A selection of SIA Licence Misconceptions
“I have my licence – it hasn’t arrived, yet I can still start work.”
This is true, if you have had confirmation from the SIA that your licence has been granted, and you are waiting for it to arrive, you can legally begin your role in a licensable activity. The SIA state that you are licensed from the moment they have made a decision on your application.
“But I thought I had to wear my SIA licence at all times.”
This is also true. However the SIA rules allow for an exception such as that above. A person must, “wear the licence where it can be seen at all times when engaging in designated licensable activity unless you have reported it lost or stolen, or it is in our possession.”
While you are waiting for the license to arrive it is deemed within ‘our posession’ from the viewpoint of the SIA.
In this situation, if you decide to work before the licence arrives, you must print out your entry on the register of licence holders and have it on your person along with photographic ID.
That way, should you be subject to an SIA/police spot check, you will not be penalized. (The same would apply if you have lost your SIA licence or recently had it stolen and have applied for a replacement.)
“No-one at the SIA has an SIA licence – They have no clue what it means to work in the Security industry”
This is classed as fiction by the SIA, and in all honesty, an organization of such size, it is unlikely that no one has a history working within the industry.
However, the important fact to determine is to what extent does the organization understand those that do have licences and work within it.
The SIA would say they understand very well indeed. There justification is that SIA staff members are not security operatives, and that recruitment is based on bringing in the best personnel to perform the duties relevant to the role.
Investigators are recruited from the police or from government agencies that have an enforcement function. I.T. professionals are recruited with relevant background experience of the role; the same goes for project managers, administrators and so on.
However, that doesn’t necessarily convince the front-line workers who feel the SIA is out of touch of what it means to actually be a security officer.
A better representation in the higher ranks of someone who does know, surely would not go amiss.
“I don’t have to wear my actual SIA licence, a photocopy will do.”
Untrue – You have to wear the actual licence.
As stated above, a licence must be worn at all times, (unless lost, stolen or in SIA possession).
If you have your licence yet wear a photocopy, (some licence holders chose to do this in order to keep the original safe), or choose not to wear any identification at all, you could have your licence revoked or suspended.
If you are especially unlucky you could be prosecuted. Contravening one of your licence conditions is a criminal offence under Section 9 of the Private Security Industry Act 2001.
The only circumstances you do not have to wear a licence is when it has been lost, stolen or in SIA possession. As already mentioned, in this situation you need to carry a printout of your licence entry in the registry along with some form of photographic identification.
If you have any questions about the SIA licence, or need some clarity on a related issue, please feel free to leave a message below.
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