Security guard management software for Luton and Bedfordshire security companies

Luton has the fifth-largest pool of SIA licence holders in the UK. Plan rotas, prove officers were on site, record patrols and incidents, and give clients the evidence they ask for, in one platform.

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What software do Luton and Bedfordshire security companies use to manage officers?

Security companies in Luton, Bedford and the rest of Bedfordshire use security workforce software to plan rotas, check officers are on site, record patrols and incidents, and report to clients. ForceVera does this in one platform: rotas on officers' phones, a geofenced clock-in, QR patrol checkpoints, incident and daily reports, a client portal and timesheets.

ForceVera in Luton and Bedfordshire: key facts

ForceVera charges in US dollars: $169 a month for up to 25 guards (Basic), $449 a month for up to 100 guards (Pro) and $1,099 a month for up to 500 guards (Enterprise). Your bank converts the charge to pounds.
ForceVera is priced per company by the number of guards; admins, dispatchers, supervisors and client users are not counted.
The SIA counted 10,245 licence holders in the Luton travel to work area in September 2025, the fifth most in the UK.
Luton recorded 82.2 crimes and 9.1 shoplifting offences per 1,000 people in the year to March 2026, against 84.7 and 8.2 for England and Wales.
ForceVera keeps a photo of each officer's SIA licence on their profile, but does not check licences with the SIA or track expiry dates.

Prices in US dollars before tax, as of October 2026. Other figures from the official sources on this page, checked October 2026.

Luton and Bedfordshire in numbers

Security work in Luton and Bedfordshire

The SIA's September 2025 FOI release counts 10,245 licence holders in the Luton travel to work area and 1,231 in Bedford. In the year to March 2026 Bedfordshire Police recorded 68.6 crimes per 1,000 people, against 84.7 for England and Wales; Luton recorded 82.2 per 1,000, with 9.1 shoplifting offences per 1,000.

10,245SIA licence holders in the Luton travel to work area (2025)

51,458crimes recorded by Bedfordshire Police, excluding fraud (year to March 2026)

68.6crimes per 1,000 people (England and Wales: 84.7)

82.2crimes per 1,000 people in Luton (Community Safety Partnership)

9.1shoplifting offences per 1,000 people in Luton (England and Wales: 8.2)

14,000employees in private security activities in the East of England (2024, provisional)

Police recorded crime, excluding fraud, by Community Safety Partnership, Bedfordshire, year to March 2026
Area	Crimes	Per 1,000 people	Shoplifting per 1,000
Luton	19,654	82.20	9.14
Bedford	14,950	76.68	8.10
Central Bedfordshire	14,940	47.30	3.80
Bedfordshire Police area	51,458	68.62	6.81
England and Wales	5,235,213	84.70	8.20

Licensing

How does SIA licensing work in Luton and Bedfordshire?

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) licenses security staff across the UK under the Private Security Industry Act 2001; the same rules apply across England.

Who needs an SIA licenceYou need a front line SIA licence for licensable work done under a contract for services: security guarding, door supervision, close protection, public space surveillance (CCTV), cash and valuables in transit, and key holding. In-house staff employed directly by the company that uses their services usually do not, except for door supervision at licensed premises.

Qualification and training timeA security guard licence needs the Level 2 Award for Working as a Security Officer in the Private Security Industry. A door supervisor licence needs the door supervisor award and also covers security guarding. The SIA puts security guarding training at 30 hours over 4 days with self-study, or 38 hours over 5 days without; door supervision takes 44 hours over 6 days, or 52 hours over 7.

First aidSecurity guard and door supervisor applicants need an Emergency First Aid at Work award that meets the Health and Safety Executive requirement, or an equivalent. You need it before the licence training starts, and it must be valid for at least another 12 months.

Fee, length and renewalSince 1 April 2026 the application fee is £204, and most extra licences on the same application cost £102. SIA licences last 3 years and do not renew themselves: you can apply 4 months before yours expires. To renew a security guard or door supervisor licence you also need a refresher qualification.

How many hours a week can security officers work?

The Working Time Regulations 1998 cover Great Britain. An officer's working time, overtime included, must not go over an average of 48 hours for each 7 days unless they agree in writing to work more. The average is normally taken over 17 weeks; for security guards whose work needs a permanent presence to protect property and people (a special case under regulation 21), it is taken over 26 weeks. An opt-out must be voluntary and in writing, and the officer can end it with at least 7 days' notice, or up to 3 months if the agreement says so.

Work out shifts and headcount with the free 24/7 coverage calculator or the overtime calculator.

ForceVera

Run your Luton and Bedfordshire security operation in one platform

Round-the-clock rotasPlan 24/7 rotas by site and week, publish them to officers' phones and see open shifts before they become gaps.

SIA licences on fileOfficers upload a photo of their SIA licence in the app and it is kept on their profile. ForceVera does not check licences with the SIA or track expiry dates; use the SIA register on GOV.UK for that.

Hours for the 48-hour averageTimesheets show each officer's hours shift by shift and export to CSV or Excel, so you can check them against the working time limits before you publish the next rota.

Proof of service for clientsAttendance and timesheets roll into a daily client report with your logo, and on Pro and Enterprise clients have their own portal. Patrol scans and incident reports from the guard app are coming soon.

FAQ

Security companies in Luton and Bedfordshire: questions, answered

How many SIA licence holders are there in Luton and Bedfordshire?

The SIA's FOI release of 19 September 2025 lists 10,245 licence holders in the Luton travel to work area (942 women and 9,303 men), the fifth most in the UK, and 1,231 in Bedford.

What was the recorded crime rate in the Bedfordshire Police area?

In the year ending March 2026 Bedfordshire Police recorded 51,458 crimes, excluding fraud: 68.6 per 1,000 people, against 84.7 for England and Wales. Luton recorded 19,654 crimes (82.2 per 1,000) and 2,186 shoplifting offences (9.1 per 1,000).

How many people work in private security in the East of England?

The ONS Business Register and Employment Survey estimates 14,000 employees in private security activities (SIC 80100) in the East of England in 2024. The figure is provisional and rounded.

What do I need for an SIA security guard licence?

The Level 2 Award for Working as a Security Officer in the Private Security Industry and an Emergency First Aid at Work award. The application fee is £204 and the licence lasts 3 years.

Official sources

Checked October 2026. Licensing and employment rules change, so confirm them with the regulator before you rely on them. This page is general information, not legal advice.

Other UK areas: London · Birmingham and the West Midlands · Greater Manchester · Leeds, Bradford and West Yorkshire · Slough and Heathrow · Liverpool and Merseyside · Sheffield and South Yorkshire · Newcastle and the North East · Scotland · Wales · Northern Ireland · ForceVera in the UK.

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