18 December 2023
Amendments to the Security Industry Regulation 2016 commence
Amendments to the Security Industry Regulation 2016 commenced on 15 December 2023.
The amendments include:
- Individuals applying for a Master licence, and the nominated person for licence applications made by a corporation or government agency, must now be:
- an Australian citizen or permanent Australian resident (includes New Zealand citizens), or
- the holder of a visa for a skilled occupation to which the activities authorised by the proposed licence correspond.
- Updates to several clauses to align with amendments to the Security Industry Act 1997 that commenced on 1 June 2023.
- Providing that penalty notices may be issued for new offences introduced on 1 June 2023.
- Clarifying maximum penalties for penalty notices issued to Master licensees.
1 September 2023
Changes to the regulation of the tattoo industry
The NSW Police Force is now responsible for the regulation of the NSW tattoo industry under the renamed Tattoo Industry Act 2012 and the Tattoo Industry Regulation 2023.
The Security Licensing & Enforcement Directorate (SLED) is responsible for granting Tattooist and Master licences (formerly Operator licences) and supporting police officers to undertake audits of body art tattooing businesses.
You can find information here on the SLED website about tattoo industry licences and licensing requirements.
The website will be updated over the coming days with further information about how to apply for and renew tattoo industry licences, licence conditions and the new legislation.
8 August 2023
Changes to the regulation of the tattoo industry commencing 1 September 2023
The NSW Police Force will take full responsibility for regulating the NSW tattoo industry on 1 September 2023. The Security Licensing & Enforcement Directorate (SLED) will be responsible for issuing licences and working closely with local police to undertake audits of body art tattooing businesses.
This initiative coincides with legislation changes commencing on 1 September including the renaming of the act to the Tattoo Industry Act 2012. Other changes include:
- renaming of an operator licence to a master licence
- stricter eligibility requirements including a requirement to be an Australian citizen or a permanent Australian resident
- new offence provisions and additional powers for authorised officers
- prohibiting recent and current members of prescribed criminal organisations from holding a licence.
SLED will release more detailed information over coming weeks to explain the legislation changes and how to apply for, or renew, a licence from 1 September.
Keep an eye on our new tattoo licences webpage and Facebook page (www.facebook.com/SLEDNSW) for updates.
NOTE: Customers should continue to contact NSW Fair Trading for tattoo licensing enquiries up to 31 August 2023.
24 July 2023
New Class 1C (Cash-in-Transit Guard) security licence
A Class 1C (Cash-in-Transit Guard) security licence subclass was introduced on 1 June 2023 that authorises the licensee to patrol, protect or guard cash-in-transit (CIT).
The subclass was introduced following a review of the national security training package, which found a gap in the competency requirements for the unarmed CIT sector.
Licensees who held the former Class 1A (Unarmed Guard) licence subclass on 31 May 2023 and carried on unarmed CIT activities under the authority of that licence can continue to do so until 1 December 2023 while holding the 1A (Security Officer) subclass. To continue carrying on unarmed CIT activities after that date, these licensees must obtain the Class 1C subclass by:
- successfully completing the NSW Class 1C Cash-in-Transit Guard Licence Course or obtaining the CIT related units of competency from the current NSW Class 1F Armed Guard Licence Course, and
- lodging with SLED no later than 1 December 2023 a P1230 Class 1C (Cash-in-Transit Guard) Transition Application form with a copy of their statement of attainment or certificate showing they have satisfied the Class 1C training requirements outlined above.
The Class 1C subclass will be granted to licensees that satisfy these requirements for free and a new portrait style security licence card will be issued. Late applications will not be accepted.
Existing security licensees who don’t satisfy these requirements must apply for the Class 1C licence subclass by submitting a P645 Amend, vary or replace an existing Class 1 and/or Class 2 licence form and paying the relevant application fee.
Security licence applicants can apply for the Class 1C licence subclass online and upload a copy of their qualifications.
To carry on armed CIT activities, licensees must hold the 1F (Armed Guard) and the Class 1C (Cash-in-Transit Guard) licence subclasses as well as the appropriate firearms licence.
Details of organisations approved to deliver the NSW Class 1C Cash-in-Transit Guard Licence Course, and information on how to lodge a P1230 application form or apply for a licence, are available on the SLED website here.
20 June 2023
Delay in sending Photograph Advice letters
SLED recently moved security operative licence records to the NSW Government licensing system (Licence.NSW). Unfortunately, we are experiencing some technical problems as part of the move.
