Recommendation MAI-20: Review licensing for security contractors
From Manchester Arena Inquiry: Volume 1: Security for the Arena, published 17 June 2021.
Recommendation
Consideration should be given to whether contractors who carried out security services should be required to be licenced.
In brief (written by this site)
The Cabinet Office reported in February 2026 that the recommendation was complete, following a written answer that month from Dan Jarvis, Minister of State for Security, noting that the Home Office had launched a public consultation on licensing security businesses (Dan Jarvis, Feb 2026; Cabinet Office, Feb 2026). In June 2026, the Security Industry Authority stated in its strategic plan that it was ready to implement any changes approved by the government to make business licensing mandatory following that consultation (Security Industry Authority, Jun 2026).
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 26 Sep 2026. The record below is the sources' own words.
Government response
Accepted in full
Delivery
Cabinet Office says completed (27 February 2026)
This recommendation is now complete.
Home Office says in progress (24 February 2026)
Furthermore, the Government remains committed to delivering the intended outcomes of the Manchester Arena Inquiry, including Monitored Recommendations 7 and 8 which relate to licensing of in-house operatives and security businesses. The Home Office launched a 12-week public consultation on 18 December 2025 to help better understand the impact of the proposals for change. The consultation aims to inform proposals that will ensure high quality oversight of the private security industry, while ensuring any new costs and regulatory burdens are proportionate and consider impact on business.
From: Security Guards: Licensing (written question UIN 112782)
Earlier statements on delivery (3)
Home Office (18 December 2025)
Today the Government is launching a public consultation relating to the private security industry, specifically Manchester Arena Inquiry Monitored Recommendations MR7 (in-house CCTV operatives should be licensed by the Security Industry Authority) and MR8 (security businesses should be licensed by the Security Industry Authority).
From: Consultation on Manchester Arena Inquiry recommendations 7 and 8 (written statement HCWS1211)
Home Office (15 December 2025)
The Home Office plans to consider options in regards to Manchester Arena Monitored recommendations 7 and 8 in due course.
From: Consultation on Manchester Arena Inquiry recommendations 7 and 8 (written statement HCWS1167)
Cabinet Office (14 November 2025)
Home Office Ministers recently committed to reviewing recommendations MR7 and MR8 with a view to delivering on their intent; namely to deliver better uniformity of standards in the private security industry, enhanced provision of security services, and effective counter-terrorism measures.
From: Manchester Arena Inquiry Recommendations Dashboard, original version (data file)
What other bodies have found
In their own words. These do not change the delivery statement above.
Security Industry Authority (23 June 2026)
We are also ready to implement any changes approved by the government to the statutory business approvals regime, including the proposals to make business licensing mandatory following the consultation on Manchester Arena Inquiry Monitored Recommendation 8.
From: SIA strategic plan: 2026 to 2029 (HTML version)
Site note: The Security Industry Authority's strategic plan for 2026 to 2029, in the HTML version GOV.UK dates 23 June 2026; the same plan was first published as a PDF on 8 June 2026. The plan names the Inquiry's Monitored Recommendations 7 and 8, which the Home Office's written statement HCWS1211 describes as the licensing of in-house CCTV operatives (recorded here as recommendation 161) and of security businesses (recommendation 20). The Authority says it is ready to implement whatever the Government decides after its consultation; it takes no position of its own, so the row is marked noted.
Source
Who has spoken
- UK Government
Response - Cabinet Office
Delivery statement - Home Office
Delivery statement - Security Industry Authority
Finding