The Institute’s View

Embracing diversity of thought means that, as security professionals, we are best prepared to address all risks, given the wide-ranging benefit of various perspectives. Although great strides are being made in this regard, it’s important to recognise that attracting diverse talent is not the end of the story. Far from it, in fact.

Collectively, we need to be asking ourselves: ‘How are we embracing security professionals from different backgrounds once they’ve entered the sector?’ and also: ‘What are we doing to ensure that we’re cultivating an inclusive work culture that not only attracts talent, but retains it?’

One of the significant issues we've faced when trying to address diversity and inclusivity within the sector has been the lack of available data. This has meant that we’ve largely relied on anecdotal evidence, which prevents us from identifying wider trends, as well as benchmark figures to track changes.

Sector-wide survey

As a member of The Security Institute's Inclusive Security Special Interest Group (ISSIG), one of our key strategic aims has been to collect data that would pinpoint opportunities to help us cultivate a more inclusive sector for all.

Last year, the ISSIG launched a sector-wide survey (as reported in Security Matters) that received over 700 responses. Building further on this, we then organised and conducted a series of one-on-one interviews. Being a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community myself with over 25 years of experience of working in security, one particularly interesting takeaway from the survey results surrounds the findings that emerged about that very community.

Starting with the positives, comparing the survey results to the 2017 Office for National Statistics (ONS) data shows that our sector is actually representative of wider society when it comes to non-heterosexual professionals. 3% of respondents to the ISSIG survey identified as ‘gay’ compared to 2.3% for the general population in the ONS data. 2% of respondents identified as ‘lesbian’ compared to 1.8% for the general population and 2% of respondents identified as ‘bisexual’ compared to 0.7% for the general population.

On the one hand it’s really encouraging to see that the LGBTQ+ community is represented so strongly within the security sector. However, the one-on-one interviews with LGBTQ+ security professionals found that none of the interviewees involved with our study felt comfortable being their ‘authentic selves’ at work. In the survey, many identified their sexuality or gender identity as a factor that has held them back within their career.

Sadly, this problem is not unique to the security sector. A UK Government survey in 2019 found that 70% of LGBTQ+ respondents said they avoided being open about their sexual orientation for fear of a negative reaction, with the workplace being the second most common environment – public transport being the first – where respondents had avoided being open about their sexual orientation.

This links back to my initial point. It is indeed fantastic that our business sector is working harder to attract diverse talent, but in parallel we absolutely need to recognise the importance of creating a work culture that leads these talented security professionals to stay and progress.

Rainbow Group

In response to these survey findings, myself and colleagues Mel Hipwood MSyI, Sian Doherty MSyI and Ben Harding decided to launch our sector’s first-ever LGBTQ+ support and advocacy group: The Rainbow Group.

We decided on that name as it’s inclusive of all within the community and, importantly, allies who are critical to our success. The Rainbow Group aims to offer a wide range of support for all ‘Rainbow’ professionals in the sector, as well as provide a safe place for them to be themselves without judgement.

Membership is open to any security professional wanting to help foster a more inclusive security sector, even if they’re not LGBTQ+ themselves. They can be an ally of – and an advocate for – positive change within their own organisation as well as the wider sector.

Last month, we began the year with our first speaker event. We were joined by Jayne King FSyI, head of The Security Commonwealth, who spoke about her journey and the successful steps that she and her team have taken at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust to embrace LGBTQ+ colleagues and patients alike.

It was fantastic to see cross-sector support on the call, with members from across both the Government security profession and the private sector. There were representatives from The Security Institute as well as ASIS UK, the BSIA, IFPO UK, IPSA, the NAHS and the SIA. The issues involved are of a systemic nature and we need as many voices on board to make a lasting change.

If you would like to be involved with the ongoing work of The Rainbow Group, please do send an e-mail to rainbow@security-institute.org  

Satia Rai MSyI is Co-Chair of The Security Institute’s Rainbow Group (www.security-institute.org)