The S12 – Security Guarding Leadership Group 31 December 2025

The Security Guarding Leadership Group (S12), announced by Security Minister Dan Jarvis MBE at the International Security Expo in October 2025, aims to unify the UK’s private security industry, raise standards, and strengthen collaboration between private security companies, government and regulatory bodies.

The S12 is a group which aims to improve professionalism, accelerate legislation, and improve the skills of security workers. Objectives include:

• Raise industry standards – Improve professionalism.
• Shape policy and accelerate legislation – Drive forward critical laws, including Martyn’s Law, to enhance public safety.
• Representation – Ensure voices from all areas of the security industry are heard.
• Skills development – Support the creation of the Security Skills Academy to boost training and capability.

The UK security industry faces rising threat levels, malpractice concerns and the need for modern compliance frameworks. S12 addresses these challenges by:

• Providing unified representation for the industry.
• Establishing stronger compliance standards.
• Promoting modern training and development programs.
• Enhancing collaboration between private security and public authorities.

The S12 includes representatives from large businesses and SMEs, with plans to add two non-ACS business representatives. The group is still developing and anticipates a busy 2026 as progress continues.

The formation of the S12 is a major step toward unified representation, improved standards, and stronger collaboration between private security and public authorities. By addressing rising threats, compliance and training frameworks, the group is setting the foundation for a safer, more professional security industry.