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Historical overview – Illegal Workers in the UK Private Security Industry

Michael O'Sullivan

Overview

Illegal employment in the UK’s private security sector typically refers to individuals working as security personnel without meeting legal requirements – for example, working without a valid SIA licence or without the legal right to work in the UK. Since the industry is regulated by the Security Industry Authority (SIA), anyone operating as a security guard, door supervisor, CCTV operator, etc., must hold an SIA licence and have the right to work. Those who bypass these requirements are considered to be working illegally. Estimating the number of illegal security workers is challenging because such activity is covert. The Home Office’s Independent Chief Inspector has noted that “because of its hidden nature, estimating the size of the problem with any confidence has been difficult”. Nonetheless, various investigations, official reports, and enforcement data provide insight into the scale of illegal working in the security industry.

Government Findings and Historical Estimates

One of the most concrete estimates came from a 2007 Home Office scandal that exposed thousands of illegal workers in private security. In late 2007, then-Home Secretary Jacqui Smith revealed that approximately 11,000 illegal migrants were working as private security guards in the UK, which was about double earlier estimates (11,000 illegal migrants licensed to work as private security guards – Community Care). This admission followed comprehensive checks of SIA licence holders after it emerged that many non-EU nationals had been granted licences despite not having the right to work. Specifically, checks on 39,885 non-EEA licence holders found that 6,653 did not have the right to work in the UK, with another 4,447 cases requiring further investigation (i.e. status unconfirmed) ( Security Industry Authority – Hansard – UK Parliament). Initially, an estimated “up to 5,000” illegal immigrants were reported to have secured security jobs – a figure leaked via the media in November 2007 (Illegal immigrants employed as security guards | Reuters) – but the full audit revealed the problem was even larger, hence the revised total of around 11,000. These individuals had obtained SIA licences under the old system that relied on applicants’ documents rather than direct immigration checks. Many were found guarding sensitive sites (even a case of an illegal migrant guarding the Prime Minister’s car was reported) (Illegal immigrants employed as security guards | Reuters).

The government’s response was swift. Starting July 2007, the SIA introduced immigration status checks for all non-EU applicants as a “double lock” against illegal working ( Security Industry Authority – Hansard – UK Parliament). By the end of that year, thousands of licences were revoked where workers were found to have no right to work. According to the SIA’s 2007/08 Annual Report, about 7,700 licences were revoked in partnership with the UK Border Agency due to concerns over the licence holders’ immigration status (Security Industry Authority Annual Report and Accounts 2007/08 HC 732). Those caught had their SIA licences withdrawn and were liable to deportation (Illegal immigrants employed as security guards | Reuters). This 2007 episode provides one of the clearest numerical snapshots of illegal workers in the security industry (i.e. on the order of ten thousand at the time) and underscores how significant the issue was before tighter checks were in place.

Ongoing SIA Enforcement and Compliance Data

Since the 2007 crackdown, direct official estimates of illegal workers in private security have been scarce, but enforcement data shows that the problem persists in a more limited form. The SIA now verifies right-to-work status for new licence applicants, making it harder for individuals without work permission to obtain an SIA badge. However, some continue to circumvent the system by working without any licence, using fake licences/identities, or exploiting loopholes. The SIA’s compliance inspections and enforcement actions give a sense of how many offenders are caught, though these likely represent a fraction of the total.

  • Compliance Inspections: The SIA conducts risk-based and random checks of security staff at venues. In 2021-22, for example, the SIA reports that it checked 1,868 individuals across hundreds of sites as part of targeted inspections, and separately checked another 959 operatives during random spot checks (Security Industry Authority Annual Report and Accounts 2021-22). These audits found a compliance rate of about 98%, meaning roughly 2% of those inspected were non-compliant with licensing requirements (e.g. found working unlicensed or with an invalid licence). While this suggests the vast majority were properly licensed, a 2% non-compliance rate still indicates some illegal operatives. If one extrapolated that rate across the industry (with over 430,000 active SIA licence holders as of 2024 (UK number of SIA licence holders 2024 | Statista), it hints that a few thousand individuals could be working without a valid licence at any given time – though the actual figure could be higher or lower, and such extrapolation is uncertain. These spot-check statistics at least confirm that some level of illicit employment continues despite regulation.
  • Prosecutions and Revocations: Each year, the SIA investigates and prosecutes cases involving illegal security work – (Active SIA prosecution cases – GOV.UK) – (SIA prosecutions over the last 12 months – GOV.UK)
  • Joint Operations: The SIA works with other agencies (Home Office Immigration Enforcement, police, HMRC, etc.) to root out illegal workers. Periodic “blitz” operations make headlines and give a sense of numbers involved. In late 2024, for example, the SIA led a nationwide sweep at 11 locations across England targeting suspected licence fraud and illegal labour in the security guarding sector ( SIA leads nationwide blitz to disrupt criminal activity – GOV.UK ). During that single-day operation, two individuals were arrested for immigration offences (overstaying visas) and another was cautioned for working without a valid SIA licence.
  • License for sale! This publication has identified 4 websites that are openly offering to sell SIA Licenses and other fake identity documents (surface web). Whether they actually send anything to would be users, or simply steal any money sent, is unclear. There have been numerous cases of illegal work involving forged licenses, so there are obviously sources. For obvious reasons we won’t share details of these sites here but if you have a legitimate interest contact us for details – Meanwhile due diligence has never been more important: Check security staff have a licence to work – GOV.UK – How to check SIA licence cards – GOV.UK

