Articles — Why No Licensing?

Why is there no mandatory locksmith licensing in the UK?

The UK has known about the fake locksmith problem for over a decade. Ireland, Germany, Spain, and others have acted. The UK has not. Here is the full story of why — and why that is finally changing.

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The 2021 parliamentary debate

On 22 September 2021 Mark Pawsey MP secured a parliamentary debate on licensing of master locksmiths. Several MPs from all parties spoke in favour of mandatory licensing. The Government's response was that existing consumer protection legislation was sufficient and that voluntary measures were preferred.

That response was inadequate in 2021. It is demonstrably wrong in 2026. Complaints have risen 147% since the Government said the existing framework was sufficient. A network of eight shell companies incorporated by the same director in five months is operating in the UK right now.

What other countries have done

🇮đŸ‡Ē Ireland — PSA mandatory licensing — Every locksmith must hold a PSA licence. Every advertisement must display the licence number. The fake listing problem does not exist at UK scale.

🇩đŸ‡Ē Germany — Paid locksmith advertising banned on Google. Fake listing operators cannot reach consumers through paid ads.

đŸ‡Ē🇸 Spain — Paid locksmith advertising banned following consumer protection enforcement.

đŸ‡ŗ🇱 Netherlands — Paid locksmith advertising banned.

🇸đŸ‡Ē Sweden — Paid locksmith advertising banned.

🇧đŸ‡Ē Belgium — Paid locksmith advertising banned.

đŸ‡Ŧ🇧 UK — the only European country that has not acted — Complaints up 147%. Eight shell companies incorporated in five months by the same director. Government says voluntary measures are preferred.

Why it is finally changing

Andy Burnham's cowboy trader crackdown in August 2026 shows the political will to act on rogue traders is arriving. The DMCCA 2024 gives the CMA genuine powers to compel Google to act. The CMA fair ranking conduct requirement is now in force. The parliamentary petition is active.

Sign the petition. Write to your MP. The case for mandatory licensing has never been stronger. Sign the petition → Write to your MP →

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