FOI release

Displaying a front line SIA licence

Published 24 May 2021

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/displaying-a-front-line-sia-licence/displaying-a-front-line-sia-licence

1. Request

  1. Do I need to have my SIA licence displayed with the picture, name and SIA number on show or can I turn it around round and have the back of it showing and only show the ‘sensitive’ information to those authorised to see the licence?

  2. If a member of the public requests my full name am I obligated under law or code of conduct to provide the details?

2. Response

The information you have requested is exempt under section 21 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, as the data is readily accessible within the public domain.

However, for ease of reference I will provide a detailed response for the following information:

Do I need to have my SIA licence displayed with the picture, name and SIA number on show or can I turn it around round and have the back of it showing and only show the ‘sensitive’ information to those authorised to see the licence?

As I’m sure you are aware, it is a condition of your licensed status that you wear the licence where the front can be seen at all times when engaging in designated licensable activity unless you have reported it lost or stolen, or it is in our possession.

The exceptions to this are if you can demonstrate that the nature of that conduct on that occasion requires that you should not be immediately identifiable as someone engaging in such conduct. On such occasions you must carry your licence on you and be able to produce it on request. This allows store detectives or close protection operatives to perform licensable activities without the need to be identifiable. This cannot apply to vehicle immobilisers.

If a member of the public requests my full name am I obligated under law or code of conduct to provide the details?

In answer to your question of whether you are obligated under law or code of conduct to provide the details of your full name, the only people to whom you are required to show your badge or provide details of your full name when asked are:

  • the Police
  • SIA officers
  • those to whom the SIA has given authority under Section 19 of the Private Security Industry Act (typically, these will be licensing officers from local councils).

Although members of the public have the right to request that you show them your licence, you are not obliged to show it to anyone other than those listed above.

[Reference: FOI 0241]

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