Security licence: types of security licences

The licences are categorised by:

Agent:

1. Security
2. Crowd Control
3. Inquiry.

Non-Agent:

1. Security Officer
2. Security Monitoring Officer
3. Security Bodyguard
4. Crowd Controller
5. Security Consultant
6. Security Installer
7. Investigator.

Agent

You must hold the appropriate agent licence if you intend to advertise or in any way hold out that you are willing to supply the services of the non-agent licence holders outlined in the Security and Related Activities (Control) Act 1996 (the Act).

Holders of agent licences are not permitted to perform the duties of the non-agent licence types unless they also hold the appropriate non-agent licence.

Agents have particular obligations placed on them by the Act to maintain records and communicate information to the Commissioner of Police.

An agent licence cannot be transferred and is only valid for the business it was originally applied for on behalf of. If a business wishes to change the holder of an agents licence, a full new application must be submitted.

If you are self-employed or subcontracting working under your own ABN, you must hold your own agent's licence.

Security Agent

This licence authorises you to advertise and supply the services of security officers, security bodyguards, security consultants or security installers. It does not authorise you to work as a security officer, security bodyguard, security consultant or security installer unless you also hold those licences.

Security Installers and Security Consultants who are self-employed or subcontracting working under their own ABN must hold their own Security Agent's licence.

Crowd Control Agent

This licence authorises you to advertise and supply the services of crowd controllers. It does not authorise you to work as a crowd controller unless you also hold that licence.

Inquiry Agent

This licence authorises you to advertise and supply the services of investigators. It does not authorise you to work as an investigator unless you also hold that licence.

Investigators who are self-employed or subcontracting working under their own ABN must hold their own Inquiry Agent's licence.

Non-Agent

You must hold the appropriate licence to perform the services defined by the Security and Related Activities (Control) Act:

Security Officer

This licence authorises you to watch, guard and protect property. Holders of this type of licence are sometimes known as 'security guards.'

Security officers may be approved to carry firearms or batons only in certain situations. Security officers may not carry any other weapon at any time. Without a specific licence endorsement, no weapons are to be carried by a security officer while he/she is performing licenced activities.

Security Monitoring Officer

This authorises you to watch and protect property whilst monitoring security alarms or closed circuit television as an employee of a licenced security agent. You are not authorised to engage in static or mobile patrols unless you also hold a Security Officer's licence.

No training is required to obtain this licence.

Security Bodyguard

This licence authorises the person to escort another person as a guard or protector for remuneration. (Section 14A of the Act).

Crowd Controller

This licence authorises you to monitor or control the behaviour of persons, screen persons for entry or remove people for behavioural reasons. This licence is required for licenced premises, places of entertainment and public or private events or functions.

Holders of this type of licence are sometimes known as 'bouncers' or 'doormen'.

A crowd controller is not permitted to carry any weapon on their person while they are performing crowd control activities. This prevents a crowd controller from carrying, possessing or using batons or 'pepper sprays'.

Security Consultant

This licence authorises you to investigate and advise on matters relating to the watching, guarding and protection of property as well as going from place to place seeking out persons who may be prepared to enter into contracts for the supply of security equipment or services.

Under Regulations 26, security consultants are divided into 4 classes:

• Class 1: Consult in safes, vaults and locks of a kind prescribed in Regulation 6
• Class 2: Consult in security alarms, closed circuit television for security purposes, equipment and devices prescribed in Regulation 8
• Class 3: Consult in security doors as prescribed in Regulation 7
• Class 4: Consult in matters relating to watching, guarding or protecting of property.

Security Consultants who are self-employed or subcontracting working under their own ABN must hold their own Security Agent's licence.

Security Installer

This licence authorises you to install, maintain and repair security equipment controlled by the Act. This licence does not apply to installers of security equipment in vehicles, vessels or aircraft.

Under Regulations 27, security installers are divided into 4 classes:

• Class 1: Install, maintain and repair safes, vaults and locks of a kind prescribed in Regulation 6
• Class 2: Install, maintain and repair security alarms, closed circuit television for security purposes, equipment and devices prescribed in Regulation 8
• Class 3: Install, maintain and repair security doors as prescribed in Regulation 7
• Class 4: Install locks of a kind referred to in Regulation 6.

Security Installers who are self-employed or subcontracting working under their own ABN must hold their own Security Agent's licence.

Investigator

This licence investigates the conduct of individuals or corporations or the character of individuals, performs surveillance work or investigates missing people.

Investigators who are self-employed or subcontracting working under their own ABN must hold their own Inquiry Agent's licence.