If you hire security officers through a contractor, the people who turn up at your site need the right SIA licence for the work they do. This guide is for buyers: facilities managers, business owners and anyone choosing a security company. It explains when a licence is needed, the different licence types, how to check an officer yourself and the warning signs that a provider is cutting corners.
Looking to train for a licence rather than hire? Skip to training for an SIA licence.
What SIA Licensing Is
The Security Industry Authority (SIA) regulates the private security industry in the UK under the Private Security Industry Act 2001. An SIA licence shows that the holder has met the SIA's requirements for their role, which include identity and criminal record checks and, for most licences, an approved training qualification.
The scale is large: there were 507,263 active SIA licences across the UK in October 2026, according to the SIA licence holders data published on GOV.UK. That is why checking the specific officers on your site matters more than a general promise that a company's staff are licensed.
When a Licence Is Needed
The key test is how the officer is supplied. According to GOV.UK's guidance, Find out if you need an SIA licence, you need an SIA licence if the security work is carried out as part of a contract for services, in other words when a security company supplies the officer to you.
In-house staff, employed directly by your business to guard your own premises, do not usually need a licence. So not every person doing security work needs one, but every officer a contractor supplies for licensable work does. If you are unsure whether a role is licensable, the GOV.UK guidance is the place to check.
The Main Licence Types
There are front line licences, for people who carry out the work, and non-front line licences, for managers, supervisors and directors who oversee licensable work without doing it themselves. The front line licence types are:
- Security guarding: guarding premises, property or people against theft, damage or unauthorised access. This covers most static officers and mobile patrols.
- Door supervision: controlling entry to licensed premises such as bars, clubs and venues serving alcohol. A door supervisor licence also covers security guarding work.
- Public space surveillance (CCTV): monitoring CCTV to watch the public or identify people, when supplied under contract.
- Close protection: protecting a person or group from assault or injury.
- Cash and valuables in transit: protecting cash and valuables being moved.
- Key holding: holding keys to premises and responding to alarm activations.
- Vehicle immobilisation: clamping or blocking vehicles where this is still permitted.
According to GOV.UK's Apply for an SIA licence, all SIA licences last 3 years, except vehicle immobiliser licences, which last 1 year. Make sure the licence matches the job: a CCTV licence does not cover door supervision, for example.
Why It Matters to You as a Buyer
Under section 3 of the Private Security Industry Act 2001, working in a licensable role without a licence is a criminal offence, punishable by up to six months in prison, a fine, or both. Beyond the legal risk, an unlicensed officer has not been through the checks and training that the licence requires, which matters when that person holds your keys, works alone at night or deals with members of the public on your behalf. Insurers and clients may also ask you to show that the officers on your site are properly licensed.
How to Check an Officer on the SIA Register
The SIA publishes a public register of licence holders, which you can search on GOV.UK: Check security staff have a licence to work. You can search by the 16-digit licence number, or by surname plus details such as date of birth and role. Checking takes a couple of minutes:
- Ask for the licence. Front line officers should be able to show you their SIA licence card while they are working. It shows their photo, name, licence number, licence type and expiry date.
- Search the SIA register using the 16-digit licence number on the card. If you only have a name, search by surname and add details such as date of birth and role.
- Check the name and photo match the person in front of you.
- Check the licence type matches the role, for example door supervision for controlling entry to a bar.
- Check the status and expiry date. The licence should be active, not suspended, revoked or expired.
It is reasonable to ask your security provider for the names and licence numbers of the officers assigned to your site, so you can check them before they start and when staff change.
Red Flags When Hiring Security
- An officer cannot show a licence card, or says it is "being renewed".
- The name or photo on the card does not match the person, or the register does not match the card.
- The licence type does not match the work, such as a security guard licence for door supervision.
- The provider will not give you officers' licence numbers, or is vague about who will be on site.
- Officers are subcontracted to another company without you being told.
- A price far below other quotes, which can mean corners are being cut on pay, vetting or licensing.
- No written assignment instructions, incident reporting or insurance documents.
For a fuller list of questions to ask, see our checklist for hiring security services. For the company-level checks, see our guide to BS 7858 vetting and SIA approved contractors. For what a licence costs an officer, see our guide to SIA licence costs.
Licensing at Quantum Group
The officers we supply for licensable work, from manned guarding and mobile patrols to keyholding and event security, hold the SIA licence their role requires. Ask us for the licence details of the officers assigned to your site and check them on the register yourself. Contact us for a free site survey and quote.
Training for an SIA Licence
If you want to work in security yourself, our training company runs SIA licence courses, including door supervisor, security guard and CCTV operator training. See SIA training courses at Quantum Academy, or read how to become a security guard in the UK.
FAQs
Do in-house security staff need an SIA licence?
Usually not. GOV.UK's guidance says you need an SIA licence if the work is carried out under a contract for services, which is when a security company supplies officers to a client. Staff employed directly by a business to guard its own premises do not usually need one, although many employers ask for it anyway.
How long does an SIA licence last?
All SIA licences last 3 years, except vehicle immobiliser licences, which last 1 year. Check the expiry date on the card and on the register, because an expired licence is no longer valid.
What happens if a security officer works without a licence?
Working in a licensable role without an SIA licence is a criminal offence under section 3 of the Private Security Industry Act 2001, punishable by up to six months in prison, a fine, or both.
How do I check whether a security officer is licensed?
Ask to see their SIA licence card, then search the SIA register on GOV.UK, Check security staff have a licence to work, using the 16-digit licence number, or the surname plus details such as date of birth. Check that the name and photo match, the licence type fits the role and the licence is active.