The safety of women and girls is a major concern for many people. The tragic deaths of Sarah Everard, Sabina Nessa and others serve as a reminder that this is an urgent public safety issue we all need to act on.
My name is Kirsty Tagg and I lead the SIA’s work on preventing violence against women and girls. The private security industry makes a valuable contribution to this, which is why I am writing to ask for your help.
As an SIA licence holder, you play a vital role in protecting members of the public. You also have a duty of care with regard to people in vulnerable situations, and your training included ways to identify and report predatory behaviour.
If you have concerns about someone’s safety you should consider doing one or more of the following:
- report your concerns to your supervisor or the site/venue management
- seek the help of street pastors or street marshals
- take advantage of any local or national schemes aimed at keeping people safe, such as ‘Ask Angela’
- in the case of a young person or vulnerable adult, call a relative of the person to help
- call for a licensed taxi to take the vulnerable person home
- use ‘safe havens’ or other local initiatives run by organisations such as St John’s Ambulance
- call the police
We sometimes receive reports from the police that licence holders have provided lifts home to drunk or otherwise vulnerable people whilst on duty. The information extends from genuine well-meaning acts of assistance to allegations of rape and sexual assault. We know this behaviour applies to a small number of licence holders, but it damages the reputation of everyone else in the industry.
You have been trained on the standards of behaviour we require of an SIA licence holder. These include behaving with personal integrity and understanding, as well as never abusing your position of authority. If you are aware of colleagues who do not meet these standards, please report their behaviour to us on our website.
Thank you for your dedication and professionalism in protecting the public.
Yours faithfully
Kirsty Tagg
SIA Champion – Preventing Violence Against Woman and Girls
Security Industry Authority
