As has been announced previously, requirements for applying for an SIA license will be changing effective April 2021.
In order to ensure that new applicants and existing license holders will have comparable knowledge and expertise, the SIA has been reviewing how best to bring current holder up to speed. As part of this process, they announced on Wednesday 2nd September 2020, that they were launching a public consultation on top-up training for security officers and door supervisors.
The SIA stated that the top-up training will include parts of the new additions to licence linked qualifications that will go live next year. This will mean that from October 2021, existing security officer and door supervisor license holders will need to complete top-up training before they will be able to renew their license.
Security Officers will be required to take Emergency First Aid At Work, Knowledge of Physical Intervention and Updated Terror Threat Awareness top-up training.
Door Supervisors will be required to take Emergency First Aid At Work, Use of Equipment, Updated Terror Threat Awareness and Physical intervention skills (knowledge and practical) top-up training.
In order to inform their requirements, the SIA is inviting industry stakeholders to take part in the public consultation which will run until September 25th 2020 and can be found here.
“The new licence-linked qualifications will better equip operatives to work in the private security industry. They reflect what we have learned from extensive industry consultation and engagement.”
“By introducing this top-up training we will be bringing the skills of existing licence holders up to date.
“Our aim is to improve the basic skills, knowledge, and understanding of security operatives so that they can do their jobs more effectively. This will help to improve community safety and to protect the public in the UK.
“A key element of our role as the regulator is to work with the industry to raise standards in private security. The new requirements will help achieve this,” said SIA, Head of Quality and Standards, Tony Holyland.