Door Supervisors and Security Guards: Licensing

(asked on 7th June 2021) - View Source

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Security Industry Authority licence changes and additional training requirements for door supervisors and security guards that come into force on 1 October 2021, what estimate she has made of the number of licence holders that may leave the profession as a result of those additional training requirements.


Answered by
Kit Malthouse Portrait
Kit Malthouse
This question was answered on 15th June 2021

The changes the Security Industry Authority (SIA) has implemented to the training applicants need to undertake before they can obtain a front-line SIA licence have been made to ensure that all operatives working in the private security sector can keep the public safe and maintain higher quality safety working practices, reflecting recent changes to the law and good practice. These changes were implemented on 01 April for new applicants and come into effect on 01 October 2021 for any existing licence holders seeking to renew their licence.

These changes were proportionate and measured. The SIA conducted robust research across the industry on the necessary skills and training standards, working with front line industry experts to frame the specifications, and carried out two rounds of public consultation on the qualification specifications. Home Office Ministers accepted the SIA’s proposals and advice on standards and impact and are content the SIA has considered all necessary aspects regarding the operational impact on businesses/ employers and individual licence holders. In addition, the SIA are engaging in a continuous communications campaign to ensure that licence holders and private security businesses are aware of the requirements for additional safety-critical training, which will continue up until and after the 01 October.

Licensing is by application from individuals, therefore a final assessment of the full impacts on individual licensing and the sector will be considered by the SIA in due course. All other commercial considerations are for businesses/ employers and are not regulated by the SIA. However, as the regulator, the SIA continues to work closely with the private security industry and individuals on all aspects of licensing standards and will consider any further evidence raised by the private security sector.

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