When applying for your SIA Licence application, you may face certain hurdles, one of which is the potential of being refused a licence by the SIA, but why would you be refused? Here we discuss why you may potentially be rejected for an SIA licence.
Approval of the licences:
SIA has the authority to accept or reject the application for the licence. This is based on certain rules and law measures established by the SIA.
On the basis of these regulations there are basically two types of refusals:
- Refusal on the first-time application.
- Refusal on the renewal of the licence.
Both of these refusals have the same criteria but follow different procedures.
Reasons why you can be refused
This is the list of relevant offences for the purpose of an SIA licence.
- Some driving offences
- Dishonesty(theft and Fraud)
- Abuse and neglect of children.
- Firearms.
- Sexual offence.
- Espionage/terrorism.
- Violent/ abusive behaviour (assault)
- Drugs.
- Offensive weapons.
- Criminal damage.
- Licensing Act offences.
- Private Security Industry Act offences.
If any of these offences are committed in the past 2 years to the date of the SIA licence decision, the SIA would prevent itself from issuing a licence.
If the offence is serious the SIA will refuse the application. The seriousness depends on the sentence ended or ought to have ended at least 5 years prior to the date the SIA decides on an application for an SIA licence.
Firstly the SIA will assess the seriousness of the charges based on the maximum length of the sentence in each case. If the applicant has served 4 or more years in prison for an offence, it will be considered serious. for such a case, the applicant has to wait for 5 years from the date the sentence expired or ought to be ended.
Sexual, violent or offences dishonest in nature and other offences regarding terrorism are considered serious by SIA irrespective of the sentence or punishment is given.
For public protection, offences regarding “offensive weapon” any article made or adapted to cause injury or intended for use in causing injury including possessing an article with a blade or point in a public place will be classified as serious even though they attract a maximum sentence below the four-year threshold.
If the SIA refuse your application for an SIA licence one can appeal in the Magistrate’s court. It should be kept in mind that once the SIA has made a decision on your licence, the SIA have no power to change their decision unless through the Magistrate’s court, even if it is because of a manual or technical fault from the SIA.
Can you be refused if you renew a licence?
If one is convicted of an offence which was not listed on the list when the person was issued the licence but is now on the list after revising the list and the person is applying for renewal, the application will automatically be refused.
where that conviction is the sole conviction on record, and;
• the date of that conviction was prior to the date your current licence was granted, and;
• no other Non-Conviction information applies including cautions, warnings, absolute/conditional, discharges or admonishments.
If the conviction was the result of an offence committed after the date your current licence was
granted, it will be dealt with under the normal criteria.
If your application for renewal is successful and is processed before your existing licence expires the
the new licence will expire three years after your current licence expires.
There is another concept of suspending the licence. These suspensions have immediate effect. This means a person can not work legally in any licensable sector even if he works for an approved contractor. Suspension is considered only when there is a clear threat to public safety if the licence is not suspended. If the licence is suspended, and either one’s appeal is not successful, or one has chosen not to appeal, the suspension will normally last for a minimum of 90 days (from the date of initial suspension).
Work in the security industry
If you want to get your foot in the door in the security industry, then Get Licensed can help you get your SIA Licence.
Watch Carl from the Get Licensed team go through the entire process of getting an SIA Licence:
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