Security Industry Authority Standard

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) is the UK regulator for the private security industry,

established under the Private Security Industry Act 2001.

Its core responsibilities include:

• Licensing individuals in designated security roles (e.g., door supervisors, CCTV

operators, security guards).

• Managing the Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS).

• Setting compliance and operational standards for security businesses.

• Protecting the public by ensuring only “fit and proper” individuals work in security

roles.

The Security Industry Authority is a body corporate established under the Private Security

Industry Act 2001 (“the Act”), also known as “the Authority” or “SIA”. It operates across the

United Kingdom and its functions and powers are set out in the Act.

The SIA has been classified by the Cabinet Office as an Executive Non- Departmental Public

Body of the Home Office.

The Home Office and the SIA share the common objective of protecting the public. To

achieve this the SIA and the Home Office will work together in recognition of each other’s

roles and areas of expertise, providing an effective environment for the SIA to achieve its

objectives through the promotion of partnership and trust and ensuring that the SIA also

supports the strategic aims and objective of the Home Office and wider government.

The statutory duties of the SIA under the Act are:

• To carry out the functions relating to licensing and approvals that are conferred on it

by the Act.

• To keep under review generally the provision of security industry services and other

services involving the activities of security operatives.

• For the purpose of protecting the public, to monitor the activities and effectiveness of

persons carrying on businesses providing any such services as are mentioned above.

• To ensure the carrying out of such inspections as it considers necessary of the

activities and businesses of:

1. persons engaged in licensable conduct;

2. persons registered under section 14 of the Act as approved providers of security

industry services.

• To set or approve standards of conduct, training and levels of supervision for adoption

by:

1. those who carry on businesses providing security industry services or other services

involving the activities of security operatives;

2. those who are employed for the purposes of such businesses.

• To make recommendations and proposals for the maintenance and improvement of

standards in the provision of security industry services and other services involving

the activities of security operatives.

• To keep under review the operation of the Act.

The SIA exists to protect the public through effective regulation of the private security

industry and to work with partners to raise standards across the sector.

This is reflected in the strategic priorities set out in the SIA’s Corporate Plan 2020-23, which are to:

• Improve standards in the private security industry.

• Support government, police and others to work with it and the private security

industry to shape and evolve the sector to respond to future challenges and

opportunities.

• Deploy and develop its people and assets to optimise their value.

• Develop its people so individual, team and corporate performance continually

improves in achieving its purpose.

The SIA regulates the industry by the mandatory licensing of individuals working in specified

private security roles and by providing the voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme for

businesses who attain and maintain certain standards.

SIA Standards & Compliance Areas

Licensing Standards

Eligibility: Age 18+, right to work in the UK, criminality checks, and approved training.

Training Requirements: Licence-linked qualifications (e.g., Door Supervision, CCTV,

Security Guarding) plus First Aid certification.

Criminality Criteria Updates (Effective Dec 2025):

• Absolute refusal for serious offences (sexual offences, child abuse, sentences >48

months).

• Expanded list of relevant offences (modern slavery, trafficking, domestic abuse).

• Overseas criminal record checks for applicants who lived abroad for 6+ months in the

last 10 years.

Business Compliance

• Verify employees’ right to work.

• Validate every SIA licence before deployment.

• Maintain training and competency records.

• Implement digital licence tracking for audits.

Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS)

• Measures private security service providers against independently assessed standards.

• Focus on quality of service, public protection, and operational integrity.

Governance & Framework

The SIA operates under a Home Office Framework Agreement, outlining:

• Governance and accountability.

• Financial and operational controls.

• Strategic objectives for public protection.