The number of Security Industry Authority (SIA) licence qualifications that have been issued now exceeds 1.25 million, the regulator has reported. Since 2003, with the industry, the SIA developed the Level 2 and 3 qualifications for security personnel across seven sectors it regulates. These qualifications are nationally recognised and governed by the relevant regulatory authorities in the UK.
The authority points out that for many individuals an SIA licence-linked qualification is their first recognised qualification and is often a step to a defined career in security. The SIA is reviewing and updating the training specification which has required expert working groups from each sector gathering to discuss any changes. It is anticipated that the new requirements will be introduced in January 2015.
SIA Head of Quality Standards Andrew Shephard said: “The introduction of minimum standards through licence-linked qualifications has been pivotal in professionalising the private security industry. Since the first door supervisor qualification in 2003, there are now over 1.25 million security qualifications held across the regulated sectors. Many individuals have used a qualification to support an SIA licence application. These qualifications help to establish the private security industry as a recognised career with opportunities for individual development. We all benefit from having more professional security personnel protecting us, the public.”
Visit http://www.sia.homeoffice.gov.uk/Pages/training.aspx.
