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Changes to the training needed for a Supervisor or Security Guard Licence

Source: Security Industry Authority (SIA) published on this website Friday 21 February 2025 by Jill Powell

From 1 April 2025, there has to be a ‘refresher’ qualification the door supervisor or security guard licence can be renewed

There has to be an up-to-date Emergency First Aid at Work qualification, or equivalent, before the refresher training (read about the first aid qualifications we accept) can be undertaken. The first aid qualification will need to be shown to the training provider when y registering for a refresher course.

In 2021 SIA introduced new, updated qualifications for all sectors except close protection and vehicle immobilisation.

They also made it a requirement that:

Applicants must have an Emergency First Aid at Work qualification, or equivalent, before individuals can take the training required for a door supervisor or security guard licence
Applicants must have one of the new qualifications or take top-up training before you can apply for or renew a door supervisor and security guard licence

In 2022 the SIA introduced an updated close protection qualification. They also made it a requirement that applicants must have the new qualification or take top-up training before applying for or renew a close protection licence.

The SIA need to make sure that people working in the private security industry can:

keep the public safe
follow new working practices
understand recent changes to the law
make the best use of new technology

If an individual holds a door supervisor licence they can choose one of the following options:

take the door supervisor refresher training and renew their door supervisor licence
take the security guard refresher training and switch to a security guard licence

If an individual already holds a close protection licence, they can choose one of the following options:

take the close protection top-up training and renew the close protection licence
take the door supervisor refresher training and switch to a door supervisor licence

Door supervisors and security guards must complete an Emergency First Aid at Work qualification, or equivalent, before taking the licence-linked training. This applies both to the full licence-linked training courses and to the refresher training.

The SIA accept qualifications that comply with the relevant guidance from the Health and Safety Executive. Some examples are:

First Aid at Work (FAW)
First Person on Scene (FPOS)
First Response Emergency Care (FREC)

Individual training provider can tell you more about this.

Close protection operatives must complete a first aid qualification at level 3 or above before taking the licence-linked training. Some examples are:

Level 3 First Aid at Work (FAW)
Level 3 First Person on Scene (FPOS)
Level 3 First Response Emergency Care (FREC)

The SIA accept other qualifications. Training providers can tell you more about this.

Mencap responds to “Lost in the System; The Need for Better NHS Admin, from the Kings Fund”

Source: Mencap published on this website Thursday 20 February 2025 by Jill Powell

The report highlights the scale and impact of poor NHS administration and patient communications, including on people with long-term conditions.

Jon Sparkes, OBE, Chief Executive at learning disability charity Mencap, says:

“It's deeply worrying to hear people are being deterred from getting medical treatment because of NHS admin issues and this can be particularly harmful for people with a learning disability, who already face huge inequalities in getting the healthcare they need.

“Having to chase test results, not knowing who to contact or how long you might have to wait for treatment is hard for anyone and it’s unsurprising that people end up with delays to care or treatment or feel like giving up. It is an even heavier burden for people with a learning disability who are struggling to navigate a complex health system.

“For people with a learning disability these barriers to healthcare form part of the picture where they die on average up to 23 years earlier than the general population with many of their deaths avoidable. Delays to accessing care and treatment are a key driver of these shocking inequalities.

“Poor admin isn't just an inconvenience it actively deepens health inequalities. The Government’s 10 Year NHS Plan must fix these preventable admin failures and ensure the healthcare system meets the needs of people with a learning disability. This includes ensuring they are supported to access easy-to-understand information and are able to contact NHS services in a more accessible way

Man who conspired to commit FGM has jail sentence increased

Source: Attorney Generals Office Published on this website Tuesday 18 February 2025 by Jill Powell

Emad Kaky, 48, has had his sentence increased after it was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme. The court heard that in June 2019 Kaky arranged for a young girl to travel to Iraq for an FGM procedure and to be forced into marriage.

Kaky’s plans were uncovered by a witness who arranged for the victim to travel back to the UK from Iraq and reported Kaky to the police. Kaky was convicted of conspiracy to commit FGM and forced marriage.

The Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP said:

“FGM is a sickening crime and this government is determined to stamp out the practice as part of our mission to halve violence against women and girls. This offender intended to inflict grotesque physical and mental suffering upon a child. The court has rightly decided to increase his sentence to reflect the severity of his crime. This was a landmark case, and I would like to commend the work of the CPS to successfully prosecute for the first time a charge of conspiracy to commit FGM.”

Janine McKinney, Chief Crown Prosecutor for CPS East Midlands, said:

Female genital mutilation is a horrific crime to subject anyone to - let alone a child.

“This landmark case sends a strong message to perpetrators - just because an offence has been committed somewhere else in the world does not stop you facing prosecution. During the trial we presented evidence that the defendant considered his behaviour to be normal. Today, Emad Kaky has faced the consequences of his actions in trying to get a child subjected to female genital mutilation and be forced into a marriage not of her choosing.

“The law is clear that there is no place for this unacceptable practice in society and the Crown Prosecution Service, police and other law enforcement agencies will work together to bring perpetrators to justice.”

On 3 October 2024, Emad Kaky was sentenced to four and a half years’ imprisonment at Nottingham Crown Court for one count of conspiracy to commit FGM outside England and Wales and one count of forced marriage

On 24 January 2025, Kaky’s sentence was substituted for 7 years’ imprisonment after it was referred to the Court of Appeal under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.

‘Ronan’s Law’ to see toughest crackdown yet on knife sales online

Source: Home Office published on this site Wednesday 19 February 2025 by Jill Powell

Retailers will need to report suspicious and bulk purchases of knives on their platforms to police, with tougher sentences for selling knives to under 18s.

Stricter rules for online retailers selling knives will be introduced by the government, along with tougher penalties for failing to enforce them, as we pursue every avenue to protect young people from knife crime.

Following tragedies where the unlicensed sale of these weapons online has led to young people being killed, retailers will be required to report any bulk or suspicious-looking purchases of knives on their platforms to police to prevent illegal resales happening across social media accounts.

Underlining our commitment to stop these weapons from reaching young people, we will increase the sentence for selling weapons to under 18s from 6 months to up to 2 years prison time, which could apply to an individual who has processed the sale or a CEO of the company.

This increased penalty will also apply to the sale or supply of prohibited offensive weapons such as recently banned zombie-style knives, following police evidence outlined by Commander Stephen Clayman, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for knife crime, where he identified a discrepancy in current legislation which means there is more leniency for illegally selling weapons than possessing one.

And in recognition of the broad array of knives - legal or banned - that are involved in knife attacks, a new offence of possessing an offensive weapon with intent for violence will be introduced in the Crime and Policing Bill which will come with a prison sentence of up to 4 years in prison. This means that no matter if the weapon in possession is legal or not, if there is intent to cause violence, it is a crime.

The government will also explore through a consultation later this year whether a registration scheme should be put in place for all online retailers selling knives so that only responsible sellers are able to sell knives. This follows the government’s recent announcement that we will significantly strengthen ID checks on the sale and delivery of knives to keep our streets safe as part of the Plan for Change.

Church of England publish first annual report on independent safeguarding audits

Source: Church of England published on this website Friday 14 February 2025 by Jill Powell

The INEQE Safeguarding Group has today published its first annual report into the independent audit work looking at safeguarding arrangements within Church of England dioceses and cathedrals.

Sarah McKimm, Independent Chair of the Audit's Quality Assurance group and independent chair of the London DSAP (Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Panel) said:

"There has never been a more important time for safeguarding arrangements within the church to be the focus of independent rigorous scrutiny. As a national leader of safeguarding with extensive experience across a wide range of settings, INEQE reports objectively and dispassionately, without fear or favour, acknowledging good practice and progress while also highlighting areas for improvement. This first annual report will help dioceses to drive further improvement."

The Church of England’s lead safeguarding bishop, Joanne Grenfell, said:

“I welcome the initial overview report of independent audits from INEQE published today, audits originally commissioned as one of the Church of England recommendations in the IICSA (Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse) report. Independent audit and scrutiny of our safeguarding work is vital, as in any institution, so we can continue to improve and learn. INEQE highlight a range of themes – both challenging and reassuring - coming out of their initial work. We look forward to their further scrutiny and recommendations as this audit plan continues across the Church and we thank all our cathedral and diocesan safeguarding officers for their continued professional commitment and hard work in making the Church a safer place”