The Security Industry – Setting the Scene

Earlier this month the independent review of the crowd problems in the Euro 2020 final at Wembley in July gave official recognition to the challenges facing the security industry.  Baroness (Louise) Casey’s report said: “It is important to note that the staffing problems which affected Euro 2020 are not unique to Wembley and are representative of an industry hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic and Brexit.”

The report quoted a survey of members of UK Crowd Management Association (UKCMA) members in December last year which suggested that between 40 per cent and 50 per cent of companies had lost staff, turnover and profit during the pandemic.  The Review said it “had been told that many experienced stewards and security guards left the UK events industry and returned to eastern Europe, or found employment in other sectors ….”

The situation does not appear to have improved since the summer.  The UK Door Security Association has warned that 6 in 10 door supervisor positions are at risk of being unfilled in pubs, nightclubs, events, and festivals.  In October the Night-Time Industries Association warned that a huge decline in the number of security personnel available to work on events is risking public safety.  The organisation said that since it conducted a survey a few months previously, which found that security resource in the sector was at 70 per cent, the situation had deteriorated further.

The NTIA’s CEO, Michael Kill, said the shortage of door security staff is becoming critical: “Whether it is through acting as the first line of defence against a terrorist attack, or intervening to break up violent incidents, licensed security staff are fundamental to public safety.  The current shortages are beginning to put the public in real jeopardy.”

While acknowledging that Brexit and the pandemic had exacerbated the shortages, the NTIA said that the trend was a longer-term one that had been seen for at least three years.  One other cause may be the change in training requirements.  From last April, the Security Industry Authority extended courses for door supervisors from 4 days to 6 days.

The NTIA has called for the new training requirements to be streamlined.  No one wishes to compromise higher standards, but one solution would be to place an element of training online.  Other security organisations have had to adapt in this way.  Across England and Wales, even policing has introduced a fully-online assessment process to allow them to continue the recruitment of officers during the pandemic, helping to deliver a significant uplift in numbers.  The online process has been found to be effective, and diversity outcomes are improved.

The pandemic has caused similar shortages of security personnel in other countries.  In Canada, some states have responded by introducing online training.  Last year the leading union for security guards in Ontario asked Premier Doug Ford to take action to address the “critical shortage” of security guards.  The Union noted that “in Quebec, for instance, the government has implemented a system where security guard online training and testing has temporarily replaced the traditional face-to-face licensing system until the pandemic is over.”

In January, the Government of Ontario responded positively by introducing an online testing option for individuals seeking to obtain a licence to become a security guard or private investigator.  Significantly, this was presented as a long-term reform to extend beyond the pandemic.  The Government said this was a “modern testing option” that will eliminate the need for applicants to travel to a testing location during the COVID-19 outbreak and beyond.”  The Solicitor General said that “Online testing will help expand Ontario’s capacity to train and qualify these critical professionals who are essential to public safety and the well-being of communities.” 

A perfect storm of Covid, Brexit and increased training requirements has undoubtedly contributed towards severe shortages of security personnel, but every cloud has a silver lining.  It is likely that, as in other sectors where there are staff shortages, pay will increase, while the pandemic may also see greater recognition of the importance of the security industry which is taking on new roles and responsibilities, for instance in checking vaccines or testing records at clubs.

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