Jessica O'ConnorClose protection operatives will soon be required to complete new refresher training in order to renew their licences, the Security Industry Authority (SIA) has announced.
The new qualification, which updates safety-critical skills, will be available from 1st October 2025 and will become mandatory for all renewals from 1st April 2026.
The new training will cover areas including physical intervention, conducting searches, protecting people in vulnerable situations, and terror threat awareness.
It will also allow operatives who use a close protection licence to work as door supervisors or security guards to continue doing so with up-to-date training.
The regulator is encouraging licence holders to take the training as early as possible to ensure they remain compliant.
The requirement follows changes introduced in 2022, when new licence-linked qualifications and ‘top-up’ awards for close protection operatives were brought in.
By October 2025, most licence holders will already have completed the top-up training, meaning the refresher requirement is designed to maintain and update professional standards across the industry.
Tony Holyland, head of individual standards at the SIA, said: “Close protection operatives are security professionals tasked with protecting individuals from threats.
“The refresher training for close protection licence holders is designed to ensure that operatives continue to have the skills and knowledge to undertake aspects of their role safely.
“It is essential that the training is regularly updated to respond to the emerging risks and threats to public safety.”
