We are marking 20 years since the Security Industry Authority (SIA) was set up in 2003 and issued the first licences to security operatives in April 2004.
Before we were set up, there was no national regulation of people working in security. Local oversight varied in its effectiveness, and there were examples of serious and organised crime in the industry. Twenty years later, you can be reassured that the UK private security industry is regulated, and public protection is at the heart of everything we do. You can find out more about the SIA on GOV.UK.
There are now over 430,000 SIA licence holders working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week across the UK. From the security guard at your office or local supermarket, to the door supervisor at your favourite pub or nightclub. From the armoured guard carrying the cash you put in your bank savings, or the CCTV operator at your local shopping centre.
Over the next few months, we will be sharing real life stories which show how you can go about your daily life, and enjoy the things you love to do, in places you feel safe – thanks to the work of private security. So please check back regularly as we add more voices.
Heather Baily
Heather Baily has been our Chair since June 2021. She reflects on key moments over the past two decades which have helped to change public protection for the better.
Gemma Myring
Gemma is an SIA licensed door supervisor from the Midlands. She won the frontline award at the Women in Security Awards in 2020 for her work during the coronavirus pandemic. Gemma reflects on her experiences over the past 5 years of keeping people safe in different settings.
Jade Dyer
Jade is an SIA licensed door supervisor from Scotland. She was a frontline category finalist at the Women in Security Awards 2023. Jade shares her experiences of working in private security for over a decade, and how she and her team keep the public safe at events.
Sammy Wightman
Sammy is a former Royal Marine and a current SIA licence holder. He has received several awards and police commendations for his work as a door person and for preventing retail crime. Sammy reflects on his experiences of protecting vulnerable people in his adopted city of Plymouth.
Arran Perry
Arran is an SIA licensed door supervisor based in Manchester. He is the UK OSPAs 2023 Outstanding Young Security Professional. Arran shares how he progressed from starting off working part-time in security at university, to being his company’s regional manager for the north of England.
Iestyn David
Iestyn is Head of Licensing & Service Delivery at the Security Industry Authority (SIA). He shares what licensing means and our role to protect the UK public through the effective regulation of the private security industry.
Antonios Kapellas
Antonios started out in private security in his native Greece and travelled all over Europe working for a major football club. He is now an SIA licensed door supervisor in a busy London railway station. He reflects on the differences and similarities between private security in the UK and abroad, and his experiences of helping vulnerable people.
Julie Deeming
Julie is a Duty Manager at a shopping centre in Solihull. She holds a door supervision and public space surveillance (CCTV) licence and won the frontline category at the Women in Security Awards 2023. Julie speaks about her experiences of moving from working in hospitality to private security, and being a woman in what can be a male dominated industry.
Jules Norwood
Jules Norwood is an SIA licenced door supervisor from London. She was an Outstanding Female Security Professional finalist at the UK OSPAs 2024. Jules shares her story of working at sports venues in the UK and abroad, and reflects how women’s experiences in the industry have changed.
Steve Caris
Steve is a CCTV Control Room Manager and an SIA licence holder. He was an Outstanding Security Officer finalist at the UK OSPAs 2024. He shares his experiences of working in public space surveillance at London’s biggest and busiest public estates and the important role that counter terrorism training plays in a control room environment.
Jeff Geronimo
Jeff got his SIA door supervision licence in December 2022 and is a supervisor at a corporate building in the City of London. He reflects on his experiences of retraining to work in private security and opportunities to progress.
Anthony Chell
Anthony is a Store Detective Supervisor and SIA licensed security guard from Staffordshire. He won the Service to the Customer award at the British Security Awards 2021. He speaks about his experiences of helping to identify and respond to serious and organised crime affecting the retail industry.
Benjamin Akosah
Benjamin is an SIA licensed security guard from London. He was a winner at the 2022 ACS Pacesetters Security Officer of Distinction Awards. He reflects on his long service in the private security industry and responding to serious incidents such as knife violence and attempted sexual assault.
Elibank Jackson- Davis
Elibank is an SIA licensed door supervisor at a top London hotel. He was a finalist at the 2024 Outstanding Security Performance Awards (OSPAs). Elibank shares how his first aid training was essential in saving a young child from choking.
Michelle Russell
Michelle has been the Chief Executive of the SIA since October 2020. As we close our series of stories to mark 20 years of private security industry regulation, Michelle reflects on some real-life examples that demonstrate how the work of private security officers helps to protect the public, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Show your appreciation for security operatives
If you’ve been inspired by our stories, here are some simple things you can do to show your appreciation to the security operatives you meet.
Do you have a story to tell?
Whether you are an SIA licence holder, work for an SIA approved contractor or in the wider security industry – we want to hear your stories. Contact us and your story could feature here.