SIA action on training fraud: Operation RESOLUTE
Training that cuts corners doesn’t just cheat a test; it can put people at risk in real crowds and workplaces. The UK’s Security Industry Authority (SIA) says it is taking decisive action through Operation RESOLUTE to protect the integrity of licence‑linked qualifications so the public can be confident that security staff are properly trained.
So what is SIA licensing? If you want to work in front‑line roles such as door supervision, security guarding, public space CCTV, close protection or carrying cash and valuables, you need an SIA licence and a recognised ‘licence‑linked’ qualification. Non‑front‑line or key‑holding roles are different and do not require the same qualification. Over 450,000 people hold SIA licences across the UK, which is why the entry training really matters.
How the training system works is worth knowing. The SIA sets the content and standards for licence‑linked qualifications, but awarding organisations such as BIIAB, Highfield, Pearson, QNUK, SFJ Awards and Trident Awards (LASER) create the qualifications and approve the private training centres that deliver them. The regulator does not approve providers and even warns you to be wary of anyone claiming to be “SIA approved”.
Why does training malpractice matter? Because courses cover safety‑critical skills, from lawful searching and physical intervention to incident reporting and CCTV rules. The SIA says Operation RESOLUTE focuses on intelligence‑led, unannounced inspections and deeper collaboration with partners to stop poor or fraudulent practice quickly.
What’s happened so far this year is telling. Since 1 April 2025 the SIA reports a 120% rise in unannounced visits compared with the same period last year. Ten centres have had approval to deliver training withdrawn, one was suspended, and one criminal case led to 17 individual licences being revoked where the training standard could not be trusted, according to the SIA’s blog and trade summaries.
More recently, the SIA said it suspended more than 60 licences linked to training delivered at two centres in Glasgow and Manchester run by the same company, while the responsible awarding organisation halted further delivery pending checks. That update was shared publicly in early November 2025.
If you are choosing a course, expect proper checks. Door supervisor training requires a valid first‑aid qualification before you start. Providers should check your identity and your English; the SIA says learners should have at least B2‑level English or an equivalent recognised qualification. Any suggestion of “help” in exams, shortened hours, or altered records is malpractice and should be reported.
A quick way to find options is the SIA’s provider search. The SIA stresses it neither runs courses nor approves centres itself; approvals sit with awarding organisations. Before you pay, contact the awarding body named on the course and ask them to confirm the centre’s current approval to teach that qualification.
Be sceptical of adverts promising same‑day certificates, guaranteed passes or very short timetables. Legitimate courses have minimum hours, invigilated assessments and clear ID rules, and the awarding organisation must notify the SIA of your qualification before you can even submit a licence application. If something feels off, write down names, dates and what you saw, then report it to the awarding organisation and the relevant qualifications regulator as GOV.UK advises.
Planning ahead matters too. In November 2025 the SIA launched a strategic review of licence‑linked qualifications to modernise course content, tighten assessment rules and strengthen exam security. Milestones run through 2026, with new arrangements expected to go live by spring 2027.
One change already in force is the update to licensing criteria on 1 December 2025, which tightens how criminality and the wider ‘fit and proper’ test are applied. If you are applying or renewing, check the latest criteria first so you know where you stand.
For classrooms, this is a live case study in how regulation affects everyday life. We learn to ask who sets the rules, who checks quality, and where concerns should go. For anyone booking a course, the takeaway is practical: verify the centre with its awarding organisation, expect real teaching and invigilated assessment, and report anything that looks wrong. Public safety depends on it.