An updated version of the guidance for employers and for workers in the security industry has been published.  This contains important Q&As on situations where staff are required to ask customers for their Covid Pass or proof of vaccination.

The guidance is that any staff member can check a Covid Pass or proof of vaccination, but a person would need a SIA licence to stop a person entering the premises if they try to force entry.

Q. If it is a requirement for people entering the premises to present proof of vaccination, should the person who controls this access be SIA licensed?

A. We are of the view that simply checking a vaccination certificate and denying entry if a valid certificate or exemption is not presented, is not an activity for which an SIA licence is required. It is comparable to denying entry to a person without a ticket for admission to, for example, a music gig.

If an individual who has been denied entry then attempts to force entry to the premises, a person who guards against such unauthorised access would require an SIA licence.

In addition, where someone checking a vaccine passport combines it with the activity of judging the suitability of people entering the premises (for example, by making a decision as to the behaviour of a person, whether a person is underage or is intoxicated, or is carrying weapons or illegal substances) they will be engaged in licensable conduct for which an SIA licence is required.

It is not licensable conduct to check vaccine certification, to deny entry if a valid certificate or exemption is not presented, and/or to guard against unauthorised access to premises, if both of the following apply:

• the person who is doing this activity is directly employed by the premises
• those premises are not licensed to sell alcohol.