2024 was a strange year for the UK security industry. There was a great deal of agreement about the issues that the industry faced and what was holding the sector back from success. Refreshingly, there was also much consensus about what should be done to improve matters. Let’s take a look at some security industry trends we can both learn from and look forward to in the year ahead.

2024: A Tipping Point

Several social media influencers are very publicly highlighting issues, and a growing number of good people seem to be mobilizing to stem the tide of industry decay.

Possibly most encouraging was the work of the SIA and the scaled-up investigations and enforcement operations that have begun to address the criminality and malpractice that we have all seen for far too long. There is a lot the SIA has not been able to do, due to either lack of resources or Home Office resistance, but the new levels of cooperation with organizations like HMRC, the GLAA, Police, and Immigration really do seem to be bearing fruit.

In a sentence then, I would describe 2024 as: ‘A tipping point.’

Or perhaps more informatively: ‘The year that the security industry managed to find its voice and loudly shout “ENOUGH!”’

Security Industry Trends to Look Out for in 2025

Well, in no particular order (I’m an industry analyst, not Nostradamus!) here is my take on what to expect in 2025. Let’s explore some security industry trends we might see in the year ahead:

1. Martyn’s Law Implementation

With Martyn’s Law at last being finalized and written into statute, security consultants will be tripping over themselves to offer their services to ensure compliance.

• Opportunity in Enforcement: The SIA taking responsibility for enforcement will spur the creation of focus groups and stakeholder committees.
• Cost-Effective Compliance: Once worried business owners actually read about the pragmatic requirements and access the free, high-quality guidance from the Police and NPSA, compliance will likely turn out to be far cheaper and less stressful than some doom mongers (Professional Security Magazine, for one….) feared.

2. Restructuring of the SIA

The new Protection of Premises legislation brings opportunities with a likely cash injection from the central Government. 

3. Mandatory Licensing of Security Companies

With the central Government looking at the private security industry again, 2025 may finally be the year for mandatory licensing of all security companies. The Manchester Arena inquiry recommended it. The SIA has been calling for it. The ethically run companies working within the industry have been crying out for it. So, will 2025 be THE year?

Exposing Malpractice and Criminality

I mentioned malpractice and criminality within the industry. This has flourished up till now because many of the traditional stakeholders, some of the biggest security companies in the UK, have benefited financially from “turning a blind eye” to what was going on. This is one of the biggest security industry trends we need to get rid of.

2024 has seen BBC investigative journalists looking at the scale of this scandalous problem, and many whistleblowers have come forward. I know that solicitor’s letters have been flying about, trying to scare many of these whistleblowers and witnesses into silence, but I see 2025 being the year that the national press exposes some big-name companies for their complicity in abhorrent business practices, bully-boy behavior, and endemic criminality.

Raising the Profile of the Security Commonwealth

There are a truckload of membership organizations within the UK security industry, all with their own niche sector operations and varying strategic objectives. Has anyone heard of the Security Commonwealth though?

For several years this has been the “stealth,” and seemingly completely pointless, umbrella organization for this myriad of groups, associations, and institutes. Having recently seen big changes within this organization, and knowing personally some of the excellent people that have been, and are getting involved, I can see a much higher profile for the SC in 2025.

This may hopefully be assisted by the expansion of their membership to include organizations such as the Guild of Security Industry Professionals, Working the Doors, and the trade union, the Security Industry Federation. This will allow the Security Commonwealth to leverage over 400,000 licensed UK security officers and should finally give them the volume to be heard outside of the silo of the security industry itself.

Recognition for Industry Contributions

Every time I see a New Year’s or Birthday honors list, I am aghast at how an industry that fundamentally exists for the protection of people and property (and I include 1s and 0s for my cyber friends out there…) manages to go completely unacknowledged and ignored.

Just maybe we will see someone that is doing selfless work to improve our industry recognized in 2025! OK. It may be too late for 2025, but YOU can make that happen. I’m going to nominate a couple of people for gongs this year!

I challenge you to nominate someone in the security industry that is doing great things as well. Look here for more info: Honors Nomination.

Some Names to Consider

Here are a few people that I am astounded have not been recognized already:

• Dawn Dines: Powerhouse behind the Stamp Out Spiking organisation.
• Michael O’Sullivan: Co-founder of the FREE TPSO magazine; FREE to join Guild of Security Industry Professionals; and creator of the https://www.violenceagainstsecurity.info website.
• Nicholas Reed: Tireless industry improvement campaigner and active member of numerous organisations including NAHS, Security Commonwealth, IFPO, Security Institute.
• Yolanda Hamblen: Creator and presenter of the Security Circle Podcast. Yoyo produces a weekly podcast bringing stories from professionals and experts from around the world, to a wide audience. Devoted to professional development, she is also a board member of the IFPO and champion of Equality, Inclusion and Diversity across our industry.
• Rick Mountfield: Former CEO at the Security Institute, at a time when it had purpose and direction. A great man, always happy to personally help members with advice and guidance, and a vocal advocate of professional development.
• John Lambert: Long time security industry standards campaigner. John has recently been fighting for official recognition (a la GLAA) for a fair charge rate framework in the security industry. This would allow clients and indeed, 1st tier security service contract holders to more easily recognise when they would be paying so little for services that their actions were potentially supporting organised crime, tax evasion, or modern slavery!
• Satia Rai: The unstoppable and dynamic powerhouse behind the reinvigorated IPSA. As CEO Satia is leading an organisation dedicated to supporting and representing UK front line security professionals, and nobody works harder to maintain positive publicity for the men and women working in our sector.)
• Leigh Turner: An unstoppable social media force working hard to discover and expose malpractice and criminality within our industry. Rarely a day goes by that he does not find a cowboy company prepared to pay way below minimum wage for dubious quality licensed SIA security workers. Leigh has also founded the Security Industry Compliance Association, working to raise standards and assist the authorities in bringing rogue companies to account.)
• Last but not least, Paul Fullwood: Director at the SIA responsible for huge positive movements in the investigation and enforcement sector. Paul has instigated the industry engagement and multi Government Departmental cooperation that is now seeming to bear fruit and setting the industry on a far more healthy and optimistic course. I salute you.)

Final Thoughts

I hope that, at the very least, this has provided food for thought and suggested the potential for huge positive steps that 2025 may see. Let’s seize the momentum of 2024 and make meaningful progress in the year ahead.

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