The Security Industry Authority (SIA) as part of its work against labour exploitation invited leaders from the 20 largest private security businesses to a summit.
The event formed part of Operation EMPOWER, the SIA’s response to labour exploitation. EMPOWER involves a dedicated multi-disciplinary team that includes intelligence specialists and criminal investigators. The SIA director of inspections and enforcement Paul Fullwood hosted the summit, which he described as “unique”, at the SIA’s offices at Canary Wharf in east London. Paul said: “This is the first time that we’ve held a meeting of this kind, and we hope you’ll all use this opportunity to make your voices heard. We’ve seen that there is an appetite throughout the industry, from top to bottom, to address labour exploitation. The unfairness and distortion it brings is bad for everybody, not just the individuals who are directly affected.”
Michelle Russell, SIA Chief Executive, opened the event with a welcome. She gave an explanation of why labour exploitation matters so much: “Labour exploitation undermines the integrity of, and public trust in, the private security industry. It undermines the good work of companies that operate lawfully and ethically, and undermines the raison d’etre of the industry, which is to protect people. It is by working together we can stop exploitation of people working in private security.”
Liam Emmerson of His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) gave a presentation on the work that HMRC are doing with the SIA. He explained that HMRC ordinarily expect operatives to be employed by a business in the security supply chain to ensure that PAYE tax and national insurance are properly accounted for.
Ronnie Megaughin, SIA Head of Compliance and Inspections, spoke to the group about some of the intelligence-led operational activity that his team has put into action since the launch of EMPOWER. He described how the SIA has mobilised its Compliance and Inspections and Criminal Enforcement investigators across the UK, with some significant success.
The gathering then had an open discussion. Among the subjects under discussion were what further could be done by the UK Government, the SIA as the contract guarding regulator, and the industry to tackle labour exploitation; educating buyers of security in the benefits of purchasing services on the basis of quality rather than price; and ensuring compliance and fair employment practices throughout the supplier chain. Those there put forward suggestions including improved co-operation between statutory agencies, a requirement that Government contracts for security should be only for SIA approved contractors, and greater transparency and effective auditing of subcontracted suppliers.
The summit finished with a commitment for the group to meet again in spring 2025, and to widen participation to include more of the top businesses in the UK private security industry.
Photo by Mark Rowe, SIA-badged station response officer, London Euston.