This included a delay in issuing Photograph Advice letters to people that renewed, or were granted, a security operative licence between 1 May and 1 June 2023.
SLED apologises for the inconvenience the delay in issuing Photograph Advice letters has caused. The delayed Photograph Advice letters have now been sent via email and all those affected should have received their letter.
Please note that licensees who renewed their licence and are waiting for a Photograph Advice letter can continue to work while wearing their old security licence until they receive their new portrait style security licence card. The public register will show the licence as current.
The public register is available at: https://verify.licence.nsw.gov.au/home/Security
7 June 2023
Tattoo Industry Regulation 2023 Consultation
SLED is taking responsibility for regulating the tattoo industry from 1 September 2023.
Interested organisations and individuals are invited to provide feedback on the Tattoo Industry Regulation 2023 (the proposed Regulation).
The proposed Regulation will replace the Tattoo Parlours Regulation 2013 under the Tattoo Parlours Act 2012 and will commence on 1 September 2023.
The proposed Regulation aims to:
- maintain the benefits provided by the current regulatory regime
- reduce the regulatory requirements on industry participants
- provide greater clarity around administrative processes in effect
- prescribe the schedule of disqualifying offences as intended by the Tattoo Parlours Amendment (Statutory Review) Act 2022.
More information is available here.
1 June 2023
Security legislative amendments commence
Significant changes to the Security Industry Act 1997 and the Security Industry Regulation 2016 come into effect today, Thursday 1 June 2023.
Key changes include:
- Unarmed Guard and Crowd Controller licence subclasses are merged and now called the 1A (Security Officer) subclass
- A new 1C (Cash-in-Transit Guard) subclass comes into effect
- An expanded definition of crowd controller and a new relevant place definition which covers additional places where crowd controller activity occurs
- Tightened visa requirements for new licence applications
- New security operative licences come into force when their photograph is taken
- The authority to publish information about licence revocations and offences against the Security Industry Act and regulations on the SLED website and Facebook page
- A new provision to prevent unsuitable persons from being employed in prescribed work in the security industry.
Find full details of the legislative amendments here.
11 May 2023
Security operative licence records moving to the NSW Licensing System
SLED is moving security operative licence records to the NSW Licensing System on the evening of 25 May 2023. Security operative licence applications made online since 1 July 2022 are already in this system.
Once the move is complete, all records will be in the one system and SLED will be able to process applications and communicate with all security operatives more quickly via email.
Additionally, once a person has their photo taken and stored in the new system (either from their recent online application or their next renewal after 25 May 2023), SLED may be able to reuse that photo to replace lost or damaged licence cards or to produce a new card when the licence is next renewed.
From 26 May 2023, security operative licence applications, renewals and requests to replace lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed security licence cards will be available online through the new system.
Applications to amend or vary security operative licences (including adding subclasses) will need to be made via the post using paper-based application forms until all online functionality is available later this year.
SLED's application forms have been temporarily removed while they're being updated to align with legislative amendments commencing on 1 June 2023. You can still apply online. Contact the SLED Contact Centre if you cannot apply online.
Master security licence records and applications will be moved to the new system in early 2024.
Update from 25 May 2023: due to a technical issue, the movement of security operative licence records to the NSW Licensing System has been postponed until early next week.
23 January 2023
Changes to NSW security industry legislation commencing 1 June 2023
Significant changes to the Security Industry Act 1997 and the Security Industry Regulation 2016 will commence on 1 June 2023. You can find more details here on our website.
Key changes include:
- merging of the current Unarmed Guard and Crowd Controller licence subclasses into a single Security Officer subclass
- creation of a new Cash-in-Transit Guard subclass
- amendments to the definition of crowd controller and inclusion of additional places where the activity occurs through a new relevant place definition
- increased penalties for certain offences to better reflect the comparative seriousness of each offence
- tightening of visa requirements for licensing purposes
- authority to publish details of licence revocations and offences against the Security Industry Act and regulations via the SLED website and Facebook page
- new offences for obstructing enforcement officers
- new provisions that prevent unsuitable persons being employed in prescribed work in the security industry
- authority for individuals who hold a Master licence to carry on class 2B (Security Seller) activities and remove the need to also hold a separate class 2B licence.
SLED will release more detailed information over coming months to explain the legislative changes and their impact on the industry. Keep an eye on our website and Facebook page (www.facebook.com/SLEDNSW) for updates.