A Glasgow door supervisor has been prosecuted for working while his SIA licence was suspended, in a case that should make every officer in the UK double-check their own status. The prosecution, announced by the Security Industry Authority, is a sharp reminder that a suspended licence is not a paused one — it is a stopped one. Work a single shift on it and you are committing a criminal offence under the Private Security Industry Act 2001.
If you have ever shrugged off a letter from the SIA, or assumed your licence is fine because the card is still in your wallet, this one is for you.
What the SIA actually said
According to the SIA, the door supervisor was caught working at a Glasgow venue while his licence was under suspension. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced at court — adding a criminal record to what is now, almost certainly, the end of his security career.
An SIA spokesperson said the regulator takes a hard line on anyone working without a valid licence, and that suspensions are issued for a reason. That reason matters — and most door staff don’t really understand it.
Suspended, expired, revoked — they are not the same thing
This is where a lot of officers get tripped up. The three statuses sound similar but mean very different things in law.
- Expired — your three-year licence has run out. You can reapply, but you cannot work licensable duties until a new one is issued.
- Suspended — the SIA has temporarily stopped your right to work, usually while it investigates a concern. The licence still exists, but using it is a crime.
- Revoked — the SIA has cancelled your licence outright. Working on it is also a crime, and getting another one is an uphill battle.
The Glasgow case sits in the middle category. The licence had not run out. It had not been cancelled. It had been paused — and he kept working anyway.
Why does the SIA suspend a licence?
Suspensions are not random. The SIA typically suspends a licence when:
- The holder has been arrested or charged with a relevant offence.
- New information has come to light that calls their fitness into question — for example, an assault allegation while on duty.
- There are concerns about identity, training records or fraudulent documentation.
- A safeguarding or public protection issue has been flagged by police.
The suspension lets the SIA investigate without the person continuing to work in a position of trust. It is precautionary, not punitive — but ignoring it turns it into something far worse.
How the SIA finds out you are working on a dud licence
Officers sometimes assume the SIA is too stretched to notice. It isn’t. The regulator runs joint operations with police, licensing officers and local authorities. Inspectors visit pubs, clubs, events and construction sites. Every check involves a quick scan of the public SIA register against the badge on your arm.
If your status comes back as suspended, the conversation that follows is short, and it ends in a witness statement. The Glasgow prosecution almost certainly started with a routine check exactly like that.
How to check your own licence status — right now
This takes thirty seconds and costs nothing.
- Go to the SIA’s public register on gov.uk.
- Enter your 16-digit licence number.
- Check that the status reads Active. Anything else — including Suspended, Pending or Revoked — means you do not work until it is resolved.
Make this a habit. Check before every shift if you have anything outstanding with the SIA, and always check after a court appearance, a caution, or any contact with police — even if you think it was minor.
What to do if you receive a suspension notice
If a suspension letter or email lands, do not panic — but do not ignore it either. The steps are simple:
- Stop working licensable duties immediately. That means the second you read the notice, not at the end of the shift.
- Tell your employer. Hiding it makes things worse for both of you. Operators who knowingly deploy suspended staff face their own SIA sanctions.
- Read the reason carefully. The notice will explain why and what the SIA needs from you.
- Respond within the deadline. Provide the documents, statements or clarifications requested.
- Get advice. A solicitor who knows the Private Security Industry Act, or a union rep, can be the difference between a reinstated licence and a revoked one.
The career cost is bigger than the fine
Court fines for working without a valid licence can run into the thousands, and the offence carries up to six months in prison. But the bigger cost is what comes after. A criminal conviction for an SIA offence makes future licence applications difficult and, for many roles in close protection or in-house security, effectively impossible.
One shift on a suspended badge can wipe out a career built over a decade. The Glasgow case is the proof.
The takeaway for door supervisors
Treat your SIA licence the way a taxi driver treats their hackney plate or a nurse treats their NMC registration. It is not a piece of plastic — it is your permission to earn. Check it. Protect it. And if the SIA tells you to stop, stop.
If you are weighing up your next steps in the industry, or your licence is up for renewal, our door supervisor training course page walks through everything you need to keep working legally and confidently.
