-optimized.jpg){kind=avatar}
The number of applications for Security Industry Authority door licences in the first three months of 2026 fell by a quarter compared with the same quarter a year before, according to the latest release of statistics from the SIA.
That total of door badge applications for January to March 2026 was 32,008, which compared with the 42,784 of the first three months of 2025; a fall of 25.2 per cent. The only post-covid year that had a lower total for the equivalent months was 2022.
The next largest category for applications is public space CCTV surveillance: which saw 6584 applications in the first three months of 2026; below the equivalent total for the first quarter of 2025 โ 7128, but larger than the total for the first quarter of 2024 – 6291. The total of applications for security guarding licences (traditionally much lower than for doors, because a door badge allows the holder to work in contract security, but not vice versa) in the first quarter of 2026 was significantly lower for the first quarter of 2026 โ 41517 โ than in 2025 (5057), let alone 2024 (6637).
As for close protection the number of applications for the first three months of 2026 was identical โ 341 โ to the equivalent months of 2025; but much lower than the total for the first quarter of 2024 (514). The non-front-line licence category shows a similar pattern: the first three months of 2026 saw 1011 applications, about the same as one year before (1019) but well down on the first three months of 2024 (1629). ย Likewise in the even more niche field of key-holding the total of applications in the first quarter of 2026 (167) was similar to a year before (163), and well below the first three quarters of 2024 (305). The overall dataset shows about 1.3m applications for licences to the regulator in the seven years from April 2019; and in that period, some 940,000 SIA licence-related qualifications have been awarded. Some 86 per cent or 808,000 qualifications resulted in a paid licence application; in other words, about one in seven of those who took the SIA course and passed it, did not go on to seek a badge (so as to work in a โlicensable activityโ).
In the past year, April 2025 was the only month when first time applications were noticeably greater than โrepeatsโ; July 2025 was a month of slightly more first-timers than repeat applications.
Licence holders
As for stats about licence holders, the oldest has reached the age of 101. The mode (most occurring) age of a licence holder is 26. The total has dipped slightly from a peak over the winter, down a few thousand to about 455,000. The number of females badged is slightly lower also but remains above 50,000 and stands at 11.02 per cent.
Nationality
In terms of nationality, after โBritishโ, the most numerous ten foreign nationalities of SIA badge holder are in the same order as a couple of months ago โ Pakistani, then Nigerian, Indian, Ghanaian, Italian, Nepalese, Portuguese, Bangladeshi, Sudanese and Polish. There are slightly more Nigerians and a handful more Nepalese badged in April 2026 than in February 2026; the other eight nationalitiesโ totals have fallen, in line with the overall fall. As for the licence holders in terms of โareaโ, London historically has been by far the biggest, and the ten places remain in the same order compared with two months ago โ Manchester next, then Birmingham, Slough-Heathrow, Luton (reflecting airportsโ large use of SIA officers), Glasgow, Bradford, Liverpool, Leicester, Leeds and Sheffield. ย A year before, the order was the same except that Leeds and Sheffield have since swapped places.
Approved contractors
The total of approved contractors in April 2026 was 712; which compares with 748 in May 2025. The place with the largest number of SIA-approved firms was London; then came Manchester, and Birmingham. In a possible sign of how commerce is concentrated around London, the total of approved firms in Glasgow โ 12 โ was the same as in Chelmsford and โGuildford-Aldershotโ, although Chelmsford came 54th and Guildford-Aldershot 20th in a league table of places in terms of licence holders.
For the stats in detail visit the SIA website: https://www.gov.uk/search/research-and-statistics.
Photo by Mark Rowe: Digbeth bus station, Birmingham.
