SIA Licensing Explained: What to Check Before Hiring a Security Guard in London

Any security guard working in the UK is legally required to hold an SIA licence for the role they're performing. It's the baseline, not optional, and any provider offering you an unlicensed officer is breaking the law. But an SIA licence on its own doesn't tell you everything you need to know before signing a contract - here's what it actually covers, and what a genuinely reputable provider adds on top.

What the SIA actually licenses

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) is the statutory regulator for the UK's private security industry, set up under the Private Security Industry Act 2001. It issues licences for specific roles, and the licence categories most relevant to property and corporate security are:

• Security Guarding - static and mobile officers protecting people, property, and premises

• Door Supervision - controlling entry and managing conduct at licensed premises and events

• CCTV (Public Space Surveillance) - operating camera systems monitoring public or semi-public space

• Close Protection - personal protection for individuals facing an elevated risk

How to verify a licence yourself

The SIA maintains a free public register where anyone can check whether a licence number is real, current, and valid for the role being claimed. Before signing with any provider, ask for the licence number of every officer assigned to your site - not just a sample - and check it yourself rather than taking a provider's word for it. A provider with nothing to hide will hand this over without hesitation.

What an SIA licence does - and doesn't - guarantee

An SIA licence confirms an identity check, a criminal record check, and completion of mandatory training for the role. What it doesn't guarantee is ongoing conduct, employment history, or right-to-work status - those sit outside the licence itself. That's why reputable providers layer BS7858 vetting on top: verified employment history, right-to-work checks, and a deeper background screening process than the licence alone requires.

What else to ask a provider for

• SIA licence numbers for every officer assigned to your site, confirmed on the public register

• BS7858 pre-employment screening, not just the SIA minimum

• Public liability insurance, with evidence you can actually see

• A named point of contact for supervision and incident escalation - not just a call centre number

If a provider can't produce all of this without pushback, that's worth treating as a warning sign rather than a formality. Get in touch and we'll happily walk you through our own licensing, vetting, and insurance before you commit to anything.