Compliance & Regulation
38 articles on Compliance & Regulation for UK security companies.
UK Security Company Compliance: The Complete Checklist
SIA licensing, ACS, BS 7858 vetting, right to work, working time, Martyn's Law and GDPR: the checklist every UK security company needs to keep on top of, with the current rules and where to go for the detail.
SIA Licence Types Explained: Front Line, Non-Front Line and the Sectors
Front line versus non-front line SIA licences, the eight licensable sectors, licence length and current fees, verified against gov.uk.
Security Site Risk Assessments: A Practical Guide for Guarding Firms
How to write a site risk assessment that holds up at audit, how it connects to your assignment instructions, and where TacDesk holds the site information behind both.
How to Start a Security Company in the UK: A Practical Guide
What actually has to happen before you can trade as a UK manned guarding company: company formation, SIA licensing for staff and directors, insurance, vetting, your first contracts and the tooling to run it.
BS 7499 Explained: The Static Guarding Standard for UK Security Companies
What BS 7499 actually covers, how it sits alongside BS 7858 vetting, BS 7984 keyholding and the SIA Approved Contractor Scheme, and where to check the current edition.
What a Client Actually Asks For When They Ask You to Prove the Patrol Happened
The evidence question turns up in bids, client reviews and disputes. Here is what a paper patrol sheet can prove, what it can't, and what NFC checkpoint scanning changes.
The SIA Licenses Your Guards. It's Now Looking at Licensing Your Business Too.
A Home Office consultation on licensing security contractor businesses closed in March. No decision's been announced, but the SIA's own delivery planning hasn't stopped. Here's what's actually being proposed, and what to have ready either way.
Martyn's Law Won't Regulate You. It's About to Change What Your Clients Ask For.
Duties under the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 are already live and full commencement lands in spring 2027. The legal duty sits with the venue, not the contractor. But the venue is about to start asking you for proof.
Safeguarding and Whistleblowing: What Security Guards in Schools and Healthcare Need to Know
Guards working schools, hospitals, and care settings carry safeguarding responsibilities beyond standard site security — here's what UK security companies need in place.
Assignment Instructions Guards Actually Follow: A Practical Guide
Most assignment instructions are too long, out of date, and stuck in a folder nobody reads. Here is how to write site instructions your guards will actually use — and how to keep them current.
Martyn's Law: What UK Security Companies Need to Know About the Protect Duty
The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act — Martyn's Law — creates a new duty for venues to prepare for terror attacks. Here is what it means for UK security companies and how to turn it into an opportunity.
SIA Licence Expiry: How to Manage Renewals Across a Security Workforce
A single expired SIA licence on a live deployment is a criminal offence. Here is how to track and manage licence renewals across your entire security workforce — without relying on spreadsheets.
Working Time Regulations for Security Guards: What UK Security Employers Need to Know
The Working Time Regulations 1998 set strict limits on hours, rest breaks, and night work for security guards. Here’s what UK security employers must know to stay compliant in 2026.
BS 7858 Vetting: A Complete Guide for UK Security Companies
BS 7858 is the British Standard for screening individuals in security environments. This guide explains what it covers, who it applies to, and how to stay compliant.
TUPE and Security Contracts: What UK Security Companies Must Know
TUPE applies to most UK security contract transfers. This guide explains what outgoing and incoming contractors must do — from Employee Liability Information to inherited terms — and how to manage the handover operationally.
Key Holding and Alarm Response: Running a Compliant Operation in the UK
Key holding and alarm response is high-value but high-risk. This guide covers SIA licensing, insurance, BS 8584, key storage protocols, documentation requirements, and lone worker safety for UK security companies.
IR35 and Security Workers: What UK Security Companies Need to Know
The IR35 off-payroll working rules affect UK security companies using contractors, agency workers, or self-employed guards. This guide covers Status Determination Statements, key employment status tests, and how to manage your exposure.
