The SIA’s Buyers Special Interest Group (SIG) has announced the development of a landmark new Security Buyer’s Charter aimed at providing a benchmark for the responsible and effective procurement of private security services.
As security challenges grow more complex, the procurement of good quality, effective security solutions have become increasingly critical for businesses and public sector organisations. The new buyer’s charter addresses this challenge by providing a structured framework for buyers and informed, transparent and responsible security purchasing.
Commissioned by the SIA, the charter has been developed by buyers of private security services themselves. It has received input from strategic leaders with purchasing influence, experience of procurement, insurance and security.
The charter has also been developed by representatives from different purchasing sectors and reflects the realities faced by those responsible for buying and contracting security.
Launched today (24 June 2026) in draft for feedback the charter aims to
- strengthen professional standards and competence
- promote fair pay, lawful working conditions and workforce wellbeing for security personnel
- improve collaboration between stakeholders to strengthen public protection outcomes
- embed sustainability and social responsibility in procurement and contract management practice
- enhance confidence in the sector through transparent, accountable and ethical practice
Sarah Cork and Jayne King, co-chairs of the SIA’s Buyers Special Interest Group (SIG) said today
The creation of a security buyer’s charter represents a pivotal moment. For too long, the gap between what buyers need and what the private security industry delivers has been bridged by individual effort and expertise rather than collective good practice standards.
By bringing together the SIA and security buyers in this collaboration, we have created something genuinely transformative – a practical toolkit that doesn’t just set expectations but makes compliance accessible and actionable.
Buyers who contributed to the charter’s development emphasised the importance of wide sector and sub-sector buy-in. This charter is built on partnership, not prescription.
Buyers benefit from a clear framework for compliance and quality assurance, and clarity on expectations and standards. The charter is also intended to be practical and support the design of tender questions, evaluation criteria, and contract management approaches, and to enable informed conversations.
When buyers sign up to the charter, they’re not just ticking a box – they’re committing to supporting responsible buying of security and are actively driving the professional standards that protect people, premises, and reputations. Buyers and the security industry both gain.
We are really keen to hear feedback from other buyers of private security, security companies, security industry membership bodies and of course the public.
Michelle Russell, Chief Executive of the SIA said
Buyers of private security services should be assured of the competence and quality of the companies they procure and rely on to deliver. How security is purchased, chosen and contracted matters.
Good purchasing and procurement decisions require due diligence, curiosity and investment. There are many good buyers out there who take time and care with their purchasing decisions and promote ethical practices; contracts awarded simply on lowest cost with little or no due diligence carried out rarely work out well.
We are encouraging responsible buyers to make choices prioritising service, delivery and quality over cost and this charter helps provide a framework for that.
Buyers who support high standards of security provision help keep safe and secure their own people and premises. The new charter will be their commitment to supporting those high standards and public safety outcomes. We are delighted to support this new initiative led by, and working in partnership with, security buyers.
I would like to thank the members of the SIA’s Buyers Special Interest Group for their time, commitment and expertise they have put into developing the draft, and look forward to seeing the launch of the new charter later this year.
To take part in the consultation on the draft charter sign up here https//eepurl.com/pKAx4wHIhv
The final draft of the charter will be published later this year.
Background
The SIA’s Buyers Special Interest Group
The SIA’s Buyers SIG comprises security buyers from public sector, corporate, national infrastructure, retail, insurance, healthcare, education, hospitality and night-time economy.
If you are a buyer of security and are interested in finding out more about the Buyers SIG, please email [email protected]
The SIA has several other stakeholder groups, which include the Network for SIA approved contractors; the Business SIG for all security businesses to join, and the Close Protection SIG.
For more information about these groups, please email [email protected]
SIA approved contractors
The SIA currently approves 734 security businesses. Within this number, 85 of the largest businesses by turnover account for around 40% of the total UK private security market, employing around 30% of individual SIA licence holders.
Benefits of purchasing from an SIA approved contractor
The SIA Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) provides a recognised hallmark of quality within the private security industry.
SIA approved contractors are assessed against 78 different areas of their businesses. These cover topics diverse as staff training, financial management and the company’s health and safety policies.
When you choose an approved contractor you can be sure that the business you are working with has passed a thorough quality assurance test.