As we countdown to the end of 2022, we take time to pause and reflect on the past year, the highlights and achievements during what has been a fast and challenging year for all. 2022 marked the start of the end of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK. Large public gatherings, celebrations, festivals, gigs and sporting events became possible again. The Commonwealth Games, Glastonbury, and the Platinum Jubilee are just some of the high-profile examples of the pr...

Zoë Billingham has been appointed as a Non-Executive Director of the SIA. Her appointment is effective from 06 December 2021 and she becomes a member of the Board of the SIA. Her tenure will be for three years. Zoë is a lawyer by background and she brings to the Board a wealth of experience in the oversight of public safety. She has spent much of her career inspecting public services to promote improvement. She was formerly a lead inspector with Her Maj...

Heather Baily QPM, the Security Industry Authority Chair has announced the appointment of Michelle Russell as their new Chief Executive. Michelle Russell has been serving as Acting Chief Executive since October 2020. She joined the SIA as Director of Partnership and Interventions in January 2020, leading the criminal enforcement and regulatory inspection functions. She has over 25 years’ experience of working in regulation and regulatory environments in...

Today, Friday 10 September, the Security industry Authority (SIA) is launching Action Counters Terrorism (ACT) Security e-learning for security professionals. The SIA developed the new training in partnership with the National Counter Terrorism Security Office and the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure. ACT Security is free, specialised training for front line security operatives. The custom-built training provides up-to-date counter-terrorism knowledge to help operatives prepare for and respond to terrorist incidents whils...

Change to the launch date for the new Close Protection qualification The SIA has extended the introduction of the updated Close Protection qualification to 01 April 2022. The new implementation date will allow for full testing of the new skills before they are introduced. They will run a pilot in early 2022 with selected training centres. This will enable those delivering the qualification to provide feedback on the new bespoke physica...

Volume one of the report, which addresses the security arrangements at the Arena on the night of 22 May 2017, has been published today. Our thoughts today are with those who lost loved ones, suffered injuries, and had their lives shattered because of that terrorist attack at the Manchester Arena that night....

Today, 07 June 2021, Heather Baily QPM, starts her new role as the Chair of the Security Industry Authority (SIA). Appointed by the Home Office, her term as Chair will run for three years. As Chair of the Authority Heather Baily will contribute to the overall strategic direction and corporate oversight of the SIA, ensuring with other Authority Members, that the SIA’s Executive Team is held to account for discharging its duties effectively and to the hig...

*Press Release* A Lancashire company director who provided unlicensed security staff to a school has had his case referred to a higher court for sentencing. Martin Coe, the former director of Evolution Security Services NW, was found guilty following a two-day trial at Blackpool Magistrates’ Court on 05 and 06 October.  The prosecution was brought by the Security Industry Authority (SIA). SIA investigators disc...

*Press Release from the SIA* The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has appointed Michelle Russell as Acting Chief Executive. Michelle will take up the role on October 19 following Ian Todd's departure from the SIA. Michelle is currently the SIA's Director of Inspections and Enforcement. Immediately prior to joining the SIA Michelle was a Director at the charity regulator, the Charity Commission.  Elizabeth Franc...

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 ...