Security Report From Mitie Reveals Key Industry Challenges

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15 October 2024

A survey of 107 senior security decision-makers shows that almost a quarter are unsure about how upcoming legislation will impact their organisations.

 

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With new legislation such as Martyn’s Law, also known as the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill, the Criminal Justice Bill 2023 and the National Security Act 2023 all hitting the headlines this year as they progress through parliament, it seems security providers are not confident on how it will affect their business.

A quarter (24 per cent) of security decision-makers surveyed are not sure which upcoming legislation will impact their organisations.

As a minimum, the report recommends that organisations should:

 

1. Introduce mandatory security training and exercising
2. Devise an alert system to warn people in the event of an attack
3. Develop a lockdown strategy and process for your portfolio of buildings
4. Consider your terror attack evacuation criteria
5. Build up a proactive communication channel and engagement strategy with emergency services
6. Ensure you have first aid kits and trained professionals on-site
7. Collaborate with neighbouring businesses and communities to improve local security provisions

 

 

Technology

 

Technology is seen as a clear opportunity for the industry. The use of hybrid cloud security solutions has grown by 53 per cent since 2022 and  64 per cent of all network cameras will include AI by 2025. Almost a quarter (22 per cent) of security decision-makers say they are already using AI as part of their security strategy, with a further two-fifths (41 per cent) intending to deploy AI in the next year. 

With over two-fifths (42 per cent) saying onsite security risks have increased in the past year, half (51 per cent) are upgrading surveillance and monitoring systems to help protect colleagues. 

Ahead of the introduction of the Workers Protection Act in October 2024, which requires organisations to take appropriate steps to protect colleagues from harassment in the workplace, half of respondents (51 per cent) are upgrading surveillance and monitoring systems to help protect colleagues. 

 

The Security Skills Gap

 

A third of security decision-makers (33 per cent) think the limited pool of applicants is a barrier to hiring qualified security professionals.  According to the British Security Industry Association, the UK’s private security industry must recruit, train and license more than 62,000 new security officers over the next 12 months to keep up with the growing demand for their services.

Read the Security Radar report on Mitie’s website.

Picture: a photograph of a security officer wearing a suit and standing at a security gate. Image Credit: Mitie

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 15 October 2024

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