Please note the sections below are a summary of the Private Security Act 2001. For a full copy of the Act please click here.
Sections 3-6
Licence requirements
These clauses create the offence of engaging in conduct for which a licence is required when not in possession of the appropriate licence. The penalty on conviction in a magistrates’ court, is up to six months’ imprisonment or a fine of up to £5,000, or both.
The current designated sectors or activities that must be covered by a licence are as follows:
- security guarding – under contract
- door supervisors – under contract and in-house
- vehicle immobilising – under contract and in-house
- private investigation – under contract
- security consultants – under contract
- keyholders – under contract.
These activities are defined in detail in Schedule 2 of the Act.
The Secretary of State can, by order, add or remove activities from the above list.
The following categories of people will need licences:
- security contractors, directors of security companies and partners in security firms
- employees of security contractors, security companies and security firms
- agency workers performing the designated duties
- persons who manage or supervise security operatives supplied under contract by a security contractor (but not in-house supervisors of contractors)
- agency-supplied managers or supervisors of security operatives supplied under contract
- directors of security companies and partners in security firms who do not themselves carry out the designated activities
- in-house door supervisors and vehicle immobilisers and their employers, managers and supervisors
- others who immobilise vehicles on private land against a release fee.
The Secretary of State can, by order, add or remove categories of people from the above list.
Some activities can be classified as exempt from the licensing requirements.