The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has today (22 February 2024) launched a public consultation on the key principles that will underpin its business approval scheme going forward.

The changes under consideration will signal a significant shift in the way the SIA approves businesses under this scheme. It will also change how standards are defined for security businesses, ensuring public protection is at the heart of the new scheme.

The SIA currently approves around 750 security businesses. Within this number, 85 of the largest businesses by turnover account for around 40% of the total UK private security market, employing around 30% of individual SIA licence holders.

The business approval scheme is the main way the SIA can influence improvements to business standards. It is a voluntary, quality-based scheme through which the SIA promotes good practice and improvements in industry standards.

During the past year, the SIA has engaged with key stakeholders and the industry through a series of roadshows and roundtables across the UK to inform its thinking.

The SIA is now seeking views on the principles that will underpin this change. Feedback is encouraged from the private security industry, its customers, representative and other standard-setting bodies, agencies, members of the public and individuals with an interest in public safety.

Steve McCormick, SIA Director of Licensing and Service Delivery, said:

Since the SIA established its approvals scheme in 2006, there have been many changes in terms of customer requirements, an increased demand for private security, and new emerging threats to public safety.

He added:

The growing recognition of the critical role private security plays in public safety means there is a clear need for a new scheme which is grounded in public protection. This is an opportunity to shape how the SIA sets standards for private security businesses to ensure they contribute to public protection and raise industry standards in the years ahead.

The consultation will run for six weeks and will close on 4 April 2024 at 11:59pm.

A summary of responses to this consultation will be published within 12 weeks of it closing.

Subject to the responses, the SIA will hold a further consultation on the proposals for the new business approvals scheme once the detailed design is complete.

To have your say please go to the SIA business approval scheme consultation page.