SECURITY STANDARDS ARE CHANGING—AND THE INDUSTRY HAS UNTIL FRIDAY TO HAVE ITS SAY.

When an incident happens, a security officer may be the first person someone turns to.
Can they communicate clearly under pressure?
Can they give effective first aid?
Has their training prepared them for the situation unfolding in front of them?

These questions sit at the heart of the SIA’s consultation on proposed changes to licence-linked qualifications and requirements.

⏳ The consultation closes this Friday, 23 October 2026.

The proposals include:

• Stronger assessment of English-language skills, including an additional independent test.
• A security-specific first aid qualification, alongside a proposal to make holding an in-date first aid qualification a licence condition for security guards, door supervisors and close protection operatives.
• Updated training covering Martyn’s Law awareness, spiking awareness across more licence sectors, emerging technologies such as drones, and dealing with social media “auditing” activity.

These are proposals being consulted on. New qualifications are planned for later in 2027.

At Veritech Systems, we believe this deserves the attention of everyone who delivers, manages or buys security services.

Communication matters when an officer needs to explain an evacuation, calm a confrontation or pass accurate information to the emergency services.
First aid matters when someone collapses and every minute counts.
Practical training matters when an officer faces a situation that demands a clear decision under pressure.

The detail of these proposals matters too. Training must reflect the realities of the job, and assessment must give employers and the public confidence in the person holding the licence.

That is why frontline officers need a voice in this conversation. So do employers, trainers and the businesses that rely on them.

💬 What change would make the biggest difference to the standard of security delivered on the ground?

Share your thoughts below—and make sure you submit them through the official SIA consultation before Friday’s deadline.