The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has initiated a consultation to strengthen the criminality criteria for licence applications, aiming to enhance public safety across the UK.
This move, running until May 20, 2025, could significantly impact both applicants and businesses by ensuring only suitable individuals are employed in private security roles.
Proposed Changes to Licensing Criteria
The SIA’s proposed changes include adding modern slavery, people trafficking, and upskirting offences to its licensing decisions. These additions reflect a commitment to addressing serious crimes that pose significant risks to public safety.
Furthermore, applicants with convictions related to sexual offences or child abuse may face automatic refusal unless they can demonstrate they are not a risk.
Another important proposal is the requirement for overseas criminal record checks for applicants who have lived abroad in the past decade. This aligns with existing UK visa requirements and aims to ensure comprehensive vetting of all potential licensees.
The SIA also plans to increase transparency by clarifying what constitutes being ‘fit and proper’ for holding a licence.
Implications for Applicants and Businesses
These proposed changes are expected to bolster public confidence in private security services by ensuring that only individuals who meet stringent criteria are granted licences.
However, this could also lead to a reduced pool of eligible workers, potentially impacting businesses reliant on security personnel.
Some Considerations
- Inclusion of modern slavery and people trafficking offences in licensing decisions
- Tighter rules for serious offences like sexual abuse or neglect
- Mandatory overseas criminal record checks for applicants with recent foreign residency
- Clarification of ‘fit and proper’ standards for licence holders
A Shift Towards Stricter Vetting
This initiative is part of an ongoing effort by the SIA since 2021 to refine its approach towards licensing criteria. The Angiolini Inquiry findings from 2024 further emphasized the need for rigorous vetting processes within sensitive sectors like private security.
By aligning overseas checks with UK visa requirements, the SIA reflects a broader trend towards stricter scrutiny across various industries.
Industry Perspectives on Proposed Changes
Tim Archer, Director of Licensing and Standards at the SIA, highlighted the importance of maintaining public trust in private security services.
Commenting on the consultation, Tim Archer, the SIA’s Director of Licensing and Standards said today:
“There are currently around 440,000 individuals holding an SIA licence playing a vital role in keeping the public safe. As the Private Security Industry is increasingly asked to take on a wider role in protecting the public, public trust and confidence in private security is more important than ever.”
“As the regulator, a key priority of the SIA is to ensure those who should not have a licence to work in private security are not permitted to. Although the current criteria have not been substantially changed for some years, the SIA has taken a more robust approach to considering individual sexual and child abuse and neglect offences since 2021.”
“We have also considered the Angiolini Inquiry findings from 2024 which proposed a much more risk-averse approach to police vetting in relation to sexual offences.”
Additional Reading
In Nutshell
The proposed changes by the SIA signify a crucial step towards enhancing public safety through more stringent vetting processes within the private security industry.
While these measures may challenge businesses in recruiting qualified personnel, they ultimately aim to foster greater trust between security services and the general public across the UK.
Sources: GOV.UK, Security Industry Authority, and BBC News.
Ivan Alexander Golden, Founder of THX News™, an independent news organization dedicated to providing insightful analysis on current events, prepared this article.
