COP 119

Code for Practice for Labour Provision

COP 119 is the recognised Code of Practice for the provision of labour to the security and events sector, setting clear expectations for ethical, compliant and transparent labour supply. If you are ready to move from understanding what COP 119 is to exploring the certification process, our COP 119 certification page explains how to get started.

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What Is COP 119?

In practical terms, COP 119 sets expectations for how security agents and labour providers recruit, vet, deploy, and manage personnel so that security standards are maintained even during periods of high demand or operational pressure.

It helps to ensure that only suitable, properly checked, and competent individuals are supplied to security and events contracts, rather than standards being relaxed to meet short-term staffing needs.

For businesses, COP 119 helps to support the consistent delivery of contractual requirements. This means having clear processes in place to meet client expectations around staffing levels, licensing, conduct, and performance, while being able to evidence compliance through records and oversight.

The Code reinforces the need for planning and control so that contractual obligations are met without compromising service quality.

Who Is COP 119 Relevant To?

COP 119 is applicable to a range of organisations involved in the supply, management, and procurement of security labour within regulated environments, including:

Security labour providers supplying guarding services to clients
Security agents managing subcontracted or agency personnel
Events security providers operating in regulated environments
Organisations procuring security services that rely on third-party labour

This ensures that consistent expectations are applied across the security and events labour supply chain.

Why COP 119 Was Introduced?

COP 119 was developed to address inconsistencies in labour provision across the security and events sector by setting clear and consistent expectations for how security personnel are sourced, vetted, and managed.

What Does COP 119 Cover?

COP 119 addresses key risks and compliance challenges associated with labour provision in the security and events sector, including:

An absence of adequate checks and monitoring of deployed security officer SIA licences
Security screening to BS 7858
Adherence to working time regulations
Paying of minimum wage
Right to work checks
Employment status

This supports consistency in the expectations applied across the security and events labour supply chain.

What Does COP 119 Mean for Businesses?

Maintaining security standards in day-to-day operations

Meeting regulatory and contractual obligations

Demonstrating ethical labour practices

Building trust with clients and partners

Hypothetical Large Public Event

In a theoretical scenario, a security labour provider is contracted to supply guards for a large public event where staffing requirements increase at short notice.

Under COP 119, the business would be expected to rely on pre-vetted, appropriately licensed personnel rather than sourcing unverified workers to meet demand.

In this example, existing checks such as right-to-work, licensing, and suitability would already be in place, allowing staffing levels to increase without compromising security standards or contractual obligations.

Hypothetical Ongoing Guarding Contract

In another illustrative scenario, a security agent supplies guards to a regulated site with defined contractual and compliance requirements.

In line with COP 119, the business would apply the same management, oversight, and competence controls to all personnel, including agency or subcontracted staff.

This theoretical example shows how consistent application of standards can help maintain service quality and provide reassurance to clients throughout the duration of a contract.

How COP 119 Fits with Other Security Standards

COP 119 is designed to work alongside existing security standards and regulatory requirements, providing additional focus on how security labour is sourced, managed, and controlled without duplicating or replacing established frameworks.

Standard / Requirement	How COP 119 Relates	Practical Meaning for Businesses
Management system standards (e.g., ISO standards)	Can operate alongside management system standards without overlap	COP 119 focuses specifically on labour provision controls, allowing it to sit alongside management system standards that address broader organisational or operational requirements.
SIA licensing	COP 119 complements SIA licensing rather than replacing it	Businesses are still required to ensure security officers hold valid SIA licences, while COP 119 focuses on how licence checks are managed, monitored, and evidenced within labour provision processes.
BS 7858 security screening	Aligns with recognised screening expectations	COP 119 supports the use of appropriate screening practices, helping businesses apply consistent pre-employment checks across permanent, temporary, and subcontracted personnel.
Quality and governance frameworks	Supports broader sector governance practices	COP 119 reinforces structured oversight, record-keeping, and accountability, which can align with wider quality and governance approaches used within security operations.

Ready to Get Started?

If you are considering COP 119 certification, our dedicated COP 119 certification page outlines the process, key stages, and cost considerations.

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