On 10 December, the Security Industry Authority demonstrated its commitment to tackling labour exploitation by inviting senior leaders from the 20 largest private security businesses to a special summit. 

The event forms part of Operation EMPOWER, which is the SIA’s response to labour exploitation.

EMPOWER involves a dedicated multi-disciplinary team that includes intelligence specialists and criminal investigators. 

“An appetite throughout the industry”

Paul Fullwood, SIA Director of Inspections and Enforcement, Operation EMPOWER commented: “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,” concluded Fullwood.

“We can stop exploitation”

Michelle Russell, Chief Executive, SIA explained 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.”

Russel concluded: “It is by working together we can stop exploitation of people working in private security.” 

HMRC and SIA presentations

• Liam Emmerson of His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) gave a presentation on the work that HMRC are doing in conjunction 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 Operation EMPOWER
• He described how the SIA has mobilised its Compliance and Inspections and Criminal Enforcement investigators across the UK, with some significant success

The group then took part in an open roundtable discussion.

Discussion subjects

Among the subjects under discussion were:

• What further could be done by the government, the 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
• Ensuring compliance and fair employment practices throughout the supplier chain

Throughout the discussions, participants put forward suggestions including improved co-operation between statutory agencies, a requirement that government contracts for security should be restricted to 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.