Recent Changes To Regulations Affecting Security Operations

Changes to Class 1 Security Licence Sub-classes

• New 1A (Security Officer) subclass: The former 1A (Unarmed Guard) and 1C (Crowd Controller) licence subclasses have merged and been re-named the 1A (Security Officer) subclass, effective 1 June 2023.
• New 1C (Cash-in-Transit Guard) subclass: This new subclass authorises holders to patrol, protect or guard cash-in-transit (CIT).
  • Guards carrying out CIT activities under the authority of the old 1A (Unarmed Guard) subclass may continue to do so until 1 December 2023. After this date they must:
    • complete a NSW Security Licence Course that incorporates the mandatory CIT-specific units of competency, and
    • lodge an application for the new 1C (Cash-in-Transit Guard) subclass, including evidence of completing the CIT-specific training.

New Definition of Crowd Controller and Relevant Place

From 1 June 2023, two important changes related to crowd control come into effect:

• a revised definition of Crowd Controller, and
• a new definition for Relevant Place.

Crowd Controller

From 1 June 2023, Crowd Controller means a person who, for remuneration, performs one or more of the following functions at a Relevant Place as part of their regular duties:

• controlling or monitoring the behaviour of persons to maintain order,
• screening persons seeking entry,
• removing persons for behavioural or other reasons,
• any other function prescribed by the regulations.

Relevant Place

To support this, Relevant Place has been defined (from 1 June 2023) as:

• licensed premises within the meaning of the Liquor Act 2007,
• a public entertainment venue,
• a place at which a public or private function is held,
• a hospital,
• a quarantine facility,
• retail premises,
• a public place.

Anyone carrying on a Crowd Controller function for remuneration at a Relevant Place must hold the Class 1A (Security Officer) licence.

Note that conducting health screening as a condition of entry is not considered a security activity. Doctors working in hospitals are exempt from requiring a security licence while acting in this capacity.

Security Operative Licences Are in Force Once ID Photograph Is Taken

As soon as an applicant is photographed by Service NSW, their Security Operative Licence comes into force.

Once complete, SLED will email an acknowledgement letter to the applicant, and the public register will be updated to display the new licence details.

The new security licence card will then be mailed. While waiting to receive the physical card, operatives must carry the acknowledgement letter sent by SLED while working — and must produce this letter on request by a police officer, enforcement officer, or member of the public.

New Portrait-style Security Licence Cards

The new licence card designs began issuance from 1 June 2023. The older landscape versions are no longer issued but remain valid until their stated expiry date. Here’s what the new licences look like:

You can always verify security licence details by entering the name or licence number in the register at
https://verify.licence.nsw.gov.au/home/security.