If you work in the private security industry or are thinking about getting your SIA licence, some significant changes are coming your way.
The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has announced updates to how they assess licence applications, and these changes will affect anyone applying for a new licence or renewal from that date onwards.
Why Are These Changes Happening?
The SIA wants to raise standards across the private security industry and better protect the public. After running a public consultation earlier this year (which received over 3,300 responses), they've decided to tighten up their licensing criteria.
Good news if you already have a licence: These new rules won't apply to you unless you apply for a renewal, or they receive new information about you that requires them to review your licence.
What's Changing?
1. More Offences Will Be Considered
The SIA is expanding their list of "relevant offences", the crimes they look at when deciding whether you're suitable for a licence.
New offences being added include:
- Human trafficking and modern slavery
- Revenge porn
- Female genital mutilation (FGM)
- Domestic abuse
- Immigration offences
- Public order offences
- Tax evasion
- Company law offences
This update brings the list up to date with modern crimes and expands the range of offences they'll consider.
2. Two New Refusal Categories
Currently, the SIA uses two categories when refusing applications: "automatic refusal" and "consider additional factors". From December, they're adding two new categories:
Absolute Refusal
This is the strictest category. You'll fall into this if you:
- Are on a sex offenders register or subject to a sexual harm prevention order
- Have convictions for more than one sexual offence or child abuse/neglect offence
- Have been convicted of a sexual offence while working as an SIA licence holder or in a position of trust
What you can do: You can only appeal if the SIA has the wrong information (like they've mixed up your criminal record with someone else's).
Note: If you already hold a licence and one of these applies, you'll go into the "intention to refuse" category instead.
Intention to Refuse
You'll be in this category if:
- You have a conviction for a sexual offence or child abuse/neglect offence (but don't meet the "absolute refusal" criteria)
- You have a custodial sentence of more than 48 months on your record
What you can do: You can appeal by showing either that the information is incorrect OR by convincing the SIA that you're not a risk to the public.
3. Stricter Rules for Longer Prison Sentences
If you have a custodial sentence of more than 12 months on your record, you'll need to prove you're "fit and proper" to hold a licence. You can appeal by showing the information is wrong or by demonstrating you deserve the licence.
4. Longer Overseas Criminal Record Checks
Current rule: If you've lived outside the UK for 6 months continuously in the last 5 years, you need to provide overseas criminal record checks.
New rule from 1 December: This requirement extends to anyone who's lived outside the UK for 6 months continuously in the last 10 years.
This means you'll need to dig deeper into your history if you've spent time abroad.
5. More "Other Information" Can Be Considered
The SIA can already consider various information about you beyond just criminal convictions. From December, they're explicitly adding more examples of what they can look at:
- Misconduct or disciplinary proceedings from professional bodies
- Restrictions imposed by competent authorities
- Evidence of predatory or abusive sexual behaviour
- Domestic violence or abuse
They can also continue to consider things like:
- County court judgements
- Fixed penalty notices
- Video footage showing inappropriate behaviour
What Should You Do?
If you're applying for a licence or renewal:
- Be aware that these stricter criteria will apply to you
- Make sure your overseas criminal record checks cover the full 10-year period if applicable
- Be prepared to provide additional information if needed
If you already hold a licence:
- You're fine for now – the new rules won't affect you unless you renew or the SIA receives new information about you
- Start thinking about your renewal application if it's coming up soon
Wrapping up
These changes represent a significant tightening of security industry standards, particularly around sexual offences, child protection, and international criminal history. The SIA is making it clear that they're prioritising public safety above all else.
If you have any concerns about how these changes might affect you, it's worth getting advice sooner rather than later.
For more detailed information, visit the official SIA announcement or check out their full consultation documentation.
