The security industry plays a crucial role in safeguarding businesses, communities, and critical infrastructure. Yet, despite its significance, the sector has long struggled with issues of under-regulation, poor employment conditions, and a lack of professional recognition. For the industry to progress and professionalise, robust vetting and background screening must become a non-negotiable standard.
Comprehensive vetting is not just about regulatory compliance; it is about elevating the status, safety, and credibility of the industry as a whole.
Raising Standards
The security sector is often undervalued, with workers receiving minimal training and pay, despite their critical responsibilities. In contrast, policing and other public safety professions have strict entry requirements and background checks to ensure only the most suitable candidates are employed.
A rigorous vetting process—including criminal background checks, employment history verification, and character assessments—demonstrates that security professionals are held to high standards. It ensures that those tasked with protecting people and assets are competent, trustworthy, and committed to their role. Without these safeguards, the industry will continue to struggle for recognition, respect, and fair treatment.
Ensuring Public Safety
The security sector is entrusted with the safety of venues, businesses, and the public. Security professionals have access to sensitive areas, valuable property, and, in some cases, vulnerable individuals. Failing to properly vet employees, as seen in the police, opens the door to risks such as:
- Criminal infiltration – Without proper screening, individuals with serious criminal backgrounds, organised crime links, or violent tendencies could enter the industry.
- Negligence in duty – Incompetent or untrained security staff can endanger lives in crisis situations.
- Workplace safety risks – Employers must protect their workforce from potentially dangerous colleagues who may pose threats of violence, harassment, or misconduct.
The SIF calls for mandatory, rigorous background checks to safeguard both workers and the public they protect.
Combatting Industry-Wide Exploitation and Illegal Practices
The security industry has been plagued by unethical employment practices, including:
- Illegal subcontracting
- The use of unlicensed workers
- Fraudulent Security Industry Authority (SIA) licences
- Poor pay and exploitative conditions
Proper vetting procedures would disrupt these practices, ensuring that security officers are legitimate, fairly compensated, and working within the law. Employers must take responsibility by implementing strict vetting standards, rather than cutting corners for profit.
By making vetting a priority, the security sector can demonstrate accountability and competence, reinforcing trust among businesses, clients, and the wider public.
For those who rely on security professionals, and for those working within the sector, this is not just an issue of compliance—it is a matter of safety, credibility, and the future of the profession.
The SIF caught up with Courtney Wilson from CWSR.
Hi, I’m Courtney, and I had found my perfect job. The job I loved getting up for everyday. When I was in my interview, I stated my past employers, but I said “please do not contact them, we didn’t leave things on good terms” they agreed. 6 weeks into my job, the HR manager and my line manager showed up, removed me from site, as they had received a quite nasty response from the previous employer. Now, at the time, I was not aware that, that reference could/should have been withdrawn, I was also self employed for them. For the 1 bad referee I had, I had 10 really amazing ones. I saw that there was a gap in the industry, where things could be done better. Covid hit, and that was it for me, my chance to fix something broken. That’s where CWSR began.
Screening to us isn’t a black and white checklist like what you read from your auditors. Because of the position I was put in, i have taught my team to process every candidate as a person/individual, every case is different.
