6 in 10 adults say they have trust in private security professionals

New research from the Security Industry Authority (SIA) has revealed that 6 in 10 people agree that they trust security professionals.

The research on public trust and confidence in the private security industry was carried out by BMG Research and is the first of its kind commissioned by the UK’s private security industry regulator.

The research was carried out in two waves across two years from 2022 to 2023 to see whether public perceptions changed.

The survey of 2,600 UK adults in 2022 and 2023 also revealed that around 6 in 10 people were confident that security professionals do their duties competently and effectively, and act with integrity.

7 in 10 respondents believed  that security professionals are necessary to maintain order and improve public safety and most felt safer due to a private security presence in various settings such as music concerts, sporting events, banks, hospitals, nighttime economy venues and retail premises.

Michelle Russell, Chief Executive of the Security Industry Authority, said: "Public protection through effective regulation is the golden thread at the heart of what the SIA does. That’s why it is important for us to understand public views about individual licence holders, the wider industry and us as a regulator. We are encouraged that the overall survey results demonstrate that most people have trust and confidence in private security operatives and agree they do important work.

"There is more that can be done, by both the SIA as a regulator and the industry as employers and deployers of security, to raise awareness of how the licensing regime and the work of private security protects the public. The overall stability of the findings across the two years indicate public views are slow-moving, so changing perceptions will likely take time.”

"We are using the findings of this research to develop our strategic planning and stakeholder engagement activity, and to inform our support for industry-led initiatives. We intend to continue to measure and monitor the effect this has on public perceptions of private security over time."

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