Is an SIA Licence mandatory to work at events?
1.Security provision at public premises
Security work at premises that are open to the public, such as festivals, concerts, expos, sporting events or community events requires security personnel to hold an SIA licence.
2. Licensed premises
A licensed building is a venue that holds a licence to sell alcohol and/or provide regulated entertainment, for example, live music or film screenings. To work at a licensed venue, you will need an SIA licence.
3. Screening and security checks
Screening a person’s suitability to enter the event or venue e.g. individuals under the influence of alcohol or drugs or demonstrating anti-social behaviour. You will also need to perform security searches and pat-downs to ensure that people don’t try to sneak prohibited items into the venue. This includes those searching bags to ensure that there is no unauthorised access or any damage to property or injury to others.
4. Guarding people
At events such as concerts and festivals, you need a Close Protection Licence to protect people or certain individuals such as celebrities or public figures, against physical assault or injury.
5. Crowd control
At large events such as festivals, you will need to manage people and maintain queues to regulate large groups of people. In case, an unfortunate event occurs, you need to be agile in responding to incidents. The public will expect you to take control, so, your training prior to getting the licence will enable you to direct people on what to do in case of an emergency.
Benefits of working at events
Working at events as a security professional comes with its share of responsibilities, but also its share of rewards.
Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of working at events:
- Attend happening high profile events
- Work closely with celebrities, athletes and famous personalities
- Earn more for providing security at events
- Gain exposure by working with larger security teams
- Learn new skills such as crowd management, surveillance and managing incidents at events
So, to conclude, an SIA licence is your gateway to great rewards and exciting opportunities in the security industry.
