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SIA Approved Security Company

Prestige Secure Services Ltd holds SIA Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) status β€” independently assessed accreditation confirming the quality and compliance of our security operations in London and across the UK.

What Is an SIA Approved Contractor?

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) is the UK regulator responsible for licensing individual security operatives under the Private Security Industry Act 2001. Alongside individual licensing, the SIA also runs a separate, voluntary accreditation for security businesses called the Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS).

ACS status is only awarded to companies that pass an independent assessment of their operational and business practices β€” covering areas such as staff vetting, training, supervision, customer service, and financial management β€” not simply to companies whose guards hold a valid licence.

SIA-licensed security officer employed by Prestige Secure Services, an SIA Approved Contractor

Who Regulates the UK Security Industry?

The Security Industry Authority is the statutory body responsible for regulating the UK's private security industry on behalf of the Home Office. Its two core functions are compulsory licensing of individuals working in designated security roles β€” including door supervision, CCTV monitoring, and close protection β€” and management of the Approved Contractor Scheme for security businesses.

Only a minority of UK security providers hold ACS status. Because the scheme is voluntary and assessment-based, businesses that choose to pursue it are opting into a level of scrutiny that goes beyond the baseline legal requirement to employ SIA-licensed staff.

What It Takes to Achieve ACS Status

To gain and retain Approved Contractor status, a security company must pass an independent audit measured against a defined set of achievement indicators covering the full scope of how the business is run, then be scored into a quartile band reflecting overall performance.

  • Recruitment, vetting, and screening standards
  • Officer training and ongoing supervision
  • Health and safety management
  • Customer service and complaints handling
  • Business and financial management practices
SIA Approved Contractor Scheme quartile scoring bands, published by the Security Industry Authority

Source: Security Industry Authority (SIA), gov.uk.

Prestige Secure Services Ltd, an SIA Approved Contractor operating across London

Our SIA Approved Contractor (ACS) Status

Prestige Secure Services Ltd achieved SIA Approved Contractor status in 2022, and in 2025 we further strengthened our accreditation with COP119 certification, covering quality management, ethical governance, and customer satisfaction.

You don't need to take our word for it β€” our registration is publicly listed on the SIA's official register. You can verify our SIA Approved Contractor status directly on the SIA register at any time before appointing us.

Why Choosing an SIA Approved Security Company Matters

Any legally operating security guard must hold an individual SIA licence β€” but that alone doesn't tell you whether the company employing them is well managed, financially stable, or consistent in how it trains and supervises staff. ACS status closes that gap.

For facilities managers, procurement teams, and property owners, working with an SIA Approved Contractor provides independently verified evidence of due diligence, reduces compliance risk in supplier audits, and is often a tender requirement for public sector and corporate security contracts.

Frequently Asked Questions

SIA Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) status is a voluntary accreditation awarded by the Security Industry Authority to security companies that meet defined quality and performance standards. It is separate from the individual SIA licence held by a security officer β€” ACS status is awarded to the business itself, following independent assessment of how it operates.

Yes. Prestige Secure Services Ltd holds SIA Approved Contractor Scheme status, achieved in 2022, alongside COP119 accreditation gained in 2025. Our registration can be verified directly on the official SIA public register.

The SIA publishes a public register of every Approved Contractor at services.sia.homeoffice.gov.uk. You can search by company name or contractor reference number to confirm a provider's current status before appointing them.

An SIA licence is held by an individual security officer and confirms they have passed the required training, identity, and criminal record checks to work legally in the industry. SIA Approved Contractor status is awarded to the company that employs them, confirming the business itself meets independently assessed quality, compliance, and operational standards.

ACS status gives clients independent assurance that a security provider has been audited against defined quality standards, not just that individual guards are licensed. For businesses procuring security services, it reduces compliance risk and provides evidence of due diligence when selecting a contractor.

Your Safety, Our Priority

Work with an independently accredited, SIA Approved security company. Contact Prestige Secure Services today to discuss your requirements.

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