Locksmith practice is as ancient as the cultures from across various histories starting with the artefacts unearthed from early Sumatran and Egyptian civilizations. Yet through the hundreds of years within which trading practices evolved, so did the locks, lock-making tools and the locksmith profession.
In the UK, there are no set of laws governing the locksmith profession and businesses. In the US, about 15 states have locksmith licensing regulations in place. In Ghana, Africa, individuals who render locksmith services but not registered in accordance with the country’s Locksmiths Licensing Act of 1994, are jailed.
Who Oversees the UK Locksmith Industry?
In the UK, although anyone can get involved in the locksmith business and profession, the non-profit organisation Master Locksmiths Association (MLA) acts as the recognized authority in monitoring the British locksmith industry. The MLA works with the UK Home Office, the Building Research and Development and the British Standards Institution. The consensus in all these sectors is that anyone looking to practice locksmithing as a service can do so regardless of educational background, skills or motive.
The MLA estimates that currently, there are 6500 locksmiths rendering lockpicking, lock manufacturing, and lock replacement services across Great Britain, but only 350 are registered as MLA members. Still, an MLA accreditation opens up doors to many lucrative contracts because it denotes the locksmith company and its staff have been vetted and evaluated in accordance with professional standards.
The Locksmith Industry in The Netherlands
Just like in the US, there are no uniform rules and regulations governing locksmiths in the country. As an example, Slotenmaker Zoetermeer companies hire locksmith professionals who can perform services that meet standard requirements. That way, they ensure application of health and safety measures based on federal and local Zoetermeer laws.
While a person can be clockIng in as a locksmith in a slotenmaker company, he can only own and operate a locksmith company if he has successfully completed a Master’s Degree.
Moreover, documents supporting personal information about the owner and current staff must be made available to the local police to allow for quick referencing when necessary.
Although an employee aged 16 to 18 can be trained to work as a locksmith, store employees under 18 years old should not be given the responsibility of opening store doors.
Most important of all, the owner and immediate members of the family, as well as all staff members, must not have criminal records whatsoever but specifically, theft-related .