Security guard management software for Leeds, Bradford and West Yorkshire security companies

Bradford and Leeds together have more than 13,000 SIA licence holders. Schedule officers across West Yorkshire, prove they were on site, record patrols and incidents, and report to clients from one platform.

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What software do West Yorkshire security companies use to manage officers?

Security companies in Leeds, Bradford and the rest of West Yorkshire 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.

Leeds, Bradford and West Yorkshire in numbers

Security work in West Yorkshire

The SIA's September 2025 FOI release counts 7,125 licence holders in the Bradford travel to work area and 5,948 in Leeds. In the year to March 2026 West Yorkshire Police recorded 107.9 crimes per 1,000 people, against 84.7 for England and Wales; Leeds recorded 114.6 per 1,000 and Bradford 117.0.

13,073SIA licence holders in the Bradford and Leeds travel to work areas (2025)

262,745crimes recorded by West Yorkshire Police, excluding fraud (year to March 2026)

107.9crimes per 1,000 people (England and Wales: 84.7)

8.5shoplifting offences per 1,000 people (England and Wales: 8.2)

11.9shoplifting offences per 1,000 people in Leeds (Community Safety Partnership)

12,000employees in private security activities in Yorkshire and The Humber (2024, provisional)

SIA licence holders by travel to work area, West Yorkshire
Travel to work area	SIA licence holders (2025)
Bradford	7,125
Leeds	5,948
Huddersfield	2,929
Wakefield and Castleford	1,373
Halifax	983

Licensing

SIA licensing in West Yorkshire

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.

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.

Approved Contractor SchemeSeparately from licensing people, the SIA runs the Approved Contractor Scheme for security companies. Taking part is voluntary, so any company in the scheme has chosen to join it.

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 Leeds, Bradford and West Yorkshire security operation in one platform

Evidence for ACS and client auditsSite instructions, patrol scans, incident logs, attendance and timesheets are kept per site, ready to show an assessor or a client. ForceVera does not make a company compliant on its own.

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 Leeds, Bradford and West Yorkshire: questions, answered

How many SIA licence holders are there in West Yorkshire?

The SIA's FOI release of 19 September 2025 lists 7,125 licence holders in the Bradford travel to work area, 5,948 in Leeds, 2,929 in Huddersfield, 1,373 in Wakefield and Castleford and 983 in Halifax.

What was the recorded crime rate in the West Yorkshire Police area?

In the year ending March 2026 West Yorkshire Police recorded 262,745 crimes, excluding fraud: 107.9 per 1,000 people. There were 20,614 shoplifting offences, or 8.5 per 1,000 people. Leeds recorded 96,875 crimes (114.6 per 1,000) and Bradford 65,941 (117.0 per 1,000).

How does the 48-hour week work for security officers?

Under the Working Time Regulations 1998, average weekly working time must not go over 48 hours unless the officer opts out in writing. The average is normally taken over 17 weeks; for security guards whose work needs a permanent presence, it is taken over 26 weeks. ForceVera timesheets show the hours worked shift by shift, which you can use to check the average.

How many people work in private security in Yorkshire and The Humber?

The ONS Business Register and Employment Survey estimates 12,000 employees in private security activities (SIC 80100) in Yorkshire and The Humber 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 · Greater Manchester · Scotland · Wales · Northern Ireland · ForceVera in the UK.

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