PSIA - Security Guard Agencies

(a)	Have a minimum of 2 years' experience in security-related work or business;
(b)	Have a minimum of 2 years' experience in man-management (e.g. holding a supervisory job);
(c)	Have an initial start-up capital of $50,000/-;
(d)	Preferably have at least 3 GCE "O" level passes or ITE NTC 2 or its equivalent; and
(e)	Must be of good fame and character( e.g. without criminal records).

Note: Documents supporting the above criteria from (a) to (d) must be faxed or posted together with the acknowledgement slip generated by PLUS to the following address:

Police Licensing & Regulatory Department
391 New Bridge Road
Block D, #02-701
Singapore 088762
Fax: 6557 3485

The applicant must be a Singapore Citizen or a Permanent Resident of Singapore. In the case of a partnership business or private limited company, the applicant and at least another partner or director must meet the requirements specified in paragraph 1. In the case of a company, the applicant must be one of the directors. These criteria are illustrated in the table below.


Type of Business	Person who can apply for Security Agency licence	Requirement
Sole-Proprietorship	Applicant must be a Singapore Citizen or Singapore PR.	The applicant must meet the criteria specified in para 1.
Partnership	Applicant must be a Singapore Citizen or Singapore PR.	The applicant and one more partner must meet the criteria specified in para 1.
Private Limited Company	Applicant must be a Singapore Citizen or Singapore PR. In addition, he/she must also be one of the directors of the company.	The applicant and one more director must meet the criteria specified in para 1.

For sole-proprietorship or partnership business, if the application is approved, the applicant must not be gainfully employed elsewhere and must operate the agency on a full-time basis.

FOREIGN DIRECTORS/PARTNERS

Foreign directors or partners who are based in Singapore are required to submit a Statutory Declaration, made before a local Commissioner of Oaths, to the effect that they have never been convicted in any court of law for any criminal offence. (A photocopy of their passport and employment pass is to be submitted together with the application form). Those stationed outside of Singapore are required to submit a certificate of no criminal conviction from their country of origin.

OFFICE

The requirements for a security agency office are:

(a)	The office must be located in a building that is designated for office or commercial use. Residential premises are not allowed.
(b)	Approval for the premises to be used as a security agency office must be obtained from the relevant authorities such as HDB, JTC and URA.

UNIFORMS FOR SECURITY OFFICERS

Approval has to be obtained from the Licensing Officer before uniforms can be issued to security officers.

The colour combination of the uniforms must not resemble those worn by personnel in the Singapore Armed Forces or the Singapore Police Force or any uniformed services in the government or Statutory Boards.

Epaulettes and rank insignias such as stars, pips, bars and crests, similar to those worn by the two Forces or any uniformed services in the government or Statutory Boards are not allowed.

LICENSED SECURITY AGENCY

When there is a change in the constitution of the agency from sole-proprietorship to partnership or vice versa, the applicant is required to submit a fresh application for a new licence as the existing licence is not transferable under these circumstances.

LICENSING CONDITIONS FOR SECURITY AGENCIES LICENCE

The licensee shall operate the agency himself / herself.

The licensee shall not be gainfully employed elsewhere at the same time.

The licensee shall not be involved in any debt collection business and shall not authorise any employee to engage in debt collection.

The licensee is not permitted to use patrol dogs¹ without the prior approval of the Licensing Officer. If approval is given, the licensee will have to comply with the following requirements:

(a)	All patrol dogs must be screened and approved by the Police K9 Dog Unit and AVA (Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore);
(b)	Only patrol dogs and dog handlers² who have been duly certified³ by the Police K9 Dog Unit can be deployed. If the patrol dogs are used for detecting explosives, the patrol dogs and dogs handlers would need to be certified by the Police K9 Dog Unit for the specific purpose of the detection of explosives before they can be deployed;
(c)	A patrol dog must be handled by a dog handler who is certified by the Police K9 Dog Unit as possessing the ability and skill to control the patrol dog ("certified dog handler");
(d)	Appropriate signs must be displayed at all entrances and exits of the premises to warn the public of the presence of patrol dogs; and ;
(e)	The certified dog handler must always be with his patrol dog when the patrol dog is deployed, even when it is on static duties.

The licensee is not permitted to employ any serving police officer (including VSC), any public servant or any person whose employment is likely to result in a conflict of interest.

