Security guard management software for security companies in Northern Ireland

From Belfast to every county, 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 security companies in Northern Ireland use to manage officers?

Security companies in Northern Ireland 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.

Northern Ireland in numbers

Security work in Northern Ireland

The SIA's September 2025 FOI release counts 5,108 licence holders in the Belfast travel to work area. The PSNI recorded 93,601 crimes between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026, 49 per 1,000 people and 2.3% fewer than the year before; Belfast City policing district recorded 30,994.

5,108SIA licence holders in the Belfast travel to work area (2025)

93,601crimes recorded by the PSNI, 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026

49crimes per 1,000 people in Northern Ireland

30,994crimes recorded in Belfast City policing district, down 3.8% on the year before

8,276shoplifting offences recorded in Northern Ireland

Licensing

SIA licensing in Northern Ireland

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) licenses security staff in Northern Ireland too, with one licence that applies only there: vehicle immobilisation.

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.

Vehicle immobiliser licenceVehicle immobilising needs an SIA licence in Northern Ireland only, and it is needed whether you work in-house or under contract. A vehicle immobiliser licence lasts 1 year; all other SIA licences last 3 years.

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.

The 48-hour week for security officers in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland has its own Working Time Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016. They set the same limit: an average of 48 hours for each 7 days, normally over 17 weeks, unless the worker agrees in writing to work more. For security guards whose work needs a permanent presence to protect property and people (a special case under regulation 25), the average is taken over 26 weeks.

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

ForceVera

Run your Northern Ireland security operation in one platform

Hours for the 26-week averageTimesheets keep each officer's hours shift by shift, so you can work out the average over 26 weeks before you publish the next rota.

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 Northern Ireland: questions, answered

How many SIA licence holders are there in Belfast?

The SIA's FOI release of 19 September 2025 lists 5,108 licence holders in the Belfast travel to work area: 576 women and 4,532 men.

How much crime did the police record in Northern Ireland in 2025/26?

The PSNI recorded 93,601 crimes between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026: 49 per 1,000 people, down 2.3% on the year before. Belfast City policing district recorded 30,994 crimes, and there were 8,276 shoplifting offences in Northern Ireland.

Which working time rules apply in Northern Ireland?

The Working Time Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016. They limit average working time to 48 hours a week, normally over 17 weeks, unless the worker opts out in writing; for security guards whose work needs a permanent presence, the period is 26 weeks.

Are there SIA licences only for Northern Ireland?

Yes. The vehicle immobiliser licence applies in Northern Ireland only. It lasts 1 year and is needed whether you work in-house or under contract.

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 · Scotland · Wales · ForceVera in the UK.

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