Greater Manchester Police arrested a 37-year-old man on Wednesday 17 December 2025 on suspicion of offences under the Fraud Act 2006. The investigation concerns alleged malpractice linked to Security Industry Authority (SIA) licence‑linked training, with the authority signalling the action under its Operation RESOLUTE work.
Following the arrest, SIA Inspections and Enforcement staff searched one residential address and one business premises. The individual was released under investigation and enquiries are ongoing, the SIA confirmed.
Operation RESOLUTE is the SIA’s current programme to target training malpractice and qualification fraud. In a December update the authority reported coordinated unannounced inspections across London, Manchester, Bradford and Liverpool; since the start of 2025 it has recorded 19 training centre closures and 242 licence suspensions.
Licence‑linked training is delivered by private providers approved and quality‑assured by awarding organisations. The SIA sets the qualification specifications and endorses awarding bodies, while Ofqual, SQA, Qualifications Wales and CCEA regulate the awarding organisations. Current awarding bodies include BIIAB, Highfield, Pearson BTEC, Qualifications Network, SFJ Awards and Trident Awards (LASER). Key specification documents were most recently updated on 27 August 2025.
Providers must meet defined conditions to teach SIA licence‑linked courses, including approval by an awarding organisation, sector competence and recognised teaching qualifications. They must follow published rules on venues and minimum contact hours and confirm learners hold valid first aid qualifications before training for roles such as door supervision, security guarding and close protection. Annual continuing professional development is also required, and any use of virtual learning must be pre‑agreed with awarding organisations and notified to the SIA.
Qualification fraud may be prosecuted under the Fraud Act 2006, including fraud by false representation, failing to disclose information when under a legal duty, abuse of position, and obtaining services dishonestly. The principal fraud offences carry a maximum penalty of up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
The SIA has used interim measures to protect public safety while enquiries progress, including licence suspensions and limits on centres pending awarding‑organisation scrutiny. In November, it reported suspending more than 60 licences linked to two centres in Glasgow and Manchester, with the relevant awarding organisation blocking further training at one of them.
Members of the public and the industry are asked to report concerns about licence‑linked training directly to awarding organisations and the qualifications regulators, providing details of who, what, where and when. The SIA’s GOV.UK guidance sets out how to submit intelligence, and the authority has said it will provide further updates on this case when appropriate.