryo organisation with broadly similar aims and which claims not to intend to rival JSIC. I urge members and associates not to be distracted by promises of better things elsewhere and to have confidence in the new management and commitment within our own organisation.

The JSIC Way Forward Group contributed significantly to the development of a JSIC position on many policy issues in the run up to regulation. These reports should now be reviewed and updated in the light of subsequent developments. The JSIC position on all relevant policy issues needs to be restated and made known to all interested parties.

To this end we are in touch with the SIA with regard to its offer of support for a study to establish the business case for JSIC's role in future and how it may be sustained. We believe that it is JSIC's role to be the conduit for representing the views of many stakeholders from across the security industry to government departments and the Regulator. Some associations are not yet with us and we need to raise their awareness of what we do and encourage them to join us around the table.

The Counter Terrorism Committee was involved in intelligence gathering initiatives and supportive of the private security industry/police projects to strengthen the capacity of the Cities of London and Westminster to respond to terrorism incidents. I will seek to reconvene the Counter Terrorism Committee in the near future to review the situation following the terrorist incidents of 7 July 2005.

With these and other objectives in mind we must first reassure all our members that JSIC is actively taking action to regenerate it activities.

Firstly it must find a suitable base from which to operate its secretariat and this is being addressed. We will soon need to appoint an Executive Officer and support staff to manage the day to day administration. Meanwhile, the Management Committee will explore ways in which the JSIC role can be developed and look to you for your participation and support in our endeavours.

Secondly it must attend to the funding of its operations and in this respect annual subscriptions become due on 1 August. Council agreed that there will be no increase in annual subscriptions pending a review of the membership categories, the completion of the business case study and related issues.

The Secretary/Treasurer, Lorraine Stanley, will send out invoices for payment of subscriptions. It will greatly assist JSIC if subscription income is received promptly and you are asked to make this happen, please.

Full members are asked to pay their subscriptions for the whole year [or half year] according to their current practice, whereas all other members are asked to make payment for the half year at this stage. This is to enable the Memorandum and Articles of Association and the basis of JSIC membership categories to be clarified.

Members are also reminded that supplies of the Red Book Directory 2005 are still available. Few have availed themselves of the opportunity to obtain and distribute copies among their members or responded to the appeal for support to reduce the costs incurred in making the publication possible this year.

Finally, in assuming the role of Chairman, I thank those who have sent messages of congratulations, and undertake to try my best to assist JSIC and its members at this important time.

Yours sincerely

Patrick J Somerville QPM Chairman