When you arrange contracted security cover, the duties matter as much as the job title. The Security Industry Authority (SIA) licenses specific activities, so a licence must be current and suitable for the work being booked.
GOV.UK says you must check that a person has the correct security licence before hiring them for private security work. The Private Security Industry Act 2001 also sets out offences connected with unlicensed security work and the use of an unlicensed security operative.
Start with a clear description of the work
Write down what the person will actually do. For example, guarding property, supervising a door at licensed premises, monitoring public space CCTV and controlling keys are different activities for licensing purposes.
The SIA guidance explains that a door supervisor licence also permits security guarding activity. A security guard licence does not permit door supervision at licensed premises or public space surveillance work. If the duties change, check the licence again against the revised role.
Use the official SIA register
Ask for the operative’s 16-digit SIA licence number, then use the GOV.UK service for checking a private security licence. The service links to the SIA register and lets you check whether the person holds a licence for the stated role.
Match the register result to the person and the planned work. Check the licence status and the activities it covers. The physical card has security features, but the current register result is the practical check for licence status.
Keep a simple booking record
As a matter of good practice, keep a dated record of the check with the booking information. Record the person’s name, licence number, the role checked and the result. This helps the person responsible for the site confirm what was checked without collecting unrelated personal information.
Licensing depends on the activity and the working arrangement. Some in-house work and specific situations are treated differently. If the position is unclear, use the SIA’s guidance on when a licence is needed before confirming the assignment.
Before confirming West Yorkshire cover
- Describe the site, hours and duties accurately.
- Identify which activities may require an SIA licence.
- Check the operative on the official register.
- Confirm that the licence covers the planned work.
- Record the date and outcome of the check.
NJProtection & Security Services provides flexible freelance security cover across West Yorkshire. Its current services are listed on the NJProtection services page. An enquiry should set out the required duties so the proposed cover can be considered against the role.