The Security Industry Authority (SIA), a Home Office body under the Private Security Industry Act 2001, licenses the UK private security industry. A licence is legally required to carry out licensable activities — door supervision, security guarding, public space surveillance (CCTV), close protection, cash & valuables in transit, key holding (and vehicle immobilisation in Northern Ireland). Crucially, any licence can be checked on the public SIA register — a single, legally-required, publicly-verifiable credential, which makes it the cleanest verification target in the platform.
Entry requirements & restrictions
- Licence-linked qualification required before applying (front line licences)
- Security guarding, door supervision, close protection, CCTV, cash and valuables in transit, vehicle immobiliser; not key holding or non-front line[3]
What it costs to qualify
- Fee for additional licences in same application (50% discount)
- £102 each additional licence; vehicle immobiliser always £204; discount rules changed 1 June 2026[2]
Sources & verification
- An SIA licence is legally required for licensable security work and any licence is checkable on the public SIA register, source, Last verified 2026-06-09
- Fee for additional licences in same application (50% discount): £102 each additional licence; vehicle immobiliser always £204; discount rules changed 1 June 2026, source, Last verified 2026-10-15 🔶
- Licence-linked qualification required before applying (front line licences): Security guarding, door supervision, close protection, CCTV, cash and valuables in transit, vehicle immobiliser; not key holding or non-front line, source, Last verified 2026-10-15
Verified reference information, not professional, medical, legal or careers advice. Regulations change; always check the cited primary source before relying on it.