Information & Support for Door Supervisors - National Doorwatch

The SIA have responded quickly to clarify the situation regarding EU security operatives working in the UK.

National Doorwatch has recieved a reply from the SIA regarding EU dispensation

The following is a statement recieved from the SIA to clarify the situation regarding European workers.

The SIA clarifies:

If an EEA citizen wishes to work in the private security industry in the UK on a temporary basis, they can do so, providing that they register with the SIA and:
a) Provide proof of their EEA citizenship; and
b) Provide evidence that they have no criminal convictions.

In addition:
• If the individual’s home state has a licensing regime or similar they must provide evidence of a valid licence, permit or similar authority for the sector in which they wish to work.
• Where this is not the case, the individual must provide evidence of a professional qualification in a discipline relevant to the sector in which they wish to work.
• Where neither of the above is applicable, the individual must provide evidence that they have worked in the relevant security sector for at least two years in the past 10.
If they are unable to provide this evidence they will need to attain an SIA licence in order to work lawfully.

This is the result of an EU directive that is applicable across all professions (with some exceptions), not just the private security industry. The UK is a signatory to this directive and must therefore abide by it.

The directive applies equally to all EEA citizens. For example, British citizens with an SIA licence are able to apply to another EEA member state to work temporarily in the security industry in that state.

Trust this makes things clearer about the situation.