The licensee shall ensure that all security officers managed or deployed for the protection of persons or property are employed by him or the company which he represents.

The licensee shall obtain approval for the use of his office premises as a private investigation agency or security agency from the relevant authorities (e.g. HDB, JTC, URA).

The licensee shall ensure that security officers and those employed to assist in private investigation work:

(a)	are above the age of 16;
(b)	are certified by a medical doctor to be physically fit for work as a security officer or person employed to assist in private investigation work, and certified annually as such if they are above the age of 60 years.

The licensee shall not deploy any person to work as a security officer unless this person:

(a)	is exempted by the Licensing Officer from National Skills Recognition System / Workforce Skills Qualification; or
(b)	has passed the tests under the National Skills Recognition System / Workforce SKills Qualification, prescribed by the Licensing Officer at www.spf.gov.sg/licence/frameset_PI.html.

The licensee must participate in the 'Grading Exercise' for security agencies operationalised by the Police Licensing & Regulatory Department.

The licensee shall obtain the prior approval of the Licensing Officer before using any livery markings on vehicles used by his agency or before he makes any change/s to the approved livery markings on such vehicles.

The licensee shall display the grade which is awarded by the Licensing Officer at the registered address of the licensee and all its branch offices (hereby collectively referred to as “the office premises”), and at all the deployment sites where its security officers are deployed and on all correspondences used by the licensee.

12.1 Deployment sites

The licensee shall comply with the following conditions for the display of the grade (awarded to the licensee) at its deployment sites:

(a)	The grade must be displayed prominently at the security post/security counter in the size and format stipulated by the Licensing Officer.
(b)	If there is no security sentry post/security counter, the awarded grade shall be displayed prominently at the deployment point where the licensee’s security officers are being deployed.If the owner of the premises where the security officers are deployed object to the display of the grade at the site, the licensee shall submit the form as set out in Annex 1 to the Licensing Officer, duly completed by the owner of the premises and seek the Licensing Officer’s approval to waive the requirement for the display of the grade at the site.
(c)	The Licensing Officer will review annually the grade awarded to the licensee and will notify the licensee of the grade awarded to the licensee after each review. The licensee shall ensure that the grade awarded by the Licensing Officer after each review is displayed at all the deployment sites where its security officers are deployed within 1 month after the Licensing Officer’s written notification to the licensee.
(d)	The licensee shall ensure that the grade displayed at the deployment site is in good condition, properly laminated and secured at the premises.
(e)	At least one copy of the grade awarded to the licensee by the Licensing Officer shall be displayed prominently at each deployment site.

12.2 Office premises

The licensee shall comply with the following conditions for displaying the grade at its office premises:

(a)	The grade must be displayed prominently at the office premises in the size and format stipulated by the Licensing Officer.
(b)	The Licensing Officer will review annually the grade awarded to the licensee and will notify the licensee of the grade awarded to the licensee after each review. The licensee shall ensure that the grading display issued by the Licensing Officer is displayed prominently at its office premises within 1 month after the Licensing Officer’s written notification to the licensee.
(c)	The licensee shall ensure that the decal displayed at its office premises is in good condition, properly laminated and secured properly.
(d)	At least one copy of the grade awarded to the licensee by the Licensing Officer shall be displayed prominently at the office premises.

12.3 Agencies’ correspondences

The licensee shall indicate the grade awarded by the Licensing Officer on all of its letter correspondences. The licensee shall comply with the following requirements:

(a)	The awarded grade shall be prominently indicated at the bottom of every page of the correspondence with a minimum font size of 10 and the font type Times New Roman in the format and wording stipulated by the Licensing Officer.
(b)	The Licensing Officer will review annually the grade awarded to the licensee and will notify the licensee of the grade awarded to the licensee after each review. The licensee shall ensure that the grade awarded by the Licensing Officer after each review is indicated on all its correspondences within 1 month after the Licensing Officer’s written notification to the licensee.

Issued by Licensing Officer
Police Licensing & Regulatory Department
Dated: 19 April 2012

¹ Patrol dogs are dogs used for patrolling or guarding of property to ensure the security of the area. As part of their functions, patrol dogs may also be used to detect explosives, weapons, firearms and controlled drugs.
² Only certified dog handler for the particular patrol dog is allowed to handle the patrol dog. The dog handler must also be a licensed security officer.
³ The certification given to the patrol dog and the dog handler will be valid for one year from the date of certification. The certification will also cease when the dog handler is no longer a licensed security officer.

