The UK is...a global leader in the private security company (PSC) market...The Government wants to see the highest standards, including on human rights, across all PSCs that work in complex environments abroad. At the same time, the Government wants to level the global playing field for those PSCs that work to high, measurable standards, so that they cannot be undercut by PSCs which do not meet those standards. We have undertaken to establish a system of national certification to professional standards for PSCs, which would measure PSCs’ implementation of the commitments and principles set out in the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers (ICoC). A large section of the PSC industry has signed up to the ICoC, which envisages professional standards to implement the ICoC principles and the creation of a global oversight mechanism, named the ICoC Association (ICoCA)...The Government strongly encourages all PSCs working in complex environments abroad to both pursue certification to these standards by accredited certifying bodies and to become members of the ICoCA.