How to Write a Security Incident Report: Best Practice for UK Security Companies
A well-written security incident report is your legal record, compliance evidence, and client assurance document. This guide explains what every report must include, common mistakes to avoid, and how digital reporting is replacing paper forms.
Security Guard Check Calls: Why They Matter and How to Manage Them
Check calls are a legal requirement for companies employing lone working security guards. This guide explains the law, how to set the right frequency, escalation procedures, and how technology is replacing manual monitoring.
How to Prepare for an ACS Audit: A Practical Checklist for UK Security Companies
Practical checklist for UK security companies preparing for an ACS audit. Know what inspectors look for and how to ensure your documentation is always ready.
Digital vs Paper Compliance: Why Spreadsheets Are Killing Your ACS Score
Spreadsheets and paper records are costing security companies ACS points. Here’s why digital compliance management is essential and what to look for in software.
The Deployability Tab: See Guard Compliance Status Before You Schedule
TacDesk's Deployability tab shows which guards are compliant right now, and why not when they aren't, so a manager can catch an expired licence or a missing vetting record before confirming a shift.
Building a Compliance Culture: How Technology Changes Guard Company Operations
How technology helps UK security companies build genuine compliance culture, not just a paper trail. From guard onboarding to continuous improvement at every level.
BS 7858 Vetting Explained: What UK Security Companies Need to Know
A plain-English guide to BS 7858 vetting for UK security companies. Learn what the standard requires, the five-year check timeline, and how to stay compliant.
Lone Worker Safety for Security Guards: Check Calls, Legal Duties, and Smart Solutions
Lone worker safety is a legal requirement for UK security companies. Here’s how check calls, GPS tracking, and guard management software help you meet your obligations and protect your team.
GDPR Compliance for Security Companies: What You Need to Know
UK security companies process sensitive personal data daily. Learn your GDPR obligations and practical steps to achieve compliance.
Digital Occurrence Books: ACS Compliance Made Simple
Digital occurrence books replace error-prone paper logs with searchable, tamper-proof records that support ACS compliance. Learn what to look for in a DOB solution.
Body-Worn Cameras for Security Guards: Benefits, Law, and Best Practice
Body-worn cameras offer clear benefits for UK security companies, but come with legal obligations. Learn the law, best practice, and how to manage footage properly.
Use of Force: Legal Guidelines Every Security Guard Must Know
Understanding the legal framework around use of force for security guards, including reasonable force, citizen’s arrest, and documentation.
Right to Work Checks: A Security Employer’s Complete Guide
How to conduct compliant right to work checks for security staff, including acceptable documents, online checks, and record-keeping.
Lone Worker Policies: Legal Requirements for Security Firms
How to create and implement a compliant lone worker policy for security guards working alone on sites.
First Aid Requirements for Security Personnel in the UK
What first aid training and equipment security guards need, and how employers can meet their legal obligations.
Fire Safety Responsibilities for Security Guards on Site
Understanding the fire safety duties that fall to security guards, from fire watch to evacuation procedures and documentation.
Data Protection in Manned Guarding: Beyond the Basics
How GDPR and data protection law applies to security guard operations, from CCTV to incident reports and GPS tracking.
BS7858 Screening: What Every Security Company Needs to Know
A practical guide to BS7858 pre-employment screening for security personnel, covering requirements, process, and best practices.
New Feature: Statutory Holiday Accrual — Automatic Entitlement Calculation
TacDesk now calculates holiday entitlement automatically at 12.07% of hours worked, ensuring compliance with UK statutory minimums.
New Feature: Digital Occurrence Book — Your Complete Site Activity Log
TacDesk’s Digital Occurrence Book automatically compiles all site activity into a chronological timeline with PDF export for ACS audits.
New Feature: Third-Party Access Links for Police and FOI Requests
TacDesk now lets you create secure, time-limited access links to share specific reports and footage with police, solicitors, or FOI requesters.