Published By: Get Licensed 

What are the conditions of having an SIA Licence? Your training instructor will have helped you understand this information, but it’s natural to feel overwhelmed by the documentation.

Nobody likes wading through legal jargon, so we’ve picked the need-to-know information out for you. In this blog, you’ll learn what you can and can’t do as a licensed security professional.

Conditions of your SIA Licence — The Six Commitments

To ensure you keep your licence, you must always comply with SIA Code of Conduct. These rules are also called the Six Commitments. Much of it is common sense, and it’s in place to protect you, the businesses you work with, and the public. Keep them in mind when you’re on the job, and you can’t go wrong.

1. Act with honesty and integrity

SIA Licence holders:

• Need to be honest with their employers, the employers’ clients, and anyone else they meet on duty
• Should never allow themselves to be manipulated by people
• Should not be involved in any illegal activities or groups
• Should comply with the Code of Conduct, and not victimise anyone who claims they have gone against the Code

2. Be trustworthy

Licence holders must:

• Not seize anyone’s property without a lawful reason, or damage it
• Not take advantage of others for their own gain, or abuse the power of their position towards vulnerable people
• Respect and protect confidential information, except when it is unlawful to do so
• Not carry out their duties with a weapon of any kind

3. Protect the people and property you are entrusted to protect

Licence holders must:

• Always take lawful steps towards the prevention and reduction of crime
• Not endanger any people or property as they carry out their duties
• Quickly and calmly take steps to help those in need
• Not use excessive force while on duty
• Always report incidents as soon as they occur to the relevant emergency services for trained assistance

4. Be professional at work

Licence holders must:

• Always perform their duties with self-control
• Not use any illegal drugs or alcohol while they are on duty

5. Act with fairness and impartiality at work

Licence holders must:

• Not unlawfully discriminate against others, or become abusive in any way towards them
• Not let their personal feelings for family and friends interfere with their duties

6. Be accountable for your decisions and actions

Licence holders must:

• Not tamper with or destroy any evidence they come across on duty
• Provide accurate verbal and written statements when requested to do so by their employers, SIA officials, or law enforcement
• Always cooperate with law enforcement and SIA officials when requested

Potential actions when the Code is broken

Now you’re aware of what’s expected of you as a licence holder. So, it’s time to let you know what could happen if you don’t follow the rules.

Written warning

The first step taken if you breach the Code of Conduct is a written warning. It’ll describe the offence you committed, and be kept for future reference if necessary.

Revocation or suspension of your licence

Depending on what you did to breach the Code of Conduct, you may have your licence suspended for a time. The offence committed will decide how long that might be.

If what you did was a significant offence, such as knowingly aiding criminal activity, you could have your licence revoked. That means you won’t be able to go back to working under an SIA Licence.

Prosecution

Going against the conditions indicated in the Code of Conduct is also a criminal offence. This is UK law, under Section 9 of the Private Security Industry Act of 2001.

Other SIA Licence rules to remember

Beyond what is stated under the Six Commitments, licence holders must also:

• Always have their issued licence visible while they’re on duty
• Never allow the physical licence card to be changed in any way
• Immediately report to their superiors and law enforcement if their licence gets lost or damaged in any way
• Not use a damaged license until they receive a replacement
• Inform their superiors if they are under investigation for any offences that go against the Code of Conduct
• Immediately return their licence when requested by their superiors

Always remember the rules that apply to you as an SIA Licence holder. That means you always stay on the right side of the law, and continue to act as a licensed security professional who’s in demand.

Working to these rules also means that you’re never likely to be blamed for anything that goes wrong. Sometimes, people lose their temper in even the most professional businesses. In times like that, playing the blame game is easy — but if you’ve been doing your job by the book, nobody can accuse you of anything bad. 

Keep in mind also that security rules and regulations are moving forward all the time. Top-up training for Door Supervisors and Top Up training for Security Guards is becoming a very important part of staying a step ahead in your security career.