SIA inspections uncover public safety risks in night-time economy

The inspection process covered six regions: the North (Bolton, Huddersfield and Durham), the East (Lincoln, Chesterfield and Sheffield), the West and South West (Gloucester and Southampton), Wales (Wrexham), the South East (Southend-on-Sea and Milton Keynes), London (Soho, Covent Garden and Camden) and Scotland (Glasgow and Edinburgh).

While most operatives were found to be correctly licensed, investigators identified six suspected Section 3 offences under the Private Security Industry Act 2001. These included one individual suspected of using a counterfeit licence, one working while their licence was suspended and another suspected of working on someone else’s licence who fled the scene while speaking with investigators.

Inspectors also found venue staff undertaking or managing licensable activity without holding an SIA licence, which is a criminal offence. There were multiple suspected Section 9 offences relating to breaches of licence conditions. These included failing to display an SIA licence while on duty and failing to notify the SIA of a change of address. Licence condition breaches are serious and also criminal offences.

Unlicensed security operatives present a clear risk to public safety. The SIA’s licencing regime exists to ensure that those working in licensable roles have been subject to the required checks, vetting and training. Where individuals fail to follow the rules, the public cannot have confidence that those safeguards are in place.

During the inspections, officers also spoke with security operatives about wider public safety responsibilities (including violence against women and girls, spiking and identifying and safeguarding vulnerable individuals).

Protecting the public 

Pete Easterbrook, executive director of inspections and enforcement at the SIA, said: “Where we identify unlicensed activity, counterfeit licences, suspended licences or breaches of licence conditions, we will act. These are not minor technical issues. Licensing is a safeguard that helps to protect the public. Where that safeguard is bypassed or ignored, there’s a clear public safety risk.”

Easterbrook continued: “Supplying unlicensed operatives is a serious matter. Businesses must ensure that the people they supply are legally entitled to work in licensable roles. Almost all of the issues identified on our inspections could have been prevented through stronger management oversight and a clearer understanding of legal responsibilities. Effective supervision isn’t optional. It’s fundamental to operating lawfully.”

In conclusion, Easterbrook noted: “Our proactive and intelligence-led activity will not stop. We will continue to rigorously inspect individuals, businesses and training providers alike in order to keep the public safe and protect the integrity of the regulatory regime.”

Wider inspection regime

The SIA undertakes both intelligence-led inspections and proactive inspection activity. The proactive inspection process outlined focused primarily on individuals working in the night-time economy. It forms part of the SIA’s wider inspection regime, which also covers security businesses and training providers.

SIA teams are now contacting those businesses supplying the unlicensed individuals identified during the inspections to determine their liability. Supplying an unlicensed security operative is a serious criminal offence and the SIA will take action where appropriate.