NSW SECURITY LICENSING UPDATE

Under the NSW Security Industry Act 1997 and Security Industry Regulation 2007 companies, including licensed venues that employ security personnel must hold a Master license and all security employees an individual license. Companies that subcontract security work must ensure that the security company holds a Master License and their employees’ individual security licenses.

The legislation is administered by the NSW Police Security Licensing & Enforcement Directorate (SLED) formerly the Security Industry Registry.

In order to obtain a Master license companies must first obtain membership of an approved security industry association such as the Security Providers Association of Australia Limited (SPAAL).

Individuals undertaking security work must have an individual photo license. In order to apply for a license individual must first undertake training at a NSW Police approved registered training organisation, criminal history checking and finger printing are also requirements.

Changes to the legislation in 2007 provided for provisional licensing for new entrants to the security industry in response to the 2008 COAG national security industry reforms. From the 2009 ICAC inquiry into security training, ICAC identified that the current licensing regulator the Security Industry Registry was ineffective and should be restructured to ensure effective regulation of the industry, including registered training organisations that provide security training.

The newly restructured NSW Police Security Licensing & Enforcement Directorate (SLED) commenced operation on 1 July 2011.

See the SLED Organisation Chart below: