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
| Unit | Multiple-choice exam | Pass mark | Other assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Principles of Working in the Private Security Industry | 72 questions, 110 minutes | 70% | Internally assessed activity based on an incident report |
| Principles of Working as a Security Officer | 60 questions, 90 minutes | 70% | Practical: searching and using communication devices |
| Application of Conflict Management | 20 questions, 30 minutes | 70% | Practical scenario |
The course must last at least 5 days, or 4 days if up to 8 hours of self-study is used.
Before training, you need a first aid or emergency first aid certificate that is valid for at least another 12 months. If you are renewing a licence, or held one in the last 3 years, you take the refresher qualification.
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.
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
| Nation | Power | Key points |
|---|---|---|
| England and Wales | PACE 1984, section 24A | Indictable offences only. The arrest must be necessary to stop injury, damage or the person making off, and a police officer cannot reasonably do it instead. |
| Northern Ireland | PACE (NI) Order 1989, Article 26A | Similar to section 24A. |
| Scotland | Common law | Generally for a serious crime the person has seen being committed. |
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.
Whether force is reasonable depends on the threat, the people involved and the options available.
- The threat faced
- Whether force was needed at that moment
- Proportionality: force in balance with the threat
- Other options that could have been used
- The aftermath and the duty of care
Health, safety, fire and emergencies
The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 puts duties on employers and employees. Employees must take reasonable care of themselves and others and co-operate with their employer. Serious injuries and dangerous occurrences may need reporting under RIDDOR.
| Sign colour | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Red | Prohibition (do not) or fire equipment |
| Yellow | Warning of a hazard |
| Blue | Mandatory (you must) |
| Green | Safe condition, escape route or first aid |
A fire needs heat, fuel and oxygen. Take one away and the fire goes out.
- Heat
- Fuel
- Oxygen
| Extinguisher (band colour) | Main use |
|---|---|
| Water (red) | Class A: wood, paper, textiles |
| Foam (cream) | Class A and B: solids and flammable liquids |
| Dry powder (blue) | Many classes, including gases |
| CO2 (black) | Electrical fires |
| Wet chemical (yellow) | Class F: cooking oils and fats |
Fire safety law is the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 in England and Wales and the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 in Scotland, and Northern Ireland has its own fire safety laws. If you find a fire, raise the alarm first, then call 999 and follow the fire plan.
In an evacuation, guide people to the nearest safe exit and the assembly point, and report anyone missing.
- The alarm sounds
- Help people who need assistance
- Leave by the nearest safe exit
- Go to the assembly point
- Count everyone and report anyone missing
The security officer's role
Security officers protect people, property and premises. Most of the job is to observe, deter and report. Assignment instructions tell you the duties, procedures and contacts for each site.
Being visible, watching carefully and reporting quickly prevents most problems.
- Observe: watch people, places and activity carefully
- Deter: a visible, alert officer discourages crime
- Report: pass on what you see by radio, phone or written report
Access control
- Check photo ID carefully: photo, expiry date and signs of tampering.
- Follow visitor procedures: confirm identity, check with the host, issue a pass and sign them in and out.
- Watch for tailgating through controlled doors.
- Use a key register to sign keys out and in, and check deliveries against paperwork.
Searching
Security officers have no general legal power to search. Searches rely on consent, usually as a condition of entry. If someone refuses, you may refuse entry and record it. Search people of the same sex where possible, in view of CCTV or a witness, and ask people to open bags and remove items themselves.
A good search is done with consent, by a same-sex officer where possible, with a witness or CCTV, and is recorded.
- Ask for permission (consent)
- Use a searcher of the same sex
- Have a witness or CCTV watching
- Search carefully and systematically
- Record the search
Patrols
Patrols deter crime and find hazards. Vary routes and times, check fire exits, doors, windows and alarms, and use check calls when working alone. If you find signs of a break-in, do not enter alone: call the police and the control room.
Changing your route and timing makes patrols hard to predict.
- A predictable route that follows the same loop every time
- An irregular route that changes its order and timing
Records
Pocket notebook entries are in time order, in ink, with no gaps, and mistakes crossed out with one line and initialled.
- Date
- Time
- Location
- Details of what happened
- Signature
Write notes and incident reports as soon as possible. Record facts: who, what, when, where, why and how. Your records may be used by the police, insurers and courts.
Terrorism awareness and safeguarding
| UK threat level | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Low | An attack is highly unlikely |
| Moderate | An attack is possible but not likely |
| Substantial | An attack is likely |
| Severe | An attack is highly likely |
| Critical | An attack is highly likely in the near future |
- In a weapons attack: Run, Hide, Tell.
- For unattended items use HOT: is it Hidden, Obviously suspicious, or not Typical for the place?
- For a suspicious item use the 4 Cs: Confirm, Clear, Communicate, Control. Never touch it.
- Report hostile reconnaissance, such as someone filming security or asking unusual questions.
Watch for vulnerable people: those who are very drunk, alone, young, unwell or being targeted. Be alert to exploitation such as county lines. If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.
Conflict management
Betari's box (the attitude and behaviour cycle) shows that your attitude and behaviour affect the other person's, and theirs affect yours. A calm, positive approach makes a calm response more likely.
Tension builds, peaks and falls. Early, calm communication can stop it reaching a crisis.
- Calm until a trigger
- Escalation: tension rises
- Crisis point
- De-escalation: tension falls
- Recovery: things settle
- Watch for warning signs such as clenched fists, a raised voice and staring.
- Keep a reactionary gap and stand slightly side-on with open hands.
- Use active listening, show empathy and explain the reasons for rules.
- Offer choices and let the person save face.
- Know your exit routes, call for help early and keep assessing risk (dynamic risk assessment).
- Afterwards, report the incident and take part in any debrief.