A message from our Chief Executive - 1 April 2020
How the SIA is responding to the coronavirus pandemic.
As we continue to manage the uncertainty that Coronavirus (COVID-19) is causing across society, I am writing to assure you that we are doing everything possible to provide our best service and give support to the private security industry at this time.
Our customer support team continues to operate. If you require help, please contact us through your online account or via the ‘contact us’ form on this website. We are continuing to respond to business enquiries within 48 hours, and responding to individuals as quickly as possible, usually within five working days. Please only submit one message, we will reply as soon as possible.
Today marks the start of our individual licence fee reduction for all sectors. The fee paid by applicants is down from £210 to £190. This applies to both new applicants and those renewing existing licences. Licence holders applying for an additional licence will pay 50% of the new reduced fee.
We are processing new licence applications made through businesses using our Licence Management service. However, we are unable to deal with those requiring original documents. We are exploring all avenues available to us to process licence renewals within our legal remit. We will keep you informed of our progress.
Please do not send any documents to the SIA as our office has been closed by our landlord. Any documents already in our possession will be stored safely and returned as soon as it is safe to do so, but this may be some time off in the current climate. We apologise for an inconvenience this may cause, but the situation is currently beyond our control.
We are in regular contact with the Post Office. Many branches are still open for document checking purposes, and are continuing to process a significant number of applications. However, we are aware that a small number of Post Office branches have temporarily closed. In order to find your nearest open branch and avoid unnecessary travel, please use the Post Office’s branch finder at www.postoffice.co.uk/branch-finder.
We are urgently looking at potential alternative methods for establishing identity in line with temporary Home Office guidance while maintaining compliance with UK Government identity checking standards. We are also seeking to minimise the need to attend the Post Office for renewals. Any alternative methods will need to be agreed with our partners. We are also actively working with the awarding organisations to develop a way for some licence linked qualifications to be delivered remotely within a framework of robust assessment. We will provide further details soon.
Please continue to follow the Government advice.
Stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives.
Ian Todd
Chief Executive