Security industry breaches and penalties
Security providers must obey a range of laws including:
- Security Providers Act 1993
- Security Providers Regulation 2008
- Security Providers (Crowd Controller Code of Practice) Regulation 2008
- Security Providers (Security Firm Code of Practice) Regulation 2008
- Security Providers (Security Officer—Licensed Premises—Code of Practice) Regulation 2008.
Use the security providers best practice checklist to make sure you're meeting your legal obligations.
On this page you'll find information about the penalties for security industry offences. These fines are for individuals—corporations could face up to 5 times the maximum penalty.
| Offence | Maximum penalty |
|---|---|
| Failing to return your licence to the Office of Fair Trading within 14 days after being convicted of a disqualifying offence and having your licence cancelled | $3,454 |
| Offence | Maximum penalty |
|---|---|
| Failing to have visible identification on your clothing, at chest level | $3,454 |
| Wearing a hat with a checkerboard design (like that of a police officer) | $3,454 |
Inspectors have the legal authority to make sure you don't break the law—you must follow their lawful directions or risk a fine.
| Offence | Maximum penalty |
|---|---|
| Not giving an inspector your name and address (if the inspector finds or suspects you're breaking the law) | $8,635 |
| Not giving an inspector information about an alleged breach (if the inspector finds or suspects you're breaking the law) | $34,540 or 1 year imprisonment |
| Giving an inspector false or misleading information or documents | $34,540 or 2 years imprisonment |
| Not giving an inspector a document you're legally required to keep (for example a licence or register) | $34,540 |
| Stopping the inspector from exercising any of their powers | $34,540 or 1 year imprisonment |
These offences relate to your security industry licence.
| Offence | Maximum penalty |
|---|---|
| Breaching a condition of your licence | $6,908 |
| Offence | Maximum penalty |
|---|---|
| Failing to advise the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) in writing within 14 days about changes to any aspect of your licence, including your personal details | $1,727 |
| Failing to advise OFT when your membership of an approved security industry association ends | $1,727 |
| Offence | Maximum penalty |
|---|---|
| Carrying out security functions that you aren't licenced to do under the restricted security industry licence | $3,454 |
| Failing to have an unrestricted licensee supervise your work under a restricted industry licence | $3,454 |
| Offence | Maximum penalty |
|---|---|
| Failing to keep a register when your business is required to | $3,454 |
| Offence | First offence | Second offence | Third offence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working unlicensed in the security industry or advertising security industry work while unlicensed | $86,350 | $120,890 | $172,700 |
| Hiring an unlicensed security provider | $86,350 | $120,890 | $172,700 |
More information
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