If you are thinking about hiring Brisbane, Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast Security, then it’s important that you know what to look for, including any requirements they should meet and licences they should hold.

The first edition of Security Buzz focuses on the current requirements for Security Provider Firm licences in Queensland. Some of the requirements that may be most important to you are as follows:

Crowd Controller Register at Licensed Venues

The Security Providers Regulation requires a Liquor Licence holder to keep a register of Crowd Controllers working at their premises. The primary purpose of the register is to assist with identifying and locating Crowd Controllers, particularly after any serious incident.

An amendment to the Regulation has been requested so a Crowd Controller’s residential address is not required information as part of the register. This is due to recent changes to the law, that states Crowd Controllers are now required to refuse entry or remove a person on a licensed premises who is wearing or carrying a prohibited item, such as gang ‘colours’ or emblems.

Interstate Monitoring Centres

Any Security Provider who provides the services of Electronic Security Monitoring for a property or premises being monitored, require a Security Firm Licence – Class 1 and are required to hold a Security Officer (Monitoring) Licence.

Licence Required for Installation and Maintenance of Security Equipment

If your Security Provider installs, repairs or maintains Security Equipment designed to enhance property protection, then they need to be licensed under the Security Providers Act 1993 (SPA). This licensing requirement applies to anyone who installs Security Equipment, even if you are already licensed as an electrician or other contractor.

Sham Contracting

The FWA makes it illegal for employers to miss-classify the legal status of employees from genuine employees to independent contractors. This practice is commonly referred to as ‘sham contracting’.

Security Firms that engage in such illegal conduct will be actively investigated and may have their licence cancelled by OFT. In March 2014, the OFT finalised the removal of a Security Provider Firm’s authority to trade, due to ‘sham contracting’.

Shelf Companies

Shelf companies employ Security Staff without the new company being licensed as a Security Firm under the SPA. OFT has consulted and is working with the Office of State Revenue (OSR) regarding taxation obligations of Security Companies that are structured in this manner.

Association Roles and Responsibilities

Approved Security Industry Associations are given an extra compliance role to ensure Security Firms that are working within the industry, are meeting behavioural benchmarks. To ensure compliance with the Code of Conduct, each association must conduct an audit of each of their member’s Security Firm, at least once every three years.

So if you’re hiring a Queensland Security Firm, then it is important to ensure they meet the requirements and hold the licences they require. Visit Security Buzz to find out more about Security Firm requirements and licences in Queensland.