The SIA always carries out a criminal record check on anyone who applies for a licence. If an applicant has a criminal record, it does not necessarily mean that they will be refused a licence.
However, if an applicant has convictions, warnings, cautions, absolute/conditional discharges, admonishments or charges awaiting trial for offences, the SIA will make a decision according to the seriousness, relevancy, sentencing/penalty and recency.
The new criteria introduces new convictions and allows greater flexibility in the licensing decision, the Regulator says.
Nick Smith, assistant director, Government and Legal said: “The revised system builds on the previous criteria by maintaining our commitment to public protection. We believe by including consideration of the actual sentence or disposal received for a conviction it has a greater flexibility and increases fairness.”
Click on Get Licensed – SIA Licensing Criteria to download a PDF from the SIA website.
