Specialist Security Insurance for Guards, Door Staff & Companies
Arrange specialist insurance for security guards, door supervisors, close protection operatives, event security, dog handlers, stewards, keyholding and other UK security activities through Peacock Insurance.
- Public Liability options
- Employers’ Liability options
- Wrongful Arrest cover can be available
- Inefficacy & Loss of Keys options can be available
What is Security Insurance?
Security Insurance is specialist commercial insurance for people and businesses providing security services. It can combine liability and sector-specific covers around the actual duties being performed, such as security guarding, door supervision, event security, close protection, keyholding, mobile patrols and dog handling.
Security work is not one uniform risk. A static guard at an office, a door supervisor at licensed premises and a close protection operative can face very different exposures. Your quotation should therefore describe your activities accurately rather than relying on a generic description such as “security”.
Peacock Insurance arranges cover through available security-sector insurer schemes, subject to underwriting. Policies can include core liability protection alongside specialist extensions such as Wrongful Arrest, Inefficacy and Loss of Keys where these are offered and accepted under the chosen policy.
Security Insurance for a wide range of security trades
These are common activities we are asked to insure. Acceptance depends on the precise work undertaken, contract requirements, turnover, staffing, claims history and the insurer’s current appetite.
Security Guards
Static and mobile guarding, site security, retail or commercial guarding and other declared guarding activities.
Door Supervisors & Bouncers
Security at licensed premises, pubs, clubs, bars, hotels, restaurants and other venues where door supervision is required.
Close Protection & Bodyguards
Personal protection work for individuals, executives and other clients, subject to the geographic and activity limits accepted by the insurer.
Event Security & Stewards
Security and stewarding for exhibitions, conferences, sporting events, concerts, festivals and other declared events.
Security Dog Handlers
Security work involving trained dogs where specifically declared and accepted by the insurer.
Keyholding & Mobile Patrols
Keyholding, alarm response, lock-up and unlock services and mobile patrol activities where included in the insured duties.
CCTV & Monitoring
Control-room or monitoring activities and related security services, depending on the exact services performed.
Concierge & Reception Security
Reception, gatehouse, porter and concierge duties with a security element, subject to the declared activities.
Other Security Businesses
Security companies with mixed activities can be considered where the insurer receives a clear breakdown of all duties and turnover.
Core and specialist cover for security businesses
Exact cover depends on the insurer and policy selected. The descriptions below explain common areas of cover, not automatic guarantees of protection for every risk.
Public Liability
Public Liability can protect against insured claims for third-party injury or property damage arising from your business activities. For security businesses, it is important that the insured activities match the duties actually undertaken.
- Different liability limits may be available.
- Clients and contracts may specify minimum limits.
- Physical intervention and other higher-risk duties must be disclosed accurately.
Employers’ Liability
Employers’ Liability can protect against insured employee injury or illness claims and is legally required for most UK employers, subject to limited exemptions.
- Employee and subcontractor arrangements should be disclosed.
- Wage roll and operational staff may affect underwriting.
- The legal requirement depends on the actual employment arrangement.
Wrongful Arrest
Wrongful Arrest cover can be available for insured allegations of wrongful arrest committed or alleged to have been committed in connection with the business, subject to policy wording.
- Relevant where staff may detain or remove people.
- Triggers, limits and exclusions vary by insurer.
- Incident recording and operating procedures remain important.
Inefficacy Cover
Inefficacy cover can be available for insured liability arising from the failure to carry out security duties or services that the business contracted to perform, subject to the policy’s definitions, limits and exclusions.
- Contract wording and scope of services matter.
- Insurers may ask about client sectors and largest contracts.
- Do not assume generic Public Liability includes this exposure.
Loss of Keys
Loss of Keys cover can be available for eligible costs arising from loss of customers’ keys, such as replacement keys or changing locks, subject to insurer terms and limits.
- Relevant to keyholding and premises-based contracts.
- Security procedures may be material to underwriting.
- Check policy limits, excesses and conditions.
Other Security Cover Options
Depending on the scheme and your business, additional protection such as Personal Accident or other commercial covers may be available. The appropriate combination depends on the work you perform and contracts you hold.
- Personal Accident may be relevant to individual operatives.
- Vehicles, equipment or premises may need separate cover.
- Ask the broker to explain what is and is not included.
Duty-accurate wording and contract-ready evidence
Security businesses are often required to prove both the amount of insurance they hold and the activities covered by it. The stronger approach is to start with an accurate description of the work you actually perform rather than trying to fit a contract around a generic policy description afterwards.
Separate guarding, door supervision, events, close protection, dog handling, keyholding, CCTV or alarm response where relevant.
Licensed venues, retail, construction, residential, festivals, sports, corporate sites and private clients can create different exposures.
Employees, casual workers and subcontractors may be treated differently for underwriting and Employers’ Liability.
If a client requires a particular liability or specialist extension limit, tell the broker before the policy is placed.
A certificate is evidence of cover; it does not expand the policy. The wording, schedule, endorsements and exclusions remain decisive.
An SIA licence and Security Insurance are not the same thing
The Security Industry Authority regulates private security licensing in the UK. GOV.UK lists licensable activities including security guarding, door supervision, close protection, key holding and public-space surveillance, although whether a licence is required depends on the activity and working arrangement.
An SIA licence is regulatory permission to perform licensable security work; it is not an insurance policy. Separately, clients, venues and contracts may require evidence of Public Liability, Employers’ Liability or specialist security cover.
If you employ or engage security personnel, make sure the appropriate licensing requirements are satisfied and that your insurer has been given accurate information about the work they perform.
Check the official SIA licensing guidance on GOV.UK →How much does Security Insurance cost?
There is no single reliable price because the risk can vary significantly between an individual guard, a door-supervision business and a multi-contract security company. Insurers price the actual exposure presented.
Why arrange Security Insurance through Peacock?
Peacock is an FCA-regulated UK insurance broker with an established security insurance proposition and access to security-sector insurer schemes.
How to get a Security Insurance quote
Include security duties, locations, contracts, turnover splits, staffing arrangements and any specialist activities.
The details can be considered against available security insurer schemes and underwriting criteria.
Check insured activities, liability limits, specialist extensions, exclusions, excesses and any conditions before deciding whether to proceed.
What our customers say
Recent feedback for Peacock Insurance Services, including a review from a customer arranging insurance for a new security company.
“Kelvin Jackson at Peacock made obtaining a new policy for my start-up security company very easy and stress free. Very helpful and courteous.”
“Very prompt at returning calls. Very professional and diligent.”
“Took out new Public Liability insurance with Peacock. Evan Clarke made the process easy and ensured policy met our requirements.”
“Very helpful, had time to go through any questions thoroughly. All in all a good experience.”
Security Insurance FAQs
Direct answers to common questions asked by security professionals, security companies and procurement teams.
What insurance does a security company need?
Does an SIA licence include insurance?
Do security guards need Public Liability Insurance?
What is Door Supervisor Insurance?
What is Wrongful Arrest cover?
What is Inefficacy cover in Security Insurance?
Can Security Insurance cover the loss of a client’s keys?
Can Peacock arrange insurance for close protection operatives?
Can security dog handlers be insured?
Can I get a certificate of insurance for a security contract?
What information is needed for a Security Insurance quote?
How much does Security Insurance cost?
Tell us exactly what your security business does
Start your quotation with your security activities, staffing, turnover and contract requirements. Peacock can use those details to help arrange available cover, subject to insurer acceptance and policy terms.
Start My Security Insurance Quote →