Security guard management software for security companies in Scotland

From Glasgow and Edinburgh to Aberdeen and Dundee, plan rotas, prove officers were on site, record patrols and incidents, and give clients the evidence they ask for, in one platform.

Start your free trial Book a demo

What software do security companies in Scotland use to manage officers?

Security companies in Scotland 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.

Scotland in numbers

Security work in Scotland

The SIA's September 2025 FOI release counts 8,086 licence holders in the Glasgow travel to work area and 3,324 in Edinburgh. Scotland recorded 315,357 crimes in 2025-26, 569 per 10,000 people; Glasgow City recorded 849 per 10,000 and the City of Edinburgh 744. The Scottish Government says these figures are not directly comparable with England and Wales.

8,086SIA licence holders in the Glasgow travel to work area (2025)

3,324SIA licence holders in the Edinburgh travel to work area (2025)

315,357crimes recorded in Scotland in 2025-26, 569 per 10,000 people

849crimes per 10,000 people in Glasgow City (55,193 crimes)

53,369shoplifting crimes recorded in Scotland in 2025-26

13,000employees in private security activities in Scotland (2024, provisional)

SIA licence holders by travel to work area, and recorded crime in Scotland's two largest cities
Area	SIA licence holders (2025)	Crimes per 10,000 people (2025-26)
Glasgow	8,086	849 (Glasgow City)
Edinburgh	3,324	744 (City of Edinburgh)
Aberdeen	1,960
Dundee	1,000
Scotland		569

Licensing

SIA licensing in Scotland

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) licenses security staff in Scotland too. In Scotland the licensable activities are set by the Private Security Industry Act 2001 (Designated Activities) (Scotland) Order 2007, which designates manned guarding and keyholding.

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.

Scottish qualificationsBesides the Level 2 awards, Scotland has SCQF Level 6 versions: the Award for Security Officers in the Private Security Industry (Scotland) and the Award for Door Supervisors in the Private Security Industry (Scotland). The SIA puts security guarding training at 30 hours over 4 days with self-study, or 38 hours over 5 days without.

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 Scotland

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 Scotland security operation in one platform

Sites across ScotlandRun static sites and mobile patrols from Glasgow to Aberdeen in one account, each site with its own geofence, checkpoints and instructions in the officer app.

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 Scotland: questions, answered

How many SIA licence holders are there in Glasgow and Edinburgh?

The SIA's FOI release of 19 September 2025 lists 8,086 licence holders in the Glasgow travel to work area and 3,324 in Edinburgh. It also lists 1,960 in Aberdeen and 1,000 in Dundee.

Do in-house security officers in Scotland need an SIA licence?

Usually not. The SIA says you do not usually need a licence if you are employed directly by the company that uses your services, except for door supervision at licensed premises. Its guidance does not set out a separate in-house rule for Scotland.

Which security qualifications are there in Scotland?

Scotland has SCQF Level 6 awards for security officers and for door supervisors, alongside the Level 2 awards used elsewhere in the UK. The SIA lists them on its training guidance page.

How much crime was recorded in Glasgow and Edinburgh in 2025-26?

Glasgow City recorded 55,193 crimes, or 849 per 10,000 people, and the City of Edinburgh 39,483, or 744 per 10,000. The rate for Scotland was 569 per 10,000. These figures are not directly comparable with England and Wales.

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 · Wales · Northern Ireland · ForceVera in the UK.

Your next shift could be verified.

Get your team on ForceVera this week. Try every core feature free for 14 days, with no charge until the trial ends and no contract.

Start your free trial Book a demo

Nothing charged during the trial
Cancel anytime
Your data stays yours