SIA Door Supervisor Study Guide 2026

The SIA licence

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) was set up by the Private Security Industry Act 2001. It is accountable to the Home Office and licenses people who work in security across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

• You must be 18 or over.
• The SIA checks your identity, your criminal record, your right to work and your licence-linked qualification.
• A front-line licence lasts 3 years.
• When working, wear your licence where it can be seen, as your licence conditions require.
• Tell the SIA about changes such as a new address or a conviction.

Working in a licensable role without a licence is an offence under section 3 of the Act, with up to 6 months in prison, a fine, or both. Using unlicensed staff is an offence under section 5. The SIA also runs the voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme for security companies.

The qualification and its exams

The course must last at least 7 days, or 6 days if up to 8 hours of self-study is used.

Before training, you need a first aid or emergency first aid certificate valid for at least another 12 months. A door supervisor licence also allows you to work as a security guard.

All assessment is in English and/or Welsh, and learners are expected to have good English (about CEFR level B2). In Scotland the equivalent qualification is at SCQF Level 6.

Licensing law

Where a premises licence requires door staff, they must hold an SIA licence. Key offences under the Licensing Act 2003 include:

• Section 140: knowingly allowing disorderly conduct on licensed premises.
• Section 141: knowingly selling alcohol to a person who is drunk.
• Section 143: a drunk or disorderly person failing to leave when asked by a police officer or authorised staff, or trying to enter after being told not to.
• Sections 146 and 149: selling alcohol to under-18s, and buying alcohol for them.

Entry, ID checks and searching

Check that the photo, date of birth and security features on ID all match the person. PASS-accredited cards carry a hologram. If you are not satisfied, refuse entry politely and record it.

Searches rely on consent as a condition of entry. Search people of the same sex where possible, in view of CCTV, and ask them to empty pockets and bags themselves. A customer who refuses can be refused entry.

Count customers in and out so the venue stays within its safe capacity, keep queues orderly and keep exits clear.

Drugs, spiking and vulnerable people

The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 puts controlled drugs into Classes A, B and C. Cocaine, heroin and ecstasy are Class A. Under section 8, people managing premises commit an offence if they knowingly allow drug supply there.

1. Seize suspected drugs if your venue policy allows.
2. Seal and label them in front of a witness.
3. Record what was found, when and from whom.
4. Hand them to the police as soon as possible.

If a customer suddenly seems very drunk or confused after little alcohol, suspect spiking. Stay with them, tell a manager, get medical help if needed and report it. Schemes such as Ask for Angela let customers ask staff for help discreetly. Watch for people trying to leave with someone very drunk whom they did not arrive with.

Ejection and physical intervention

Ask the person to leave, explain why and give them time to go. Most people comply. Think about their welfare: do not put a vulnerable person out alone into danger.

Physical intervention is a last resort. It must be lawful, necessary and proportionate, and every use must be reported.

• Positional asphyxia can kill. Avoid holding people face down or putting weight on the chest, back or neck.
• Risk is higher if the person is intoxicated, overweight, unwell or has struggled for a long time.
• Signs of acute behavioural disturbance, such as extreme agitation and overheating, are a medical emergency.
• If someone says they cannot breathe or goes limp, release them, call 999 and give first aid.

Law every operative needs

Criminal law deals with offences against the state and can lead to punishment. Guilt must be proved beyond reasonable doubt. Civil law deals with disputes between people or organisations, such as trespass or negligence, and is decided on the balance of probabilities.

• Human Rights Act 1998: brings the European Convention rights into UK law, such as liberty (Article 5) and private life (Article 8).
• Equality Act 2010: protects people from discrimination because of 9 protected characteristics: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.
• UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018: personal data, including notes and images, must be handled lawfully, kept secure and kept no longer than needed. The ICO enforces these rules.

Arrest by a security operative

After an arrest, tell the person they are under arrest and why, keep them safe, hand them to the police as soon as possible and record everything.

Use of force

Any force must be reasonable, necessary and proportionate in the circumstances. In England and Wales, section 3 of the Criminal Law Act 1967 allows reasonable force to prevent crime or make a lawful arrest. Force must stop when the threat stops.

Safety, fire and terrorism: quick review

• Employees must take reasonable care of themselves and others under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
• A fire needs heat, fuel and oxygen. Raise the alarm first, then call 999.
• Extinguisher bands: red water, cream foam, blue powder, black CO2 (electrical), yellow wet chemical (cooking oil).
• UK threat levels: low, moderate, substantial, severe and critical.
• In a weapons attack: Run, Hide, Tell. For suspicious items: HOT and the 4 Cs (Confirm, Clear, Communicate, Control).