What the SIA licence and BS7858 screening actually mean, why they matter, and how to check that the officers on your site are properly licensed and vetted.
The Security Industry Authority (SIA) is the UK regulator for the private security industry. A front-line SIA licence shows an individual has passed the required training and background checks for their role, for example Security Officer, Door Supervisor or CCTV Operator. Deploying unlicensed staff in these roles is a criminal offence.
BS7858 is the British Standard for security screening of personnel. It goes beyond the licence: employment history, references, identity, right to work and financial/criminal checks over a defined period. It’s how a responsible provider confirms an officer is trustworthy to place on your site.
Ask for officers’ SIA licence numbers, you can verify them on the SIA’s public register. With Urgent Guard, the covering officer’s name and SIA number are shown in your client app for every filled shift, so you always know exactly who is on your site.