Why using a counterfeit SIA license dangerous?

You must always use an SIA license badge that has been approved by the SIA specifically for you as you are fully qualified security officer. Using false documentations or false ID such as an SIA license is an offence under the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981 and can come with a maximum penalty of six months in prison and a potential fine of £5,000.

In a recent example of using a fake SIA badge, a Door Supervisor from Chester was handed a 12-month community order with an unpaid work requirement while also ordered to pay costs and victim surcharges after being found guilty of working with a forged SIA licence. The fraudulent Door Supervisor was found to have a fake SIA licence after concerned management checked his licence number using the licence checker on the SIA website, and called in an SIA regional investigator when they realised that there was a problem.

When you use a fake SIA license, you are putting the safety and wellbeing of the public at risk, as you have not received the correct training and qualification. As part of your qualification, you undergo physical intervention training, and Emergency First Aid training, without those skills not only puts the individual at risk of harm, but also harms the very people that a SIA licensed Door Supervisor has been trained and employed to protect.

Criminal offences

The Private Security Industry Act 2001 made certain activities illegal, so if you do them you are breaking the law.

You will be breaking the law if you do any of the following:

• engaging in licensable conduct without a licence [Section 3(1)]
• contravening licence conditions [Section 9(4)]
• obstructing SIA officials or those with delegated authority, or failing to respond to a request for information [Section 19(5)]
• making false statements to the SIA [Section 22(1)]
• employing unlicensed persons in licensable conduct [Section 5(1)]
• using unlicensed vehicle immobilisers [Section 6(1)]
• falsely claiming approved contractor status [Section 16(2)]

If you break the law SIA can:

• issue you with a written warning, which can be taken into account in future licensing or enforcement decisions
• (if you are a business) issue you with an improvement notice
• revoke or suspend your licence
• prosecute you – if found guilty you can be fined and/or imprisoned
• seek to confiscate your assets under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002

Prosecutions

SIA can prosecute you for the offences listed above. SIA can also prosecute you for other offences that could have a detrimental impact on the industry – for example fraud, forgery and counterfeiting, or offences under the Identity Documents Act 2010.

Find out who SIA are prosecuting or read about who SIA have prosecuted.

Read SIA enforcement report to find out how many people SIA are investigating.

Enforcement operations

SIA conduct enforcement operations with the police, local authorities and other government agencies. SIA may lead the operations or SIA may assist in operations that are led by others.

Read SIA enforcement report for details of our recent enforcement operations.

SIA powers of entry and inspection

SIA investigators are legally allowed to enter, at reasonable times, any premises you own or occupy. You are legally required provide any documents or other information SIA investigators may ask for in connection with their investigations. The authority to enter your places of work or to demand information from you can be delegated to individuals who do not work directly for the SIA.