Master Locksmiths Association
The Master Locksmiths Association (MLA) is a not for profit trade association representing locksmiths in the United Kingdom. It operates a certification program and a referral program to direct consumers to its certified locksmiths. It was established in 1958 and has about 1,400 members.
 | This article may rely excessively on sources too closely associated with the subject, potentially preventing the article from being verifiable and neutral. (June 2017) |
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| Abbreviation | MLA |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1958 |
| Type | Trade association |
| Legal status | Non-profit organisation |
| Focus | Locksmithing |
| Headquarters | Rugby, Warwickshire[1] |
Region served | United Kingdom |
| Members | 1400 |
| Website | www.locksmiths.co.uk |
The Master Locksmiths Association (MLA) is a not for profit trade association representing locksmiths in the United Kingdom. It operates a certification program and a referral program to direct consumers to its certified locksmiths. It was established in 1958[2] and has about 1,400 members.[citation needed]
Certification and referral
[edit]Locksmithing does not come under the Security Industry Authority, and there is no government licensing of locksmiths. This in effect means that anyone can trade as a locksmith irrespective of background, motive or competence. In 2009 it became possible to get a background check on a locksmith (unless employed full-time by a school/hospital etc.). This occurred when the Exceptions order for the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 was changed in July 2009 following debates in the House of Commons[3] and the House of Lords[4] whereby the MLA was added to the list enabling it to get standard level CRB disclosures.[5]
The MLA has its own non-governmental certification process whereby companies are vetted and regularly inspected.[2][6] It currently has about 350 Approved Companies, which can be found through its "Find a Locksmith" website referral program.[7]
Membership types
[edit]The MLA has four member sectors:[8][9]
- The British Locksmiths Institute – for educational programs
- The Membership sector – for personal and company memberships
- The Affiliate membership sector – for manufacturers and distributors
- The Guild of Keycutters – for the keycutting industry
The MLA offers four grades of individual membership.[8] In ascending order of seniority, these are: Student, Advanced Student, Personal, and Fellow.[8]
The MLA also offers two types of organisation membership – Approved Company membership for locksmithing companies and Affiliate membership for manufacturers and distributors.[8]
Former structure
[edit]Formerly (e.g. in 1998), the four membership divisions were:
- The British Locksmiths Institute (professional body)
- The MLA Trade Division (trade association)
- The MLA Affiliate Division (manufacturers, wholesalers, etc)
- The Guild of Keycutters.[citation needed]
De facto standards body
[edit]Within the United Kingdom, publishers of books and periodicals about home and business security commonly recommend the use of MLA members as a source of locks, related security hardware, and advice about physical security measures.[10][11][12] This reliance on the MLA by all sectors, in conjunction with the opacity and lack of regulation in the private security industry in the United Kingdom, has led scholars to express concerns about the accuracy of claims made both by and about organisations such as the MLA.[13][14][15][16][17]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Master Locksmiths Association gets keys to new HQ". The Business Desk. 15 September 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
- ^ a b "Find a Locksmith". Master Locksmiths Association official website. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
- ^ Westminster, Department of the Official Report (Hansard), House of Commons. "House of Commons General Committee on Delegated Legislation". www.publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Westminster, Department of the Official Report (Hansard), House of Lords. "Lords Hansard text for 29 Jun 200929 Jun 2009 (pt 0003)". www.publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "DN 78 Sep 09". 4 March 2010. Archived from the original on 15 August 2010. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
- ^ "What is the Master Locksmiths Association (MLA)?". Master Locksmiths Association official website. 23 April 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
- ^ "Find a Master Locksmith Association approved company member". Master Locksmiths Association official website. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
- ^ a b c d "MLA Membership Sectors". Master Locksmiths Association official website. Retrieved 17 June 2017.
- ^ Locksmith Guide
- ^ Booty, Frank (9 April 2009). Facilities Management Handbook. Routledge. ISBN 9781136440076 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Burglar proof your home at holiday time".
- ^ "How to burglar-proof your home". www.saga.co.uk.
- ^ Jones, Trevor; Newburn, Tim (1 September 1995). "How big is the private security sector?". Policing and Society. 5 (3): 221–232. doi:10.1080/10439463.1995.9964725.
- ^ George, Bruce; Watson, Timothy (1 January 1992). "Regulation of the private security industry". Public Money & Management. 12 (1): 55–57. doi:10.1080/09540969209387697.
- ^ ProQuest. "Security in the home". Retrieved 15 September 2018 – via ProQuest.
- ^ Thumala, Angélica; Goold, Benjamin; Loader, Ian (1 June 2011). "A tainted trade? Moral ambivalence and legitimation work in the private security industry1". The British Journal of Sociology. 62 (2): 283–303. doi:10.1111/j.1468-4446.2011.01365.x. PMID 21631459.
- ^ Brand, Ralf (1 November 2009). "Written and Unwritten Building Conventions in a Contested City: The Case of Belfast" (PDF). Urban Studies. 46 (12): 2669–2689. doi:10.1177/0042098009345538. S2CID 54079336.