Category: Legislation & Accreditation

By Abbey Petkar, Managing Director, Magenta Security – and elected member of the S12 Security Guarding Leadership Group I want to be direct about where the information in this article comes from. As a member of the S12 Security Guarding Leadership Group – a collective of twelve senior private security executives that works directly with the Home Office, the Security Industry Authority and the Security Minister – I have been part of the conversations shaping mandatory business licensing policy in […]

Security proposals are dense with accreditation logos. NSI Gold, SIA Approved Contractor, SafeContractor, Cyber Essentials, ISO 9001 – they appear as a reassuring block of compliance evidence. What most procurement teams cannot answer, is what each one actually covers, what the audit process involves and what the differences within each scheme mean for contract risk. This article provides that clarity. NSI Gold – what it is and why the level matters The National Security Inspectorate (NSI) is the UK’s leading […]

“We’re SIA Approved Contractor accredited.” You’ll see this in almost every security company’s marketing. What you won’t usually see is what it actually means, or what the differences within the scheme look like. This article gives you the plain-English version. What is the SIA Approved Contractor Scheme? The Security Industry Authority is the government regulator for the UK private security industry. The Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) is a voluntary quality framework that security companies can apply to join. Companies that […]

Licensing and compliance aren’t just formalities in the world of private security, they’re what build trust, professionalism and peace of mind. They’re the backbone of an industry that protects your people, assets, property and your organisation’s reputation. The Security Industry Authority (SIA) oversees this vital work under the Private Security Industry Act 2001, making it a legal requirement for anyone working in security to hold a valid SIA licence.  That includes every security guard, door supervisor, CCTV operator and close […]

The Security Industry Authority has continued to play an important role for regulating the private security industry as per the Private Security Industry Act 2001. As an independent body they have been instrumental in reducing criminality, raise standards and recognise quality service across the United Kingdom but they quite simply have not achieved enough. Why was such a body set up in the first place, with two such differing tasks: to ensure compulsory licensing of individuals undertaking designated activities within […]