Gary Culloden, Managing Director Security, Business Services at Mitie discusses the normalisation of violence in physical security and why urgent action is needed to better protect security officers who work on the frontline.
Across our industry, every day, security officers offer reassurance, support and a willingness to help, while working to keep people safe in busy and often high-pressure environments.
Their presence can calm tense situations and provide confidence to those around them.
Yet our 2025 Security Radar report which surveyed senior security professionals found that over half (56%) had seen a rise in physical incidents over the past 12 months and two fifths (41%) cited colleague safety as of greatest concern to their organisation.
They do not deserve to be threatened or abused. Yet too often, violence is dismissed as “part of the job”.
That mindset is damaging to both our people and our profession. The personal impact should not be underestimated.
Abuse and violence can undermine confidence, mental wellbeing, morale and job satisfaction.
Over time, this erodes confidence and damages the mental health of colleagues who show up day after day to protect others.
This isn’t just a welfare issue; it’s a workforce issue. Everyone should be able to come to work, feel fulfilled in what they do and return home safe at the end of the day.
When violence is normalised, experienced professionals are more likely to leave and potential recruits may think twice about joining a role where abuse is perceived as unavoidable.
Normalising violence creates a cycle that undermines both individual wellbeing and public safety.
Other frontline roles, including police officers, prison officers and emergency workers, benefit from specific legal protections that recognise the risks they face and send a clear signal that abuse and violence will not be tolerated.
Extending similar recognition to licensed security officers, through a standalone offence, would strengthen that same message: That threatening or assaulting those who protect the public is a crime with serious consequences.
Crucially, it would reinforce that security officers are valued professionals and that abuse should never be just “part of the job”.
Protecting our people is essential to ensuring they can protect the public. That is why collective action matters.
The S12 and SIF petition is a powerful example of our sector coming together to call for a standalone offence for assaults against licensed security officers.
It reflects the lived experience of frontline workers and channels it into a clear, constructive demand: That abuse and violence against security professionals are treated seriously, deterred effectively and punished accordingly.
By signing and sharing this petition, you are backing a clear and reasonable demand: That assaulting a security officer should be recognised in law as a standalone aggravated offence, aligned with the protections already afforded to other frontline workers.
Every signature strengthens the case for reform, brings us closer to Parliamentary debate and sends a clear message that the abuse of our colleagues across the security industry is unacceptable.
By uniting behind this call, our sector can help shift attitudes, influence policy and reinforce a simple but vital principle – that threatening or harming those who protect the public will not be tolerated.
Together, we can secure the recognition and protection our security officers deserve.