ANNEX 1 - OBJECTION TO THE DISPLAY OF GRADE AT PREMISES Click here

Instructions on Payment
Payment can be made via the following methods: Note: Please do NOT pay for an application twice using different payment modes.
Payment via AXS Stations
Payment can be made at all AXS Stations using ATM cards of participating banks. In order to make payment, you are requested to enter either of the following information: (i)OASIS case ID (ii)RPN number (for licence renewal) (iii)Acknowledgement number Cashcard is NOT accepted for payments.
Online Payment through OBLS
Payment can be made through OBLS at https://licences.business.gov.sg using Credit Card (VISA or Mastercard) or Direct Debit through internet banking account. (Note: Licence will only be issued after successful settlement of payment.)

FAQ :
1	Do I need to apply for this licence? Yes, a licence is required if one furnishes or offers to furnish security officers for the protection of persons or property in consideration of any payment or other remuneration (whether monetary or otherwise).
2	What conditions do I need to fulfill? You need to fullfil the guidelines / conditions spelt out as above:
3	What supporting documents do I need to submit? You need to submit the following supporting documents, showing: Minimum of 2 years' experience in security-related work or operate/manage security agency; Minimum of 2 years' experience in man-management e.g. holding a supervisory job; Any WSQ certification relating to Private Security Industry; Paid up/start-up capital of at least $50,000; Highest education certificate (At least 3 GCE 'O" level passes or ITE NTC 2 or its equivalent); Latest ACRA's Business Profile; A business plan outlining: Financial outlay, Research on market opportunities, Organization chart. The resumes of person(s) actively involved in the day to day operations and administration, Proposed uniform and insignia designs for security officers, Audit and internal procedures to ensure approved and trained security officers are deployed,& Mechanism to facilitate continuous improvement and training of officers. Documentations that proposed company name does not infringe copyright or trademark: Any other documents deemed necessary by the Licencing Officer when processing the application.
4	How soon can my application be processed? The normal processing time is at least 4-6 weeks from the receipt of the application with the necessary supporting documents.
5	How much does this licence cost and how long is it valid for? The fee for this licence is $400 per year.
6	Who can I contact for further details? You can contact the following persons: Licensing Officer Police Licensing & Regulatory Department Tel: 65573434 Service Support Officers Police Licensing & Regulatory Department Tel: 65573451, 65573452, 65573453
7	What is the application process like? Submit a completed application form via the electronic service provided at https://licences.business.gov.sg You will also be required to attend an interview by the licensing officer.
8	Other frequently asked questions Q. Can a person without a registered business or company apply for a security agency licence? No, a person must first register his/her business or company with ACRA before he/she can apply for a licence.You should ensure the name of the proposed company does not infringe any copyright and trademark of other entities and products. Q. If I am running other businesses or am an employee of a company/business, can I be granted a licence? No, you would not be granted a licence. This is because the licensee of a security agency is required to operate the agency himself/herself and must not be gainfully employed elsewhere. However, if you are a director of a company and are only drawing a director's fee or allowance, you may be granted a licence. Q. Can a person apply for both a security agency licence and a private investigation agency licence? Yes, a person can apply for both licences. Q. Can I start operating a security agency once I have obtained the licence? You should only commence operation after you have obtained the approval from the relevant authorities such as HDB, JTC and URA for the premises to be used as a security agency. Also, you have to obtain the approval of the Licensing Officer before you can issue any uniforms or security equipment to your officers.
9	Hiring Procedures Q. How do I know if a person is an approved security officer? You must be authorized by PLRD before you can log on to www.spf.gov.sg/licence/frameset_PI.html to confirm his/her status through the enquiry module. Q. What should my agency or company do if we intend to hire the approved person? First, check online to confirm that he/she is an approved security officer. Next, you need to inform us of his/her particulars before hiring him/her. Thereafter, you will be notified with a confirmation letter. Q. Is there a fee to be charged for this notification and cessation? No. Q. As a licensee or employer, will I be notified if the licence of a security officer whom I have hired on my list, that his licence has been revoked or suspended? Besides putting a requirement in your employment contract that he/she must notify you of the first instance of his suspension and revocation, we will also notify you in writing.