SIA celebrates 10 years

The UK's Security Industry Authority is celebrating 10 years as the regulator of the UK’s security sector – after it was established as a result of industry lobbying and was created by The Private Security Industry Act 2001. The core purpose was to contribute to the Home Office’s crime reduction agenda: with the vision to reduce criminality and raise standards in the private security industry so that the public is, and feels, safer. The SIA was launched in London on 2 April 2003. Since 2003 the SIA has worked with industry to: license individuals, recognise excellence with the Approved Contractor Scheme, prevent unsuitable people from working in the security industry, and to ensure that those individuals who flout the law are removed from working in licensable roles.  Since its launch the SIA has issued almost one million licences across seven sectors, with over 900,000 licence-linked qualifications awarded.