Industry Commentary and Related Sectors

Industry bodies and experts acknowledge the persistence of illegal working in private security, even if comprehensive statistics are lacking in recent years. The British Security Industry Association (BSIA) has long urged members to follow legal hiring practices, and others in the sector warn that rogue operators undercut reputable firms by using cheap, unlicensed labour. The Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA), representing nightlife venues, recently described illegal security staffing as part of the “huge challenges” facing the sector (Private security sector faces huge challenges amid reforms). The NTIA’s CEO predicted more prosecutions of those using unlicensed guards as regulators step up reforms and oversight. This reflects a view that some venue owners or contractors, pressured by security staff shortages and costs, have been tempted to employ unqualified guards – an issue exacerbated by the pandemic-era labour crunch in security. Indeed, training providers note that a shortage of licensed security personnel (for example, door supervisors for clubs) has, at times, led to a “black market” of unlicensed filling the gap, especially when demand for security is high (Risks of Unlicensed Security Work – Get Licensed Blog). Such stopgaps are illegal and carry risks, and the SIA has publicized cases to deter this behaviour.

The SIA itself has candidly acknowledged ongoing labour exploitation in the private security industry. In 2024 the SIA launched Operation EMPOWER, a special initiative to address poor working practices, unpaid wages, and potentially illegal employment of vulnerable workers. SIA officials stated: “We know that labour exploitation exists within the private security industry… The harm to individuals is unacceptable… unscrupulous operators can undercut those who treat their staff fairly” (We’re taking a stand against labour exploitation – Security Industry Authority Blog). They noted that exploited security workers are often “hard to reach” and may be vulnerable due to immigration status or economic desperation. In other words, some security guards with precarious or no legal status might be working off the books, likely for low pay, which constitutes illegal employment. This aligns with broader patterns seen in other low-wage sectors – illegal workers tend to be vulnerable to abuse, and their presence lets rogue employers dodge taxes and underpay staff. The Home Office has reported that industries like construction, hospitality, cleaning and others face similar issues with clandestine workers, and that illegal working is a nationwide problem larger than can be precisely measured or enforced away. The private security sector, despite regulation, is not immune to these pressures.

Conclusion

No up-to-date official figure exists for exactly how many people are working illegally in the UK’s private security industry, but available evidence suggests the number is significant yet much lower than the 2007 peak. Back then, roughly 5,000–11,000 illegal workers were believed to be active in security roles, a revelation that prompted tighter controls. Today, continued SIA enforcement indicates that pockets of illegal employment remain – from individual guards caught without licences to companies deliberately deploying unlicensed or undocumented staff. Such cases are prosecuted annually, and compliance operations still find a small percentage of security staff working unlawfully . However, there is no widely cited comprehensive estimate for the 2020s. If you are aware of illegal activity in the industry you should use the SIA Reporting illegal activity in the private security industry Contact Us Form

What is clear is that regulators and industry stakeholders view the issue seriously. The Home Office and SIA continue to carry out raids and compliance checks to detect illegal workers, and they encourage whistleblowing to uncover clandestine employment (Operation EMPOWER: A Promising Shift in the SIA’s Approach to Labour Exploitation in the Security Industry – SIF | Security Industry Federation) (We’re taking a stand against labour exploitation – Security Industry Authority Blog). Industry leaders are also urging venues and contractors to do proper due diligence, as both the unlicensed workers and those who employ them can face legal penalties (Private security sector faces huge challenges amid reforms). In summary, while no definitive count exists, the available data and past incidents show that illegal workers in private security likely number in the low thousands, historically peaking at around 10–11k, and that ongoing enforcement regularly exposes new cases in an effort to deter and diminish the problem. The consensus in reports and commentary is that **illegal employment, though reduced by reforms, continues to “undermine…the private security industry” and requires vigilance to combat (We’re taking a stand against labour exploitation – Security Industry Authority Blog).

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