About the Security Industry Authority

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) is an independent body, setup by the Government under the terms of the Private Security Industry Act 2001. This new law brings into force a licensing system for people working in certain sectors of the private security industry in England and Wales. As well as issuing licences, the SIA is responsible for raising standards of training and professionalism across industry and reassuring the public by preventing unsuitable people from working in the private security industry.

In the future the SIA will also operate an Approved Contractor Scheme. This is a public register of approved security firms who have met the criteria set by the SIA.

When the Licensing will Start

These are the sectors covered by the SIA and the dates when licensing will start in those sectors:

	Door Supervisors, contract and in-house 2004 Wheel-clamping, contract and in-house 2004 Security Guards, contract only 2005 Keyholders, contract only 2005 Security Consultants, contract only 2006 Private Investigators, contract only 2006

Licensing Door Supervisors

Door Supervisors will be the first sector within the private security industry to be licensed.

You will need a licence if you work as a door supervisor and are responsible for security, protection, screening the suitability of people entering premises or dealing with conflict in pubs, clubs and other licensed premises open to the public.

Licensed premises include those defined under the Licensing Act 1964, the Entertainment (Licensing) Act 1967, the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982, the London Government Act 1963 (Licensing of Public Entertainments), and the Licensing Act 2003.

Anyone involved in door supervision whether under contract or employed in-house will need a licence.This includes employees, managers, supervisors and directors of security companies.You will need a licence:

• If you work as a door supervisor under contract for a client, or if you work 'in-house';
• If you are a supervisor, manager, director or partner, or a sole trader providing door supervision staff;
• If you are a manager or supervisor under contract who managers doors supervisors who are also under contract.

Remember, it is not your job title that counts, it is the work that you do that may be licensable.

SIA Licensing Dates for Door Supervisors

As there are large numbers of applications to deal with, the introduction of SIA Licensing for door supervisors will be phased in on a regional basis across the country starting with Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Regional role out will also allow the SIA to monitor how well the system is working in practice

The table below shows when SIA Licences are required:*

	1 2 Region Applications will be accepted from SIA Licence required from Hampshire & Isle of Wight 1 March 2004 4 June 2004 South West 1 June 2004 23 August 2004 Wales 14 June 2004 6 September 2004 Midlands 5 July 2004 18 October 2004 North West 9 August 2004 15 November 2004 North East 6 September 2004 16 December 2004 East 4 October 2004 3 January 2005 South East 25 October 2004 28 February 2005 London 3 January 2005 11 April 2005

The earliest date that you can apply for a licence in a particular region is shown in column 1. So, for instance if you work in Basingstoke applications will be accepted from 1 March 2004. By 4 June 2004, you must have your SIA licence to continue to work as a door supervisor.

* Please note that the introduction of licensing dates may be subject to change
In such cases the SIA will publicise any alterations made.

It will be against the law to work as a door supervisor without a SIA licence after the dates shown in column 2. Locally issued licences, badges and registration schemes will no longer be recognised.

If your current licence expires before the date in column 2 and you have not obtained an SIA licence, you will still need a valid local authority or police licence/badge where these are required.

If your current licence expires and you have obtained an SIA licence before the date shown in column 2 you may be able to use your SIA licence to satisfy the requirements of the local authority or police. But check this with whoever currently issues local licences.

It will take between 4-6 weeks for an application to be processed. You would therefore ensure that applications are requested as soon as possible after the dates shown in column 1.

If you are successful with your application, the licence will be granted for 3 years. We will contact you before the expiry date of your SIA licence to remind you that your licence is due for renewal.

To get this approval qualification you will probably need to attend a two part training course and pass two exams. In some cases you may only need to pass the exams. The course will be delivered over 4 days or during weekends and/or evenings. The total training time will be a minimum of 30 hours including the two exams.

Training is delivered in two parts as follows:

	Part 1 Role and responsibilities of a door supervisor (15 hours) This covers: Appropriate behaviour for door supervisors Civil and criminal law Searching and arresting procedures Drugs awareness Recording incidents and crime scene preservation Licensing law Equal opportunities and discrimination Health and Safety at work Emergency procedures

	Part 2 Communications Skills and Conflict Management (15 hours) This includes: How to refuse entry and how to eject that reduces risk of conflict Identifying the types of incidents inside a venue and how to deal with them Understanding the law about arrest

Training Recognised by the SIA

If you already have training qualifications in door supervision you may not have to undertake any more training. For instance, if you have a British Institute of Innkeeping Awarding Body (BIIAB) award, both Stages 1 and 2 in Door Supervision, (excluding First Aid and Physical Intervention) this qualification will be recognised by an SIA awarding body for licensing purposes if taken during the last 3 years.
No further training or exam is required.

	EXISTING QUALIFICATION/AWARD HELD by door supervisors AWARD DATE Security Training REQUIRED SIA EXAM REQUIRED British Institute of Innkeeping (BIIAB) both Parts 1 and 2 in Door Supervision Awarded since the 1 January 2001 None None British Institute of Inkeeping (BIIAB) both Parts 1 and 2 in Door Supervision Awarded since the 1 January 2001 None Parts 1 and 2 British Institute of Inkeeping (BIIAB) Part 1 only in Door Supervision Awarded since the 1 January 2001 Part 2 Part 2 British Institute of Inkeeping (BIIAB) Part 1 only in Door Supervision Awarded since the 1 January 2001 Part 2 Parts 1 and 2 NCFE both Stages 1 and 2 in Door Supervision Awarded since the 1 January 2001 None Part 2 NCFE both Stages 1 and 2 in Door Supervision Awarded since the 1 January 2001 None Parts 1 and 2 NCFE Stage 1 only in Door Supervision Awarded since the 1 January 2001 Part 2 Part 2 NCFE Stage 1 only in Door Supervision Awarded since the 1 January 2001 Part 2 Parts 1 and 2 SITO/NOCN Award in Door Supervision Awarded since the 1 January 2001 Part 2 Part 2 SITO/NOCN Award in Door Supervision Awarded since the 1 January 2001 Part 2 Parts 1 and 2 Local Authority or Police Authority Registration Licence Awarded since the 1 January 2001 Part 2 Parts 1 and 2 Local Authority or Police Authority Registration Licence Awarded since the 1 January 2001 Parts 1 and 2 Parts 1 and 2 All other Door Supervisors and new entrants N/A Parts 1 and 2 Parts 1 and 2