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Preparing for SIA Compliance Inspections — Security Company Guide
Preparing for SIA Compliance Inspections
Updated May 2026 — SIA Approved Contractor Scheme compliance
The SIA inspects both individual licence compliance and, for businesses on the Approved
Contractor Scheme (ACS), the management systems and processes of the security company itself.
Whether or not you are on the ACS, the SIA can inspect your business at any time to check
that you are not deploying unlicensed operatives. Understanding what they look for is the
first step to being ready.
What the SIA can inspect
The SIA's inspection powers allow them to:
- Inspect premises used by security businesses
- Require the production of records relating to licensed operatives
- Check whether individuals are being deployed in licensable roles without a valid licence
- Visit sites where security operatives are working
Inspections can be triggered by complaints, intelligence, or random selection. Being
on the ACS increases the frequency and depth of inspection but also provides a structured
framework to demonstrate compliance.
Most common compliance failures in SIA inspections
Based on SIA enforcement action and published findings:
- Expired licences — the most common issue; operatives allowed to
continue working after their licence has expired
- Licence type mismatch — a door supervisor licence is not valid
for security guarding roles and vice versa
- No records of licence checks — unable to demonstrate that checks
were carried out before deployment
- Right to work failures — statutory checks not completed, or
time-limited permissions not rechecked when due
- Supervision gaps — operatives deployed in positions requiring a
licence without the company being aware they were carrying out licensable activity
What the SIA expects from compliant operators
A security company that can demonstrate the following is well placed for an inspection:
- A complete, current record of every operative — licence number, type, expiry date,
and evidence that the SIA register was checked before deployment
- A process for tracking licence renewals — not waiting for operatives to report
their own expired licences
- Right to work checks completed and documented for every operative before their
first shift
- Clear policies on which roles require which licence types
- A process for removing operatives from deployment if their licence expires or
is suspended
The SIA's own guidance makes clear that an operator cannot rely on an operative
to self-manage their licence renewal. The burden of ensuring compliance is on the
operator — which means you need systems that alert you before licences expire,
not after.
ACS vs non-ACS inspection differences
Companies on the SIA Approved Contractor Scheme undergo more comprehensive inspections
that cover business management, training, complaints handling, and quality management
in addition to licence compliance. Non-ACS businesses face a more focused check on
whether unlicensed operatives are being deployed. Both types of inspection can result
in enforcement action, including prosecution.
Be ready for an SIA inspection at any time
WorkerRecord maintains a timestamped record of every licence check — who was checked,
when, and what their licence status was. When the SIA ask to see your compliance records,
you have a documented audit trail ready, not a spreadsheet to reconstruct.
Try WorkerRecord free
About this guide: Our content is reviewed with the help of industry professionals and draws on primary sources including DVSA, SIA, CQC, Environment Agency, and HSE publications. Regulations change — we recommend verifying current requirements directly with the relevant authority before making compliance decisions.