Sunday 2 October 2011

The SIA - Security Industry Authority

If you want to work in security in the UK you will probably need a license from the SIA, or Security Industry Authority, a non departmental government body, established in 2003 under the terms of the Private Security Industry Act 2001 which reports to the home secretary.  Some security roles do not require an SIA licenese but the most common security jobs; Manned guarding, which includes: Cash and Valuables in Transit, Close Protection, Security Guards and Door Supervision as well as Public Space Surveillance (CCTV), Key Holding and the  Immobilisation, restriction and removal of vehicles all require a compulsory SIA licence.  What is less commonly known is that managers and directors of security companies who might not perform the actual security tasks also need a different kind of SIA license.


Licenses curretnyl cost £245 (Oct 2011) and last for 3 years (except for "clampers" which need to be renewed every year).  The current penalty for being unlicensed while performing any of the listed duties above is a maximum of £5000 fin and upto 6 months in prison.  You can also face penalties for not having an SIA licence on display when working door supervision for example. 


The SIA also runs the approved contractor scheme which is a voluntary quality assurance scheme that measures private security suppliers against independently assessed operational and performance standards. Organisations that meet these standards are awarded 'Approved Contractor' status.  The penalties for claiming approval when you are not approved are harsher than that for not having an personal license whilst working security, and can be an unlimited fine. 

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