Cobra Protection's company status
Cobra Protection does not hold Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) approval and does not claim otherwise. Where licensable work is required, Cobra Protection uses operatives who hold the appropriate individual SIA licence.
A responsible security brief is more than a request for “a guard” or “a bodyguard”. The activity, environment, authority, risks and expected conduct should be clear before deployment. Use the following questions to compare suppliers and create a written scope.
1. Define what needs protecting and why
Start with the outcome rather than a headcount. Explain whether the concern relates to personal movement, a residence, access to a venue, an asset handover, filming in public or another defined situation. Give dates, locations, expected attendance or movements, authorised contacts and any known concern that can lawfully be shared.
Do not send passports, medical information, detailed travel records or other sensitive material during an initial enquiry unless it is genuinely required. A supplier should be able to explain what information it needs and why.
2. Check whether the work is a licensable activity
The Security Industry Authority licenses individuals carrying out specified private-security activities. Whether a licence is required depends on the work and the contractual arrangement. Close protection, security guarding, door supervision, public-space CCTV, key holding and cash-and-valuables-in-transit work can fall within the licensing regime.
Use the official SIA guidance on licensable activities when the position is unclear. Do not accept a generic badge, training certificate or company statement as proof that an individual currently holds the appropriate licence.
3. Verify the individual licence
Ask which licence type is required for the proposed duties and how the supplier checks expiry, suspension and identity before deployment. The official register can be searched using a 16-digit licence number or specified personal details.
The GOV.UK service states that the correct licence should be checked before a person is hired for private-security work. Use the official SIA licence checker rather than relying on a screenshot supplied in isolation.
4. Understand the difference between licensing and ACS approval
Individual SIA licensing and company approval are different. The SIA's Approved Contractor Scheme is a voluntary quality-assurance scheme for security businesses. Approval is granted for specific activities, not automatically for every service a company offers.
If ACS status is required by your procurement policy, verify both the business and the approved activity on the official register. The SIA explains the distinction in its guidance on the Approved Contractor Scheme. A company that is not approved must not present itself as though it is.
5. Ask for the operating plan, not operational theatre
A proportionate proposal should explain the scope, personnel numbers and roles, reporting line, authorised access-control decisions, communications, handovers and escalation arrangements. It should also make clear what is outside the assignment.
Security personnel are not a substitute for the police or emergency services. The plan should identify when to contact the client, venue or property representative and when an incident must be escalated through the appropriate emergency channel.
6. Check insurance, vetting, supervision and records
Ask for insurance details relevant to the proposed activity and confirm that the cover is current. Discuss how personnel are selected, briefed, supervised and replaced if someone becomes unavailable. If a supplier refers to a vetting standard, ask what checks were completed, by whom and when; do not assume that a slogan proves the underlying record.
Agree how daily logs, access records, incident reports, photographs or personal information will be handled. The supplier should collect only what is necessary, limit access and provide a clear route for secure transfer and retention.
7. Read the commercial terms before confirming
The quotation or contract should identify the customer, service, dates, locations, price basis, expenses, payment dates, cancellation terms and any assumptions. Ask what happens if the itinerary, venue, attendance or risk changes. Consumers may have statutory rights that cannot simply be removed by a business term, particularly for some distance or off-premises contracts.
Do not sign if the scope is vague, the provider refuses reasonable licence checks, the company claims an approval it cannot evidence, or the price depends on undisclosed extras.
Short buyer's checklist
- Written purpose, dates, locations and authorised contacts
- Correct individual SIA licence verified where the activity is licensable
- ACS status checked separately if it is a procurement requirement
- Roles, authority, handovers, reporting and escalation agreed
- Current relevant insurance and personnel-selection process discussed
- Privacy, record handling and confidentiality responsibilities clear
- Price, expenses, changes and cancellation terms understood
Discuss a requirement with Cobra Protection
For an initial conversation, provide the service type, dates, general location and a concise outline of the concern. Avoid unnecessary sensitive information at this stage.