SIA marks International Security Officers’ Day 2026

Michelle Russell, CEO of the SIA, and chair Mike Cunningham CBE QPM are spending the day visiting front line security officers in London and Manchester respectively in order to personally thank them for their hard work and significant contributions to public safety.

Among those operatives being recognised is Shani Baldwin, a security team leader at a hospital in London. During a routine patrol at the hospital, Baldwin was approached by a distressed member of the public who revealed that her friend was in the car park and in crisis.

With limited information to go on, Baldwin immediately began searching while calling for back-up. In a far corner, she spotted a car with a door slightly ajar and found a woman inside who required urgent medical attention.

Baldwin acted swiftly, using her training and experience to provide emergency First Aid and keep the woman calm, while colleagues called for assistance from the Emergency Department. She stayed with the woman throughout, speaking reassuringly until the clinical team arrived before conducting a careful handover to the nursing staff.

Speaking about the experience, Baldwin said: “Looking back, the episode reinforced the importance of remaining calm under pressure, trusting your training and working as a team to achieve the best possible outcome.”

Further, Baldwin observed: “It’s an incident that will stay with me for the rest of my life. Moments like that put everything into perspective. They remind you that this job is about more than security and keeping premises secure. It’s also about protecting life, supporting people through their darkest moments and being there when it matters most.”

Baldwin was awarded an ACS Pacesetters accolade for her actions.

Incredible work

Michelle Russell explained: “Shani’s tremendous efforts show just how important the work of private security officers is in keeping the public safe. Thanks to her quick-thinking actions, an individual received life-saving care.”

Russell continued: “People will see security officers as they go about their daily lives. Those officers play an essential role in keeping us all safe. Today, on International Security Officers’ Day 2026, and on behalf of the public, we give our heartfelt thanks to security officers in communities right across the UK who work to look after us on a 24/7 basis.”

There are nearly three times as many front line security operatives as there are police officers working in the UK. Security operatives are often dealing with an incident before the police and other Emergency Services arrive.

Newly re-appointed Security Minister Dan Jarvis stated: “I would like to thank all security officers who work tirelessly to keep our communities safe. Today’s date, 24 July, is a fitting tribute to an industry that helps to protect people and public spaces 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

Those working in regulated front line private security roles do need to possess a licence from the SIA, which must be on public display when they are working. The visible blue badge shows that a security professional has completed mandatory training specific to their licence type and has attained a formal qualification from an approved Training Centre.

Although the qualifications needed vary between licence types, front line operatives are trained in emergency First Aid, counter-terrorism skills and conflict resolution.

*For more details on ‘what’s behind the badge’, visit International Security Officers’ Day 2026 – Security Industry Authority Blog

**In unison with the SIA’s messaging, the team at Security Matters and Western Business Media would like to thank all security officers for the fabulous work they do each day in keeping people, property and places safe from harm