Corporate report

Summary of the strategic plan

Published 8 June 2026

Our new strategic plan marks a significant expansion of our regulatory remit, as we prepare to regulate venues under Martyn’s Law alongside our existing responsibilities. This will see us play an enhanced role in the UK’s protective security landscape. Over the next 3 years, we will continue to raise licensing standards, focussing for the first time on the quality of security provision, not just on licensing compliance.

We will introduce a new business approval scheme, and lay the groundwork for and implement Martyn’s Law, which is expected to commence in spring 2027. Our plan prioritises public safety, tackling crime, violence, and terrorism, and aligns with wider government priorities. Our success will depend on collaboration with industry, partners, and support from the Home Office, all underpinned by investment in the SIA’s own people and values.

Who we are

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) is an independent regulator, and public body, sponsored by the Home Office and the Security Minister. We regulate the private security industry across the UK, licensing security operatives and approving businesses. We have issued licences to vetted and trained security professionals since 2004 and are now taking on a significant new role as the new regulator for Martyn’s Law under the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025.

Our purpose

We keep people and places safe and secure by regulating the private security industry and venues across the UK.

Our values

Our values underpin the way that everyone at the SIA works to deliver our regulatory responsibilities.

Service

We are committed to delivering excellent service that meets the needs of our colleagues, customers, and the public.

Expertise

Our experience, training and drive for continuous improvement make us experts in our field.

Respect

We treat everyone fairly and with dignity.

Our strategic aims over the next 3 years

We have 2 strategic aims:

• improve the standards and quality of private security services
• enhance protective security at premises and events across the UK

Success means greater public trust and confidence in private security, in protective security at public venues, and in the SIA as regulator.

3 strategic shifts

To achieve these aims, over the next 3 years we will:

• regulate places – moving beyond licensing individuals to regulating publicly accessible premises and events under Martyn’s Law, from spring 2027
• make regulatory judgements – qualitative assessments that call out poor practice and recognise excellence
• create one unified organisation – build a strong inclusive community as we work across 2 office bases and in teams across the UK, with a focus on our common purpose of public protection

Our 4 priorities for 2026 to 2029

Our 4 priorities for 2026 to 2029 are:

1. Continue to strengthen individual licensing – maintaining robust vetting and training standards, improving the customer experience through digital improvements, and tackling malpractice in qualification and training provision.
2. Reset security business standards – replacing the Approved Contractor Scheme with a new, more rigorous business approval scheme that drives out bad actors, promotes quality, and gives buyers better information to make informed choices.
3. Prepare for and deliver Martyn’s Law regulation – building capacity and capability to regulate around 179,000 in-scope premises and events, with a shared intelligence function, new digital notification systems, and a new inspection regime operational by spring 2027.
4. Invest in our people – recruiting new expertise, developing staff, and maintaining a unified, inclusive organisation across 2 office bases to deliver our expanded remit.

How we will regulate

We will be confident in setting standards, supportive in seeking compliance, and uncompromising in enforcing when necessary.

Tracking delivery

We will monitor progress against the annual business plans which set out the delivery priorities at our Board, alongside a new set of key performance indicators across the 3-year period.