Security licensing enforcement

Learn how the government of British Columbia enforces the laws, policies, and standards for security workers and security businesses.

On this page

• Inspections
• Complaints
• Investigations
• Offences and penalties

Inspections

Security inspectors regularly check if security workers and businesses are following the laws and policies.

During an inspection, a security inspector might:

• Go into a building or property
• Inspect documents or equipment
• Ask questions
• Copy or seize items

Allowing security inspectors to carry out their duties is mandatory.

Complaints

​Anyone can make a complaint about a security worker or business. Complaints cannot be anonymous. They must be submitted on a complaint form.

The complaint must be related to at least one of these:

• Security Services Act
• Security Services Regulation
• Armoured Vehicle and After-Market Compartment Control Act
• Armoured Vehicle and After-Market Compartment Control Regulation
• Body Armour Control Act
• Body Armour Control Regulation

The complaints process policy provides detailed information about making and investigating complaints.

To make a complaint

Complete the online complaint form

After you make a complaint

The Registrar of Security Services will decide whether to accept or deny your complaint and let you know their decision. If you are not satisfied, you can ask for reconsideration or make a complaint to the Office of the Ombudsperson.

If the Registrar accepts your complaint, they will decide if the security worker or business has violated the laws and policies. The Registrar will let you know when the investigation is complete.

Investigations

The Registrar of Security Services may investigate security workers and businesses to determine if they are following the laws and policies.

Investigations occur due to complaints or other credible information and assist the Registrar in determining the facts and any appropriate penalties .

During an investigation, a security investigator might:

• Go to a location
• Gather evidence
• Ask questions
• Talk to people
• Copy or seize items

Offences and penalties

If a security worker or business violates the laws and policies, they may:

• Get a verbal or written warning
• Get a violation ticket or administrative penalty
• Have their licence suspended or cancelled

Violation tickets

• Violation ticket fines
• Pay or dispute a violation ticket

Administrative penalties

An administrative penalty means the security worker or business has to pay a fine. The penalty can be up to:

• $5,000 for security workers
• $50,000 for security businesses

Security Programs Division (SPD) issues administrative penalties. Before they can issue a penalty, SPD must consider:

•  Whether the worker or business has violated a similar law or policy before
•  How serious the contravention is
•  Whether anyone was hurt
•  Whether the worker or business violated the law or policy on purpose

​Suspensions and cancellations

Security workers and businesses can have their licence suspended or cancelled. This may happen if the worker or business:

• Goes against the Security Services Act or Regulations, including the Code of Conduct
• Violates their licence conditions
• Violates the security work Code of Conduct
• Gets charged with or convicted of a crime
• Puts someone in danger

Process

SPD may hold a hearing before they suspend or cancel a licence. Depending on the situation, the worker or business might:

• Explain their case in writing
• Attend a hearing

If someone is in danger, SPD doesn't hold a hearing. They:

• Suspend or cancel the licence immediately
• Explain the reason in writing to the worker or business

After they are provided with the reasons, the worker or business has 15 days to respond in writing. SPD will decide whether to:

• Keep the licence suspended or cancelled
• Lift the suspension or cancellation
• Issue a different fine or penalty