SIA Licence

Security Management

It is never a surprise when dealing with peoples’ views of Security Management staff in the UK. For most people, the only time they ever come across members of the security industry is on a Friday or Saturday night when they are out having a good time. Indeed, a lot of people ask “how can you train to be in the security industry”?

Gone are the days when anyone can set up a Security Management firm call themselves a Bouncer. In 2001 a piece of legislation was introduced called the Private Security Industry Act. It was bought in to regulate the Private Security Industry which at that point had little regulation.

What does this mean.
This legislation means that Security Management Firms can now offer “SIA Approved” Security Services throughout the UK.

Anyone in the security industry needs to have an SIA licence to work, from close protection bodyguards to door staff – even Traffic Wardens and Car Clampers (ask for their licence details in the unfortunate event of coming back to your car as they are writing your ticket!

If a Security Firm is offering “approved SIA security” they are demonstrating that they are licensed to provide a range of services to events and clients.

Private approved SIA security firms are rewarded for their training programs which require them to be constantly monitoring and updating their employees training programs. This means a better service for customers clients and people attending events.

Employees of SIA Approved Security Management Firms are trained to deal with conflict management, crowd control, verbal and physical abuse, a lot of the training deals with diffusing potential problems before they arise – ever been to a gig or an event and you are queuing to get in but the line stops for a couple of minutes? It’s more than likely that members of the security staff have noted a potential “blocking up” of the doors and have allowed it to disperse before allowing the entry to resume.

SIA Approved security firms not only have to train their staff to the highest standards, but they also have to hit and meet targets. When you are looking to hire security, ask them about what they expect from the job, don’t be shy in asking any questions, like most companies who you are going to do business with, they want to provide you the best service possible and will quite happily answer any questions you have.

When you hire security for whatever event it is that you are putting on, make sure that you have an SIA Approved security firm – this will greatly stack the odds in your favour of a smooth and successful event!