Regulation and Regulators

The NAO is the statutory auditor of the publicly funded regulators in the UK, and of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and its agencies. 

These pages contain details of our work in the regulation sector; our latest reports; articles about specific areas of our work; and work in progress notifications for reports we are working on at the moment.

If you have any comments or suggestions about our work in regulation, please email enquiries@nao.gsi.gov.ukand write ‘Regulation’ in the subject header. 

Feature

Regulating the Security Industry

The private security industry covers a number of services. These include security guarding, door supervision and vehicle clamping. The industry employs about 500,000 people across the United Kingdom. About half are employed on a contract basis rather than directly employed by security companies, and are subject to regulation.

Read full feature: Regulating the Security Industry

Hampton Reviews

In 2004, the Chancellor of the Exchequer asked Philip Hampton, a leading businessman, to lead a review of regulatory inspection and enforcement. Philip Hampton’s 2005 report set out an ambitious programme to reduce the burdens on business created by regulatory systems, together with principles to guide effective inspection and enforcement, putting risk assessment at the heart of regulatory assessment, and intended to encourage a regulatory system which properly balances protection and prosperity.

Read full feature: Hampton Reviews