What Is a BS7858 Background Check?
BS7858 is a background check used within the Security industry in the UK. It is for people who want to work in the industry, like guards, CCTV operators, or people who work at important buildings.
It helps employers make sure that a person is safe, honest, and can be trusted.
Why Is It Important?
This check helps show that:
You are who you say you are.
You have no serious criminal record.
You have been doing honest things (like working or studying) for the last five years.
You are allowed to work in the UK.
Your SIA licence is real (if you have one).
This helps companies keep their staff, clients, and places safe.
What Will They Check?
Your identity
They will check your name, date of birth, photo ID (like passport or driving licence) to prove who you are.
Your address history
You must show where you have lived in the last 5 years.
Your work or activity history
You need to show what you’ve been doing for the last 5 years — working, studying, traveling, or anything else. If there are any long gaps (more than a month), you must explain them.
Your criminal record
They will check if you have any criminal history that might stop you from doing this job.
Your right to work
You must show that you are legally allowed to work in the UK.
Your SIA licence
If your job needs an SIA licence, they will check that it is real and still valid.
References
If you were not working or studying, they might ask someone (like a friend, teacher, or community leader) to confirm what you were doing.
Why Is This Check Needed?
If companies don’t do this check properly, they might hire someone who is not safe or honest.
This could:
Put other people in danger.
Break the law.
Make clients unhappy.
Cause money or legal problems.
This is why the BS7858 check is very important for security jobs in the UK.