SIA first responder training for all licensees
Manchester Arena Inquiry · Manchester Arena Inquiry: Volume 1: Security for the Arena · Issued 17 June 2021 · Addressed to: College of Policing, Security Industry Authority
Source — verbatim from the inquiry
●Inquiry recommendation
The Security Industry Authority should take urgent steps to devise a training scheme in first responder interventions that educates all of those licensed by it, both existing licensees and new licence applicants. The Security Industry Authority may find it helpful to consult with the College of Policing in this, since it is apparent that the College of Policing has already undertaken a good deal of work in this regard.
Manchester Arena Inquiry, Manchester Arena Inquiry: Volume 1: Security for the Arena · 17 Jun 2021 Source PDF →
Published evidence summary
Publicly available evidence relating to this recommendation:
- The SIA has worked with the HSE to implement a sector-specific Emergency First Aid at Work certificate covering areas recommended by the inquiry (Manchester Arena Inquiry Recommendations Dashboard, Cabinet Office, February 2026).
- The sector-specific requirement was featured on the HSE website from September 2024 and will apply to all Door Supervisors and Security Guards seeking new or renewal licences (Manchester Arena Inquiry Recommendations Dashboard, Cabinet Office, February 2026).
- An adaptation period for those with recent training from outside the sector is planned to end by end of May, in line with a fuller review of SIA first aid requirements (Manchester Arena Inquiry Recommendations Dashboard, Cabinet Office, February 2026).
Response — verbatim from government
●UK Government
The Security Industry Authority (SIA) published a formal statement on 17 June 2021 in response to Volume 1 of the Manchester Arena Inquiry. The SIA committed to collaborating with the private security industry, law enforcement, and other stakeholders to implement the report's recommendations. The Home Office noted it would review the report and take action on recommendations requiring legislative change, including extending SIA licensing requirements for CCTV monitoring and security contractors.
UK Government · 17 Jun 2021 Written response →
Evidence trail — what's actually happened since
- 27 Feb 2026 The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has worked with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to implement a sector-specific version of the Emergency First Aid at Work certificate that includes areas that the inquiry recommended for further training. The SIA has liaised with training providers via the HSE First Aid Quality Partnership to ensure that the requirement for training is fully understood. The sector specific requirement was featured on the HSE website from end September last year. Training providers delivering training in the sector will need to cover the additional areas. The SIA is allowing an adaptation period where some operatives who have had recent training from outside the sector will be allowed to use their first aid certificate without the need to completely re-train. The number of people doing this will be small (less than 10%). It is planned that this adaptation period will be ended by end May, in line with a fuller review of the SIA's first aid requirements. The new sector-specific syllabus will apply to all Door Supervisors and Security Guards seeking to obtain a first licence or renew an existing one. Arrangements for Close Protection operatives already include the need to gain a higher level first aid qualification. Source →
- 14 Nov 2025 The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has worked with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to implement a sector-specific version of the Emergency First Aid at Work certificate that includes areas that the inquiry recommended for further training. The SIA has liaised with training providers via the HSE First Aid Quality Partnership to ensure that the requirement for training is fully understood. The sector specific requirement was featured on the HSE website from end September last year. Training providers delivering training in the sector will need to cover the additional areas. The SIA is allowing an adaptation period where some operatives who have had recent training from outside the sector will be allowed to use their first aid certificate without the need to completely re-train. The number of people doing this will be small (less than 10%). It is planned that this adaptation period will be ended by end May, in line with a fuller review of the SIA's first aid requirements. The new sector-specific syllabus will apply to all Door Supervisors and Security Guards seeking to obtain a first licence or renew an existing one. Arrangements for Close Protection operatives already include the need to gain a higher level first aid qualification. Source →
- 18 Dec 2025 · Home Office Consultation Government consultation opened 18 December 2025 on monitored recommendations 7 and 8: whether in-house CCTV operators should be SIA-licensed (MR7) and whether security contractors should be licensed (MR8). Closes 12 March 2026. View source → Reasonable Progress
- 14 Nov 2025 · Cabinet Office Government published formal Manchester Arena Inquiry recommendations dashboard on GOV.UK (14 November 2025) tracking all 149 recommendations with implementation progress updates. View source → Reasonable Progress
- 3 Apr 2025 · UK Parliament Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 received Royal Assent 3 April 2025. Creates two tiers: Standard Duty (200-799 capacity) and Enhanced Duty (800+). SIA will be regulator. Not yet in force -- at least 24 months before enforcement (expected April 2027). View source → Reasonable Progress
- 5 Jun 2023 · National Police Chiefs Council NPCC, Counter Terrorism Policing and College of Policing provided comprehensive updates to Sir John Saunders demonstrating "continued drive to improve collective response to terrorist incidents." View source → Reasonable Progress
Each entry above links to a primary source — gov.uk written statement, consultation response document, or inspection report. The Index does not characterise government intent; it tracks what has been published.
How this page is built
Source and Response are verbatim from primary documents. The Evidence trail records published activity since — written statements, consultation outcomes, inspection findings, parliamentary references. The Index does not paraphrase or characterise intent; it tracks what has been published. Where the evidence is the absence of action (a missed deadline, a slipped timetable), that absence is documented from primary sources rather than inferred.
This recommendation's data is verified periodically against primary sources. The Index is monitored for staleness weekly.