Whilst we have no legal duty to check the right to work of individuals in our licensing decisions, we are continually improving our processes to ensure as far as we reasonably can that SIA licence holders are not illegal workers.

We work closely with security companies to remind them of their legal obligations and best practice when establishing the rights of their potential employees to work but employers should not accept the possession of an SIA licence as proof of this right.

Since July this year we have worked with the Border and Immigration Agency (BIA) to carry out right to work checks on 100 per cent of those applicants that are non-EEA nationals. Swift action has also been taken to ensure that all current and previous SIA applications undergo right to work checks through the BIA.

Where it is subsequently discovered that a licence holder does not have the right to work in the UK, or the right to work has expired, the SIA licence will be revoked. However, it is inevitable that criminals and illegal workers will seek to obtain licences to which they are not entitled and we continue to work closely with BIA to share resources and information to target illegal working.