If your event requires security staff, you are entering regulated territory. The Security Industry Authority (SIA) regulates the private security industry in the UK, and anyone carrying out licensable security activities must hold a valid SIA licence. As an event organiser, understanding these requirements is not optional. Getting it wrong can result in criminal prosecution, fines, and serious reputational damage.
This guide explains what SIA licensing means for event organisers, which roles require a licence, how to verify licences, and what your legal obligations are.
What is the SIA?
The Security Industry Authority was established under the Private Security Industry Act 2001. It is the regulatory body responsible for licensing individuals who carry out designated security activities in England, Wales, and Scotland. Northern Ireland has its own arrangements. The SIA's role is to ensure that security operatives are properly trained, vetted, and fit to carry out their duties.
SIA licensing applies to the private security industry. It does not apply to the police, local authority enforcement officers, or in-house security employed directly by certain types of organisation (though the rules on in-house exemptions are narrow and specific).
Which event roles require an SIA licence?
The key distinction for event organisers is between security staff and stewards. These are different roles with different legal requirements, and confusing them is one of the most common compliance failures in the events industry.
Door supervision licence
Anyone who controls or monitors entry to licensed premises, or who guards against disorder or unauthorised access at an event, requires a Door Supervision (DS) licence. This is the most common SIA licence type at events. Door supervisors can conduct searches, refuse entry, manage ejections, and use reasonable force where necessary. The DS licence requires completion of an approved Level 2 qualification in Door Supervision, which includes conflict management, physical intervention, and legal knowledge. Applicants must also pass a criminal record check.
Security guarding licence
A Security Guard (SG) licence is required for activities such as guarding property, patrolling sites, and monitoring CCTV. At events, SG-licensed staff might guard backstage areas, artist compounds, cash handling points, or equipment stores. The training and vetting requirements are similar to the DS licence but with a focus on guarding rather than crowd management.
Close protection licence
If you are providing personal protection for artists, VIPs, or other individuals at your event, the close protection operative must hold a Close Protection (CP) licence. This requires a more extensive qualification and is the highest level of SIA licensing.
Stewards do not need an SIA licence
Stewards who guide crowds, provide information, assist with evacuations, and observe and report do not require an SIA licence, provided they are not carrying out licensable activities. The moment a steward is asked to search bags, refuse entry based on behaviour, physically intervene in a situation, or guard a restricted area, they are carrying out a licensable activity and must hold the appropriate licence.
This distinction is critical. If you deploy unlicensed staff to carry out licensable activities, both the individual and the organisation can face criminal prosecution. The SIA conducts regular compliance operations at events across the UK, and enforcement action is taken regularly.
How to verify an SIA licence
Every SIA licence holder is issued a licence card that must be displayed visibly while they are working. The card shows the holder's name, photograph, licence number, licence type, and expiry date. As an event organiser, you should check every security operative's licence before they start work.
The SIA provides a free online licence checker tool at sia.homeoffice.gov.uk where you can verify any licence number. This confirms whether the licence is currently active, suspended, or revoked. You should use this tool, not just rely on a visual check of the card, as counterfeit and expired cards do exist.
If you are using a security company or staffing agency, ask them to provide a list of all operatives' licence numbers in advance so you can verify them before the event. Reputable companies will do this as a matter of course.
Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS)
The SIA runs an Approved Contractor Scheme for security companies. ACS-approved companies have been independently audited and meet a set of standards covering management, training, and operational procedures. While ACS approval is not legally required, using an ACS-approved company gives you a higher level of assurance about the quality and compliance of the staff provided.
You can search for ACS-approved companies on the SIA website. For large events or those with complex security requirements, using an ACS-approved company is strongly recommended.
Your legal obligations as an organiser
As the event organiser, you have a duty to ensure that licensable activities at your event are carried out by licensed individuals. This applies whether you employ security staff directly or contract them through a third party. Using a security company does not absolve you of responsibility. If unlicensed individuals are found carrying out licensable activities at your event, you may face enforcement action alongside the company and the individuals involved.
Your obligations include ensuring that all security staff hold valid licences for the activities they will be performing, that licences are checked before the event, that a clear distinction is maintained between licensed security staff and unlicensed stewards, that security staff are deployed in accordance with your event management plan and risk assessment, and that records are kept of all security personnel and their licence numbers.
Training requirements beyond the SIA licence
An SIA licence confirms that an individual has met the minimum training and vetting requirements. For many events, you will want your security team to have additional, event-specific training. This might include familiarisation with the site layout, understanding the event's specific policies on searches, drugs, prohibited items, and age verification, and coordination procedures with stewards, police, and event management.
A thorough pre-event briefing is essential for all security staff, regardless of their experience. Every event is different, and your security team needs to understand the specific plans and expectations for your event. This is particularly important for crowd safety at large-scale events where coordination between multiple teams is critical.
Costs of SIA-licensed staff
SIA-licensed security staff cost more than unlicensed stewards, reflecting the training, licensing, and vetting involved. Rates vary by region and the type of event, but expect to pay significantly more per hour for DS-licensed door supervisors than for stewards. London rates are typically 15% to 25% higher than the rest of the UK.
These costs should be factored into your event budget from the outset. Cutting corners on security to save money is a false economy. The potential consequences of inadequate or unlicensed security, from safety incidents to prosecution and licence revocation, far outweigh the savings.
Working with your local authority
For events that require a premises licence or a Temporary Event Notice (TEN), your local authority may impose conditions relating to security staffing levels and SIA licensing. The Safety Advisory Group (SAG) may also provide guidance or requirements. Engage with these bodies early in the planning process to understand what is expected and to demonstrate that your security arrangements are robust.
The SIA licensing regime exists to protect the public and to professionalise the security industry. As an event organiser, compliance is both a legal requirement and a practical measure that helps ensure your events are safe and well-managed. Take the time to understand the requirements, work with reputable security providers, and check every licence. It is one of the most important things you can do as a responsible organiser.
