SIA launches new phase tackling training malpractice

The SIA has launched a new phase of its approach to tackling training malpractice or mismanagement.

There are around 650 training providers who provide licence-linked training. They are approved by six Awarding Organisations.

In 2024, the SIA began to focus more attention on training malpractice, which at it’s most serious can constitute fraud, which is a criminal offence.

The Authority is now moving on to a new phase of this work under Operation RESOLUTE.

RESOLUTE has been designed as a high impact initiative with a strong operational focus on intelligence -led, unannounced inspections to training providers, as well as a deeper collaboration with partners.

Since the 1st April 2025, the SIA has increased the number of unannounced training centre visits by 120% compared to the same period last year. This has resulted in 10 training centres having their approval to deliver training withdrawn, and one centre suspended from delivering training until the Awarding Body is satisfied the appropriate standard can be met.

A criminal investigation has begun into one case due to the serious nature of the offending. As part of this investigation 17 individual SIA licences have been revoked where enquiries have brought into question whether the training an individual has received has been up to the required standard.

Pete Easterbrook, Interim Director of Inspections and Enforcement said: "Operation RESOLUTE has been designed as a high impact initiative with a strong operational focus on intelligence-led, unannounced inspections to training providers, as well as a deeper collaboration with partners.

"We will act swiftly and decisively to root out abuse, detect and disrupt criminality, and make the private security industry a hostile environment for those who seek to exploit it."