Security guard management software for Greater Manchester security companies

Manchester has the second-largest pool of SIA licence holders in the UK, after London. 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 Greater Manchester security companies use to manage officers?

Security companies in Greater Manchester 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.

Greater Manchester in numbers

Security work in Greater Manchester

The SIA's September 2025 FOI release counts 32,133 licence holders in the Manchester travel to work area. In the year to March 2026 Greater Manchester Police recorded 103.7 crimes per 1,000 people, against 84.7 for England and Wales; the City of Manchester recorded 142.7 per 1,000.

32,133SIA licence holders in the Manchester travel to work area (2025)

312,081crimes recorded by Greater Manchester Police, excluding fraud (year to March 2026)

103.7crimes per 1,000 people (England and Wales: 84.7)

142.7crimes per 1,000 people in Manchester (Community Safety Partnership)

19,363shoplifting offences, 6.4 per 1,000 people (England and Wales: 8.2)

23,000employees in private security activities in the North West (2024, provisional)

SIA licence holders by travel to work area, Greater Manchester
Travel to work area	SIA licence holders (2025)
Manchester	32,133
Warrington and Wigan (crosses into Cheshire)	2,940

Licensing

SIA licensing and Martyn's Law in Greater Manchester

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) licenses security staff across the UK under the Private Security Industry Act 2001, and will also regulate Martyn's Law.

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.

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.

Martyn's LawThe Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 is called Martyn's Law in tribute to Martyn Hett, one of the 22 people killed in the Manchester Arena attack. It received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025, and the SIA, its regulator, expects it to come into force in spring 2027. Premises where 200 to 799 people may be present at the same time are in the standard tier; 800 or more, the enhanced tier.

The 48-hour week for security officers

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 Greater Manchester security operation in one platform

Records for venue clientsIncident reports with photos, patrol scans and attendance are kept per site, so a venue client can see what your officers did and when.

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 clientsPatrol scans, incident reports and attendance roll into a daily client report with your logo, and on Pro and Enterprise clients have their own portal.

FAQ

Security companies in Greater Manchester: questions, answered

How many SIA licence holders are there in Greater Manchester?

The SIA's FOI release of 19 September 2025 lists 32,133 licence holders in the Manchester travel to work area. The Warrington and Wigan area, which crosses into Cheshire, has 2,940. Travel to work areas do not follow council boundaries.

What was the recorded crime rate in the Greater Manchester Police area?

In the year ending March 2026 Greater Manchester Police recorded 312,081 crimes, excluding fraud: 103.7 per 1,000 people. There were 19,363 shoplifting offences, or 6.4 per 1,000 people. The City of Manchester recorded 84,130 crimes, 142.7 per 1,000.

What is Martyn's Law and when does it start?

Martyn's Law is the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, named after Martyn Hett, who was killed in the Manchester Arena attack. It became law on 3 April 2025 and the SIA will regulate it. The SIA expects it to come into force in spring 2027, for premises where 200 or more people may be present at the same time.

How many people work in private security in the North West?

The ONS Business Register and Employment Survey estimates 23,000 employees in private security activities (SIC 80100) in the North West in 2024. The figure is provisional and rounded.

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 · Leeds, Bradford and West Yorkshire · Scotland · Wales · Northern Ireland · ForceVera in the UK.

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