A message to the private security industry for Christmas 2025
A message from our Chair Heather Baily and our Chief Executive Michelle Russell.
Once again, this year has been marked by countless examples of security operatives going the extra mile to help others: saving lives, helping those in vulnerable situations, and using their skills and good judgement to protect the public. We both meet security professionals across the country during our visits to venues, businesses, and industry events, and hear from you first-hand how deeply you care about your work. We recognise that the demands upon your expertise have grown, whether you work in retail settings, offices, banks, in hospitals, schools, on university campuses, or at events, in hospitality and in the night-time economy.
As the year draws to a close, we thank you for your continued commitment and everything you do to keep the public safe. Your vigilance and concern for others allow all of us to come together and celebrate during this special time of year. The job of protecting people and places can be lonely and difficult at times. Many of you work long and antisocial hours and are often outside working in all weathers throughout the year.
2025 has been a time of transition and evolution for the SIA as we prepare for our new role as the regulator for Martyn’s Law. Earlier this year the SIA moved under the portfolio of the Minister of State for Security, Dan Jarvis MBE MP. Our focus on the very best safeguarding and public protection, quite rightly, now has a wider protective security scope. This, together with the work to design a new business approval scheme and the major review of licence-linked qualifications that we launched recently, reflects the importance of both the skills and expertise required of security operatives and the quality of security provided at premises and events.
We are confident that as the UK regulator, we can meet the challenges and opportunities that the new responsibilities bring. We are incredibly proud to serve and drive forward improved public protection, in collaboration with partners, the private security industry and every licensed operative.
From myself as Chair in my fifth and final year in my role, I wanted to end with a personal message of thanks to everyone across private security, whether you are a licence holder working on the front line, a business, an industry association or one of our other stakeholders working to keep people safe across the UK. It has been a huge privilege to be the Chair of the SIA and to work with so many of you on our shared priority of keeping the public safe from harm. Thank you again for your commitment and your professionalism.
We both hope that you all find time to enjoy your own measure of peace and good will with your family and friends. However you celebrate, we wish you all the joy of the season, and a happy and successful 2026.