Summary of SIA Licences

SIA Licences

SIA Licensing has historically focused on general crime, but now incorporates basic awareness of counter terrorism topics. Security operatives and their management require SIA licences for certain activities if a security operative is provided to another organisation under a contract for services. “Door Supervision” activities at licensed premises always require Door Supervision Licences, irrespective of whether they are “in-house” or contracted.

Does an SIA Licensed Security Officer make an individual operationally competent?

The SIA Licensing regime provides minimum statutory requirements. However, a security officer tasked to operate at a specific site will need further training in order to be effective at the role they are given. This might include, for example: venue familiarisation, training on equipment, procedures, task specific training etc. This should further be supplemented by ongoing training, rehearsals, exercises etc. and regular briefings on things like threat updates.

SIA Licences / Licensable Activity Aide-Mémoire

Management

Directors, Partners, Managers, Supervisors etc. of those providing security operatives to other organisations under a contract for services, will either require a “front line” or “non front line” licence, including;

• Key Holding
• Vehicle Immobilisation (Northern Ireland only)
• Manned Guarding:
  • Cash and Valuables in Transit Licence - for guarding property against damage or theft and transporting it in a vehicle designed for secure transportation.
  • Close Protection Licence - for guarding people against physical assault or injury.
  • Door Supervision Licence - for guarding licensed premises against damage, theft, unauthorised access or disorderly behaviour. This includes search of people and their belongings. Can take role of Security Guard.
  • Public Space Surveillance Licence - for guarding premises, property or people by using CCTV equipment to:

1. watch members of the public or identify particular people
2. guard against disorder or protect from assault (including prevision and response).

• Security Guard Licence - for guarding premises or property against damage, theft, unauthorised access or disorderly behaviour. Cannot undertake role of Door Supervisor.

Training Content for Certain SIA Licences

(Oct 2021, reflecting recent changes)

Further Information

(Oct 2021, reflecting recent changes)

SIA Register of Licence Holders

Once a licence has been issued, details about the licence holder are held on a register and made available to the public.  You will be able to search the register using the 16-digit unique number displayed on the licence or the licence holders’ personal details if known. The licence sector, licence status and licence holders name will be displayed. The address of an individual will not be made public. 

Enforcement

The SIA conducts enforcement operations in conjunction with the police, local authorities and other agencies. These can lead to criminal investigations and prosecutions under, for example, the Private Security Industry Act 2001. This can include employing unlicensed persons in licensable conduct, engaging with licensable conduct without a licence etc. If you have concerns about illegal activity, you should report it to the SIA.

Training beyond the SIA Licence

It is very important that security officers receive additional training that is relevant to the role, the site they are protecting and the threats they are facing. The following resources are likely to be of assistance:

• Recognising Terrorist Threats
• Marauding Terrorist Attacks
• Fire as a Weapon
• Hostile Reconnaissance
• Search & Screening
• Hostile Vehicle Mitigation
• Counter Drones
• Incident Response and Command and Control
• Control Rooms
• SCaN
• Security Control Room Operators Course

SIA Approved Contractor Scheme

The SIA operates an Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS). When you hire a private security company you have a choice between an SIA approved contractor or a company that has not been approved.  The SIA state that the advantages of using an ACS security provider are:

• Quality assured by the industry regulator - the Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) provides a recognised hallmark of quality within the private security industry.
• The SIA assess approved contractors against 78 different areas of their business. These cover topics as diverse as staff training, financial management and the company’s health and safety policies.
• When you choose an approved contractor you can be sure that the business you are working with has passed a thorough quality assurance check.
• A commitment to quality - Our Approved Contractor Scheme is a voluntary scheme. Any company that is part of the scheme has chosen to be.
• The ACS is a progressive quality standard. That means it continually raises the standard that companies must meet in order to be approved.
• Quality assurance from top to bottom - Sub-contracting is a common practice in the private security industry. Approved contractors may only sub-contract to other approved contractors unless the SIA have given them special permission to do otherwise to ensure quality of service is maintained.
• A focus on you, the customer - the ACS standard encourages approved contractors to tailor their services to your needs.

You can find out if a company is approved by searching our register of approved contractors.