The Security Industry Authority is calling for views on whether a generic SIA license should be introduced. At present, SIA license cards are specific to each sector. Operatives working in more than one sector may need to be issued with multiple licenses. The two options set out in the consultation are: 1) To introduce a single generic license card covering all of the licensable activities that the holder is qualified to undertake; or 2) To continue to issue sector-specific and multiple licenses.
If option one were introduced, all license cards would look the same. Information on the licensable activities the holder is legally able to undertake would be accessed through the publicly available online register. The potential benefits are that a single license would reduce the need to hold and display multiple licenses, which would reduce burden for the holder and may also lower the cost of holding more than one license. Anyone wishing to give their views should complete the response form available on the SIA website by Friday 18 December.
SIA director of strategy and corporate services Hazel Russell said: “We are always looking for ways to reduce the administrative burdens on license holders. We hope this consultation generates a lot of interest which could lead eventually to improvements to the way that we license individual operatives working in the UK private security industry.”