The Private Security Industry Act 2001 allows the Secretary of State the power to exempt from Security Industry Authority (SIA) licensing requirements, those people who, though engaged in security activities, are subject to equivalent or suitable alternative arrangements.

The SIA has developed an exemption framework which the SIA and Home Office will use when considering requests to be exempt from SIA licensing.

Bodies applying for exemption from SIA licensing are not required to have an identical system in place; however, their system must be equivalent in regards to "the protection of the public". This equivalence will be determined by a comparison with SIA licensing requirements.

The exemption framework, exemption requirements and request process are published on the SIA website.