The survey, which was recently conducted by the Canadian Society for Industrial Security Inc. (CSIS Inc.), found that almost 80 per cent of respondents would support a government move to license the manufacturing, sale and use of body armour. Almost 70 per cent said the employer should pay for the associated costs. They also support the idea of regulating the cost and type of material that retailers can sell, and guidelines for the destruction and decommissioning of used body armour so it doesn’t end up back on the street.

“Most people are in favour; it’s just a matter of how it will be done,” says Robert Marentette, the organization’s executive director.

CSIS Inc. surveyed its members on the issue to provide the B.C. Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General with additional insight following the ministry’s own consultations on the subject. The B.C. government, which did not provide a spokesperson for comment at press time, is looking at regulating the sale, possession and use of body armour as part of its “Guns and Gangs” initiative.

If approved, B.C.’s licensing program will include criminal record checks. As well, it will provide for the possible confiscation of body armour from those without a valid licence, according to the ministry’s website.

CSIS, explains Marentette, felt the province should also consider the perspectives of security industry professionals affected by potential regulations. He estimates that body armour regulation would affect about 70 per cent of the organization’s membership.

“I said (to the organization’s board of directors) we should approach the government and ask why it is just going to manufacturers and the people who own the companies,” says Marentette. “Why not go to people who wear the body armour?”

CSIS sent the survey to all its members across the country, even though the proposed regulation would affect only its B.C. members if passed — at least for now.

“We know a lot of stuff has spun out of B.C. regulatory-wise and other provinces have caught on,” he says. “We wanted to go after whether this is going to be a bigger issue down the road for a lot more people involved in security and find out if there is support for a licensing program the likes of what B.C. is going to do.”

Of those CSIS surveyed, 95 per cent said they thought within the next five years more security personnel will have to wear protective body armour while on duty. Part of that growth is due to the fear of being stabbed. About of quarter of respondents currently wear body armour as part of their jobs.

The survey also asked what kinds of security professionals should have to wear body armour. Most respondents (almost 90 per cent) said contract security guards, along with corporate and private personal protection staff, should have to wear it; three-quarters said special events staff and proprietary security guards should also have to don body armour. Just over half said bouncers and loss prevention officers should wear body armour, while about a third said it should be mandatory for private investigators.

Rather than view body armour regulation as another bureaucratic imposition, though, many survey respondents seemed indicated they see it as an occupational health and safety issue.