Short answer: yes, in most cases. In the UK, anyone supplied under a contract to guard premises or property, hold keys, use CCTV to monitor the public, protect people or work as a door supervisor needs a licence from the Security Industry Authority (SIA). Their employer's directors and managers need one too. The main exception is staff employed directly by the business they protect, but door supervisors at licensed premises always need a licence.
This guide explains which licence covers which job, when the in-house exemption applies, and what you should check before you hire a security company.
What is the SIA?
The Security Industry Authority is the UK regulator for the private security industry. It was set up under the Private Security Industry Act 2001. It does two things that matter to buyers:
- It licenses individuals who carry out security work.
- It runs the voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS), which assesses security companies against a quality standard.
Which security jobs need an SIA licence?
There are two kinds of licence: front line, for people who do the work, and non-front line, for people who manage, supervise or direct it.
| Licence | What it covers | Typical roles |
|---|---|---|
| Security Guarding | Guarding premises or property against damage, theft, unauthorised access or disorder | Static guards, gatehouse officers, mobile patrol officers, alarm responders |
| Door Supervision | Guarding licensed premises such as pubs, clubs and venues. Also covers security guarding | Door staff, event security at licensed venues |
| Public Space Surveillance (CCTV) | Using CCTV to identify or monitor people to guard premises or people. Also covers security guarding | Control room and CCTV operators |
| Close Protection | Guarding people against assault or injury | Bodyguards |
| Cash and Valuables in Transit | Guarding property while it is moved in a secure vehicle | Cash-in-transit crews |
| Key Holding | Keeping, or controlling access to, keys or devices that operate locks | Keyholding staff |
| Non-front line | Managing, supervising or employing people who do licensable work, and directors of security businesses. Also allows key holding | Directors, managers, supervisors |
Most front line licences are photocards that must be worn while working. A Key Holding licence and a non-front line licence are issued as letters instead.
Do in-house security staff need a licence?
Usually not. If a business employs its own security staff directly, those staff generally do not need an SIA licence for guarding work. Door supervision at licensed premises is the exception: it needs a licence whether the staff are in-house or contracted.
The exemption only covers people employed by the business they protect. As soon as staff are supplied by a contractor, agency or another company, they need the right licence. That includes mobile patrol officers and keyholding and alarm response staff.
Is a licence needed for keyholding and alarm response?
Yes, when it is provided as a contracted service. The SIA treats holding keys for someone else as licensable work. In practice, a responder who holds your keys and attends alarm activations will usually hold a Security Guarding licence, which covers guarding the site once they arrive, as well as being covered for key holding.
If you currently ask a member of staff to attend out-of-hours alarms, they are covered by the in-house exemption, but you still carry the health and safety risk of sending them alone at night. Read more in our guide to local keyholding and alarm response.
What happens if a security company uses unlicensed staff?
Both the individual and the business can be prosecuted under the Private Security Industry Act 2001:
- Working without a licence (section 3) carries up to six months in prison and a fine.
- Supplying unlicensed security operatives (section 5) can carry up to five years in prison and an unlimited fine.
For a buyer, the bigger practical risk is that unlicensed staff may also be untrained, unvetted and uninsured, which can affect your own insurance and your duty of care to staff and visitors.
How much does an SIA licence cost and how long does it last?
From 1 April 2026 the SIA licence application fee is £204. Most licences last three years. Holders also have to complete the required licence-linked training first, and many security companies pay for renewals and refresher training for their officers.
How to check a security provider before you sign
- Check individual licences. Ask for the names of officers who will work on your site and check them on the SIA's online register of licence holders.
- Check the company's ACS status. The SIA publishes a register of Approved Contractors. ACS companies are independently assessed every year by a certification body such as SSAIB or NSI.
- Ask about vetting. Officers should be screened to BS 7858, the British Standard for security screening.
- Ask who employs the officers. Directly employed officers are easier to manage and replace than subcontracted labour.
- Ask how attendance is evidenced. GPS-tracked patrols and time-stamped reports show that the work was done.
- Check the right licence for the job. A CCTV operator needs a Public Space Surveillance licence, not just a Security Guarding licence.
If you are writing a formal tender, our free security tender specification builder includes licensing, ACS and vetting requirements you can put straight into your documents.
About SPS Security
SPS Security is a Hull-based security company established in 1992. It is an SIA Approved Contractor, assessed by SSAIB, and every officer it deploys holds the SIA licence for their role. Its directly employed officers provide security guarding, mobile patrols, keyholding, alarm response and remote CCTV monitoring across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire from offices in Hull, Grimsby and Lincoln.
Frequently asked questions
Do mobile patrol officers need an SIA licence?
Yes. Contracted mobile patrol officers guard premises and usually hold keys, so they need a Security Guarding licence.
Does a CCTV operator need an SIA licence?
Yes, if they are contracted to use CCTV to monitor members of the public or identify people. They need a Public Space Surveillance (CCTV) licence.
Do company directors need an SIA licence?
Directors and managers of a business that supplies licensable security staff under contract need a non-front line licence, even if they never work on site themselves.
Is the Approved Contractor Scheme compulsory?
No. ACS is voluntary, but many public sector buyers and larger organisations ask for it in tenders because it shows the company has been independently assessed.
This guide summarises the SIA's published guidance as at October 2026. Check the SIA's website for the latest rules before relying on it for a specific situation.