Business continuity and risk management are major strategic issues for corporate Britain and the public sector.

A professional, dependable private security industry is needed to help protect people, property, assets and operations. The police alone cannot always attain and maintain the sense of security that society and business expect these days. That is why it is so vital that government bodies, the police, the security industry and security users work in collaboration to help build a vibrant, professional and reliable private security industry.

The private security industry has not always enjoyed a positive image. Traditionally, quality standards were poor, training inadequate, pay and conditions frequently unattractive and career prospects weak. Security was often regarded as a grudge spend with buyers opting to buy the minimum and cheapest service possible. For this reason, amongst others, the industry welcomed the introduction of the Private Security Industry Act 2001, viewing the regulation of an underdeveloped and undervalued industry as the catalyst for driving much needed change.