COVID 19 SIA Critical workers designation

Following on from a question raised by the by the Security Industry Authority (SIA) to the Home office as to whether private security personal are critical workers clarification has been issued and this is in the latest version of the SIA Frequently Asked Questions document.

The document states:

Are security staff classed as critical workers and therefore exempt from a stay at home lockdown? Amended 07 Jan 21

A security operative is considered a critical worker if they are deployed in the following:

• Critical security provision in hospitals, social care, the courts, government estate buildings as well as key supermarkets/ food supply chain, the transport network and critical national infrastructure and utilities is critical work.
• Roles essential to supporting law and order, or which have the potential to limit any further likely pressures on the Police or national emergency services. This could includethe guarding of empty or closed commercial property judged at risk, closed retail sites or sensitive office premises, or the monitoring of similar through CCTV or other remote means, and the provision of alarm response centres including mobile units.

However the SIA state that this is not a definitive definition of those covered and that…

“The questions arising are not easy and no-one else can answer them for you. You will need to apply judgement, with the aim of following the Government’s guidance and always minimising social contact where possible.”