Who Are The Security Industry Authority (SIA)?

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) is the statutory organisation responsible for regulating the private security industry in the UK. Established as a non-departmental public body in 2003, the SIA reports to the Home Secretary under the terms of the Private Security Industry Act 2001.

The two duties of the SIA are

1. To regulate the compulsory licensing of individuals who undertake designated activities within the private security industry
2. To manage a voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme, which measures private security service suppliers against independently established assessment criteria.

SIA also:

• set and approve standards of conduct and training
• monitor the activities of people operating within the private security industry
• make recommendations on ways to improve standards in the private security industry

SIA were established in 2003, and they started licensing people in 2004, furthermore they started approving companies in 2006.

SIA Licensable activities (sectors)

The activities defined as licensable by the Act are:

• Cash and Valuables in Transit (CVIT)
• Close Protection (CP)
• Door Supervision (DS)
• Public Space Surveillance (CCTV)
• Security Guarding (SG)
• Vehicle Immobilisation (VI)
• Key Holding (KH)