The SIA Close Protection Licence: What It Is, What It Proves, and How to Verify It

If you are hiring close protection services in the UK, the SIA licence is the first thing to check. Not the company website. Not the testimonials. Not the military biography in the bios section. The licence number, verified on the SIA portal before any conversation about cost or availability.

This is not bureaucratic caution. The Private Security Industry Act 2001 makes unlicensed close protection a criminal offence, and the SIA prosecutes. Clients who knowingly use unlicensed operators create their own legal exposure. The licence exists precisely because close protection involves the potential for physical intervention, and the state has set a minimum standard for who may do it commercially.

Understanding what the licence actually proves, and what it does not, makes you a more informed buyer.

What the SIA Close Protection Licence Confirms

When you verify an SIA Close Protection licence and it shows current and valid, you have confirmed four things:

Identity. The SIA has verified the individual’s identity against their national identity documentation. The person holding the licence is who they say they are.

Criminal record. The SIA conducts a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) enhanced disclosure as part of the licensing process. Individuals with certain convictions are ineligible. The check covers England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and overseas criminal records where disclosure is required.

Training completion. The applicant has completed a Level 3 Close Protection qualification from an SIA-approved training provider, passing the required assessments. This typically covers threat and risk assessment, operational planning, surveillance awareness, venue and route assessment, close protection skills, and emergency first aid.

Licence currency. SIA licences are valid for three years. The portal shows the expiry date. An expired licence means the person is not currently authorised to work, regardless of their previous compliance history.

What the Licence Does Not Confirm

This is where informed buyers differentiate themselves from those who treat the licence as the complete story.

The SIA licence does not confirm operational experience. Completing the training course and passing the assessment does not mean the officer has spent years in the field. The licence proves competency to a minimum standard, not operational depth. Ask separately about documented experience in environments relevant to your requirement.

It does not confirm vetting beyond the DBS check. The SIA check is a criminal records disclosure. It does not include the broader BS 7858 security vetting standard, which adds employment history verification across five years, financial checks, and character references. High-quality operators apply BS 7858 as a company standard on top of the SIA requirement. Ask which vetting standard the company applies.

It does not confirm the company’s quality. An individual officer can hold a valid SIA licence while working for a company with poor management, inadequate insurance, or no meaningful operational supervision. The licence is an individual credential, not a company quality marker.

How to Verify: Step by Step

1. Ask the security company for the SIA licence number of the specific officer(s) proposed for your detail. Named officers, not a general assurance that all their staff are licensed.
2. Go to services.sia.homeoffice.gov.uk (the official SIA portal — no other version is authoritative).
3. Enter the licence number and the full name as it appears on the licence.
4. Confirm: licence type shows Close Protection, status shows Active, and the expiry date is in the future.
5. If any of these do not match, do not proceed with that operator.

The check takes two minutes. There is no reason not to do it.

Beyond the Licence: What Else to Check

For a more complete picture of a close protection company’s credentials:

• SIA ACS status: check the SIA contractor register at sia.homeoffice.gov.uk/Pages/acs-register.aspx. ACS companies have been audited to a higher standard.
• Insurance: ask for certificates for professional indemnity, public liability, and employers liability. Minimum limits and current policy dates should be visible on the certificates.
• BS 7858 vetting: ask explicitly whether the company applies this standard to all close protection officers. It is the industry benchmark for personnel vetting.
• References: not testimonials on a website — references from security directors or PAs who commissioned comparable engagements in the last 12 months.

For more on what to ask when selecting a close protection company, see our detailed vetting guide: How to vet a close protection company. For close protection services in the UK, our London city page and executive protection service overview provide relevant context.