Growing concerns are emerging across the UK private security sector regarding the newly formed ‘S12’ security leadership group, which critics argue prioritises the interests of large multinational corporations at the expense of smaller operators, while raising serious questions about Minister Dan Jarvis’ positioning and involvement.
The S12 Group was established as an interface into the security sector for Security Minister Dan Jarvis. It was nominally intended to engage a cross-representation of the sector, but its makeup and process have been received poorly by SMEs and wider industry figures, with many warning it fails to reflect the true breadth of the sector.
From the beginning, the process has been poorly designed and exclusionary, following a series of changes throughout the process and a limited number within the industry understanding that it was being formed.
Only 740 Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) companies were permitted to nominate or vote people onto the group, despite there being over 12,000 security businesses across the UK. While ACS firms may nominate non-ACS businesses, this has been widely dismissed as tokenistic. Industry figures argue that over 90% of businesses have effectively been locked out of shaping S12, undermining its credibility and legitimacy.
Critics also point to the confusing and opaque way decisions have been made. Priorities such as vetting as part of the group’s initial areas of focus were communicated before S12 was even formally established, leaving many to believe the process was stage-managed in favour of a narrow set of corporate interests.
It speaks volumes that only four businesses generating over £30 million in turnover applied. With around 90 votes cast for nominees across the categories, this truly highlights the level of engagement within the sector, particularly among the 740+ ACS businesses who were able to vote for their nominees.
A letter from SMEs sent to Minister Jarvis has reportedly been met with a commitment from civil servants that he would be briefed, offering limited or no meaningful recognition of the concerns or narrative raised by the sector.
In response to the current position of the S12, Freedom of Information (FOI) requests are being submitted this week to examine the extent of ministerial and civil service involvement in shaping the process with leading figures from the group.
Despite these concerns, S12 is reportedly pressing ahead with plans for the Security Minister Dan Jarvis to acknowledge it within his speech at the International Security Expo.
Satia Rai, CEO, International Professional Security Association (IPSA), said: “S12 must operate with trust, collaboration, and fair representation at its core. Yet its current formation risks undermining these principles. SMEs are the backbone of the private security industry, yet they have been largely excluded from meaningful engagement. This is neither fair nor sustainable.
Any credible industry structure must be transparent and genuinely representative, not dominated by the interests of a small number of large ACS businesses. The accelerated timeline and lack of consultation raise serious questions about S12’s governance, legitimacy, and long-term viability.
We urge the Minister’s office to provide immediate clarity and to commit to an open, inclusive process that is representative of the sector, not just a privileged few. The future of our industry must be shaped collectively, through transparency and accountability.”
Michael Kill, CEO, Night Time Industries Association, said: “The formation of the S12 group has raised significant concerns across the security and night-time economy sectors. The process has been rushed, exclusionary, and skewed toward the interests of a handful of large corporates, sidelining the vast majority of SMEs that make up the backbone of this industry.”
Minister Jarvis must urgently clarify his position: does he back this flawed structure, or will he stand with the thousands of small and medium businesses who deserve proper representation? To push ahead in its current form risks entrenching elitism, deepening divisions, and misrepresenting an industry that is vital to public safety and economic recovery.
“We need transparency, accountability, and an open process that ensures every part of our sector has a voice — not just the privileged few.”
Sacha Lord, Chair of the Night Time Industries Association, said: “The S12 group, in its current form, fails to reflect the reality of the UK security sector. By prioritising a small number of large corporates and limiting engagement with SMEs, it risks sidelining the very businesses that keep our venues, events, and cities safe.”
John Owens, Director of Security Performance & Compliance, ISS, said: “While the initiative represents a step forward in principle, I have concerns about the pace and planning of its rollout. The process appears to have been expedited without sufficient strategic consideration for the broader interests of the security industry.
John Melling, CEO, Pro FM Group, said: “The process has been rushed, and I question whether sufficient due diligence has been carried out on the appointed individuals. This concern is reinforced by the fact that changes have already occurred within the group, with certain appointees being removed and replaced so soon after the announcement.
I am concerned by the lack of diversity among the appointees. Around half of those selected were entirely predictable before the process even began. This gives the impression that the initiative has not been as open, inclusive, or merit-based as it should have been. Instead, it risks being perceived as another programme that primarily benefits the larger players in the industry, rather than delivering real value to the wider sector and most importantly those on the frontline.”
Paul MacArthur, CEO, SGC Security Services, said: “In my view, no private set up led or overarching ruling structure should be imposed on private security companies, particularly those with turnovers in excess of £100 million per year. These large organisations do not represent the industry as a whole. The S12, as it stands, fails to recognise or reflect the realities of grassroots security companies, which make up a significant proportion of limited companies across the UK.”….
