Plans change. A venue is confirmed late, a guest list grows, or a licensing condition turns up that needs door staff. Arranging security at short notice is possible, but it is also when mistakes are most likely, because the checks that matter are the ones people skip when they are rushed. This guide covers what to do first, what the law expects, and how to check the people you are about to rely on.
Start with the facts a security company will ask for
Have these ready before you pick up the phone. They let a reputable company tell you quickly whether it can cover your event:
- Venue name and address, and a named contact on site
- Date, and start and finish times including set-up and clear-down
- Expected number of guests, and whether the event is ticketed or invite-only
- Whether alcohol will be sold or served
- The jobs you need covering, such as controlling entry, searching bags or patrolling inside
- Any conditions in the venue’s premises licence or your Temporary Event Notice that mention security
Check the licensing position first
If the venue has a premises licence, ask for a copy of its conditions. Some require door supervisors at certain times or above certain numbers, and meeting them is the responsibility of the licence holder.
If you are relying on a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) to sell alcohol or provide regulated entertainment at a venue that is not already licensed for it, the timing is strict:
- A standard TEN must be given to the licensing authority at least 10 clear working days before the event.
- A late TEN can be given between 9 and 5 working days before the event. A notice given later than that is not valid.
- If the police or environmental health officers object to a late TEN, the event cannot go ahead under it.
- A TEN covers events of up to 168 hours with fewer than 500 people at any one time, including staff and performers. There are also yearly limits on how many notices one person can give: 5 (of which 2 can be late) without a personal licence, and 50 (of which 10 can be late) with one.
Working days do not include weekends, bank holidays, the day you give the notice or the day of the event. Your local council’s licensing team can confirm what applies to your event.
SIA licences: the check you cannot skip
Under the Private Security Industry Act 2001, people doing certain security work must hold a licence from the Security Industry Authority (SIA). At events, the two you will meet most are the door supervisor licence, for controlling entry to licensed premises and guarding against disorder, and the security guard licence, for guarding other premises. Whether a licence is needed depends on what a person actually does, not on their job title, and the SIA publishes guidance on security at events and on event stewards.
Working without the right licence is a criminal offence, and using or supplying an unlicensed person for licensable work can be one too. The SIA has prosecuted a venue manager who assumed a door supervisor was licensed and never checked the register.
To check a licence:
- Use the SIA’s public Register of Licence Holders on GOV.UK.
- Search by the officer’s 16-digit licence number, or by surname and other details such as date of birth and role.
- Confirm that the name matches, the licence type fits the job, the status is current and the expiry date has not passed.
- Match each officer to their photo ID on the day, and keep a note of what you checked.
Check the company, not just the price
At short notice, price tends to dominate. These questions matter more:
- Will every officer hold the licence that matches the role they are given, not just the supervisor?
- Can you see each officer’s licence details before the event?
- Does the company carry public liability insurance, and will it show you the certificate?
- Who is the supervisor on site, and how do you reach them on the night?
- What happens if an officer drops out at the last minute?
- Will you receive the hours, roles, numbers and total price, including VAT, in writing before the event?
Martyn’s Law and larger events
The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, known as Martyn’s Law, became law on 3 April 2025. Its main duties are not yet in force. The Home Office and the SIA say it is expected to come into force in spring 2027, with the exact date to be confirmed through Parliament, and the Home Office has already published statutory guidance. Venues and events are placed in tiers by expected attendance: a standard tier for 200 to 799 people and an enhanced tier for 800 or more. If you organise larger events, it is sensible to start planning for it now, and the GOV.UK factsheets below explain who is in scope.
Brief your security team properly
Even at short notice, ten minutes before doors open prevents problems. Walk the team through the entry and exit points, the emergency exits and assembly points, the capacity you have been given, any search or entry policy, who to call about incidents, and who can make decisions on the night. Tell them plainly about anything that has gone wrong at the venue before. If you are unsure how many officers you need, read our guide to how many security guards an event needs.
Common mistakes
- Booking on price alone, with no licence checks
- Leaving the hours, roles and numbers vague
- Not telling the security team what the licence conditions say
- Having no named contact or decision-maker on the night
- Taking a company’s word for it instead of checking the register yourself
How GM Secure can help
GM Secure supplies SIA-licensed, DBS-checked security officers across London and the UK, including for events. If you need cover at short notice, send us the date, venue, expected numbers and what you need the officers to do, and we will tell you honestly whether we can cover it. You are always welcome to check any officer’s licence on the SIA register. You can read about our event security and door supervisor services, or see what event security costs.
Official sources
- Check a private security licence (GOV.UK)
- Find out if you need an SIA licence (GOV.UK)
- Check if you need an SIA licence to work as an event steward (GOV.UK)
- Martyn’s Law factsheets (GOV.UK)
This article is general information, not legal advice. Rules can change, so check GOV.UK and your local licensing authority for what applies to your event.