Publication scheme
Our publication scheme lists the various types of information that we publish and explains how to get that information.
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 requires public authorities to adopt and maintain a publication scheme, the purpose of which is to:
- specify the classes of information we have committed to publish
- say how we will make that information available
- say whether the information is available free of charge or on payment
About this publication scheme
The scheme is not an exhaustive list of all the types of information that we publish. We may publish other types of information if we believe that information is of wider public interest.
The scheme does not include information that we consider to be sensitive, such as certain types of commercial or personal information, or information about security matters or which comprises legal advice.
Most of the information covered by our publication scheme is made available on this website. If you need information in an alternative format, we will do all we reasonably can to help.
Types of information we publish
The information we publish can be broken down into the following categories:
- who we are and what we do
- what we spend and how we spend it
- what our priorities are and how we are doing
- how we make decisions
- our policies and procedures
- lists and registers
- the services we offer
Who we are and what we do
Includes organisational information, structures, constitutional and legal governance, locations and contacts.
We publish:
- about the SIA
- our Approved Contractor Scheme
- profiles of our Chief Executive and executive directors – listed under ‘Our management’ on our organisation’s home page
- profiles of our Chair and non-executive directors (‘the Authority’) – listed under ‘Our management’ on our organisation’s home page
- our governance
- our organisational structure
- the Private Security Industry Act 2001 (published on legislation.gov.uk)
- our contact details – listed under ‘Contact SIA’ on our organisation’s home page
What we spend and how we spend it
Includes financial information relating to projected and actual income and expenditure, tendering, procurement and contracts.
We publish:
- our annual reports and accounts
- procurement at the SIA
- SIA spend over £25,000 – published with data from the Home Office (our sponsoring department)
- transparency data, which includes our responses to freedom of information requests
What our priorities are and how we are doing
Includes strategy and performance information, plans, assessments, inspections and reviews.
We publish:
- our annual reports and accounts
- our corporate plan
- our business plan 2021 to 2020
- research and statistics, including:
- licence processing times – as presented in our decision timescale indicator
- our enforcement report
How we make decisions
Includes policy proposals and decisions, decision-making processes, internal criteria and procedures, consultations.
We publish:
Our policies and procedures
Includes current written protocols, policies and procedures for delivering our services and responsibilities.
We publish:
- our complaints procedure
- our personal information charter, which explains how we treat your personal data
- our privacy policy
- our approach to equality and diversity
- guidance on applying for an SIA licence, including our ‘Get Licensed’ booklet
- guidance on applying for ACS approval, including our ‘Get Approved’ booklet
- our social media policy
- our board governance framework
- SIA licence conditions
- the ACS sanctions framework
- our approach to enforcement, including our ‘Enforcement: what to expect from the SIA’ booklet
Lists and registers
Includes information held in registers required by law and other lists and registers relating to the functions of the authority.
We publish:
- our register of licence holders
- our register of approved contractors
- our register of withdrawn approvals
- our register of training providers offering SIA licence-linked training
- a list of active SIA prosecution cases
- a list of SIA prosecutions over the last 12 months
- register of interests of Board members (executive and non-executive) - available from our governance
The services we offer
Includes information about the services we offer, including leaflets, guidance and newsletters.
We publish:
- guidance on applying for an SIA licence, including our ‘Get Licensed’ booklet
- guidance on applying for ACS approval, including our ‘Get Approved’ booklet
- guidance on how to check that your security staff have a licence
- guidance on how to report illegal activity in the private security industry
- details of the licensing services we offer to business users
- past editions of our SIA Update newsletter
- news stories and press releases
Information not already published
If you cannot find what you want through this scheme, or otherwise on our website, you can submit a freedom of information request for it. Please choose ‘General Enquiry’ as the category, and ‘Freedom of Information’ as the topic.
You need to give us your full name (first name, surname/family name and any middle names) and a contact email or postal address so we can reply to you.
When you send your request, please give us as much detail as possible about the information you need.
Charges for information
You can read or download all of the information published on our website free of charge.
We will usually provide printed material free of charge, but we may charge if:
- you ask for multiple copies
- you ask for information in a different format or a different language
- you ask for information that is archived and we have to spend time retrieving it from storage
We will tell you in advance if there will be a charge, and how much it will be.
Feedback about this scheme
If you would like to provide feedback – good or bad – about our publication scheme, please email foi@sia.gov.uk.