Obtaining an SIA Licence

You require an SIA licence if you wish to work in any of the sectors detailed below.

At this current time this is only required by law in England and Wales, it will be a legal requirement in Scotland in late 2007.

• Close protection operatives supplied under contract.
• Security guards supplied under contract
• Door supervisors : under contract and in - house
• Key holders supplied under contract
• Cash and valuables in transit supplied under contract
• CCTV (public space surveillance) supplied under contract
• Vehicle immobilizers on private land, under contract and in house

Under contract: If you work under an agreement between your employer and a customer of your employer - you are a contractor.

In House: when you work on premises managed & operated by your employer (and you are not contracted out to a third party or customer of your employer)

There are two types of licence:

1. FRONT LINE: when you are carrying out a licensable activity. It takes the form of a badge, similar to a credit card in size.
2. NON FRONT - LINE : for managers, directors & partners of companies (a simple letter)

To obtain an SIA licence you must undergo training as indicated in the relevant sections, and also pay a licence fee of £190 to the SIA. This licence is valid for three years (except for front line vehicle immobilizers who need to renew their licence each year)

The following details regarding Criminal record checks and service overseas with HM Forces apply to all sectors:

Criminal Records

If you have spent six continuous months or more overseas you must provide evidence of a criminal record check from the country or countries covering that period

Service overseas with HM Forces

If you have served overseas with HM Armed Forces in the last five years you will need to provide an extract from your service records. The extract must expressly disclose any convictions you may have, and should cover all periods spent overseas, irrespective of length.

To obtain an application form you must call the SIA on 08702 430 100.