SIA licence applicants and holders with criminal convictions
Published 30 March 2026
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Request
Could you please provide, for the years 2023 and 2024, the number of applications for a licence where the applicant indicated previous criminal convictions?
Of those applicants in the years 2023 and 2024 who possessed previous criminal convictions, how many were successful applications where a licence was issued?
Response
We confirm that the SIA holds this information.
The number of SIA licence applicants with criminal convictions
In 2023, the SIA received:
- 157,626 licence applications from individuals with no previous convictions
- 16,014 licence applications from individuals with previous convictions
In 2024, the SIA received:
- 182,260 licence applications from individuals with no previous convictions
- 16,677 licence applications from individuals with previous convictions
Based on the figures provided above, the SIA received a total of 32,691 licence applications from applicants with previous criminal convictions in the years 2023 and 2024.
Please note that both relevant and non-relevant offences are included in the above data. Please see Annex A of Get Licensed for a list of offences we deem relevant.
The SIA will always obtain a criminal record check on anyone who applies for a licence. Having a criminal record does not necessarily mean that an applicant will not get a licence. However, the SIA will consider any convictions, warnings, cautions, community resolutions, absolute or conditional discharges, admonishments, or charges awaiting trial for offences.
The SIA will also consider non-conviction information about an applicant or licence holder that indicates whether they are fit and proper to hold a licence.
Please see pages 30 to 44 of Get Licensed which explains what the SIA considers when reviewing these applications.
The number of licences granted to applicants with criminal convictions
In 2023,of those 16,014 licence applicants with previous convictions, the SIA:
- granted a licence to 14,711 (4% of whom had relevant offences)
- refused a licence to 1,229 (98% of whom had relevant offences)
In 2024, of those 16,677 licence applicants with previous convictions, the SIA:
- granted a licence to 15,353 (3.5% of whom had relevant offences)
- refused a licence to 1,221 (98% of whom had relevant offences)
Based on the figures provided above, the SIA granted a total of 30,064 licences to applicants with previous criminal convictions in the years 2023 and 2024.
Based on the figures provided above, the SIA refused a total of 2,450 licences to applicants with previous criminal convictions in the years 2023 and 2024.
Please note that, as with the response to question 1, both relevant and non-relevant offences are included within the above numbers, although we have provided the percentage of licences granted and refused where the applicant had a relevant offence on their criminal record. Please see Annex A of Get Licensed for a list of offences we deem relevant.
[Ref: FOI 0582]