Written question asked by Lord Pickles (Conservative) on Friday, 24 March 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 28 March 2006. It was answered by Lord Coaker (Labour) on Monday, 3 July 2006 on behalf of the Home Office.

Security Industry Authority

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether employers in the security industry will be able to (a) employ staff and (b) use contractors who have applied for a licence to the Security Industry Authority but who have not yet received a licence.

Answer: The Private Security Industry Act 2001 imposes sanctions on those who undertake defined security activities without a licence from the SIA and those who supply unlicensed security operatives undertaking those activities. Companies that hire security firms whose personnel include unlicensed staff are not committing any offence, since the Private Security Industry Act 2001 places the onus on the individual and the company that provides security services, not on the customer. Where in-house employees are required to be licensed, the employer and individual are both responsible for ensuring this occurs.Companies that have been awarded approved contractor status by the SIA are able to legally deploy a proportion of security staff while their licence applications are being processed.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 448 c892W; 62265
Session: 2005-06
Subjects: Applications Certification Fees and charges Licensing Registration Standards Self-assessment Security guards Security Industry Authority
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk