Full steam ahead as S12 bolsters leadership and support functions

January 14, 2026

As the S12 Security Guarding Leadership Group marks its first three months in operation, the committee has been reflecting on everything achieved so far, and the strategic direction for the future.

There has been significant interest from the industry to get involved, with hundreds of security professionals pledging their support and joining workstreams to represent the sector with one united voice.

Set up at the request of Government, the S12’s mission is to work alongside Security Minister Dan Jarvis to help raise standards, shape policy and improve public safety.

The group has now been officially incorporated as a Community Interest Company to reinforce the intent to support all parts of the UK private security industry.

It’s clear there’s a lot of work to do, and as it enters a new year, the S12 has taken the opportunity to reflect on the best way forward from an organisational point of view, to ensure the group can be as effective and efficient as possible.

To that end, a number of key changes will be made.

New Chief Operating Officer appointed

In recognition of the need for consistent and dedicated leadership across the S12 workstreams, Chief of Staff Paul Fullwood will transition into the role of S12 Chief Operating Officer (COO).

This role will oversee the day-to-day strategic leadership of the S12’s aims and objectives, working towards an agreed ‘delegation of responsibilities’ as Senior Responsible Owner for the S12 workstreams, alongside workstream leads.

The new role will include voting rights as a member of the S12 and will provide independent and impartial leadership of the S12 workstreams. Over the next few weeks, the workstreams will be harmonised to reduce current overlap, and place greater focus on specific priorities, while others will become core S12 business.

The COO will oversee a new administrative role, which is currently being recruited, and the communications and engagement function, to drive forward the essential work required to support the S12’s strategic aims and mission.

 ‘Overwhelmed by support so far’

Paul Evans, Chair of the Security Guarding Leadership Group, said: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the support from across the industry so far. The S12 group has made an excellent start with hundreds of people getting involved, and many positive in-roads already made into a number of big issues affecting the sector.

“But the workload is huge and we recognise that the committee members are all senior security leaders with busy full-time jobs, who give their time to the S12 on a voluntary basis.

“The three-month review has highlighted the need to bolster the strategic leadership and enabling functions, and to streamline our priorities to ensure we can have as much of an impact, across as many of the industry’s big challenges, as quickly as possible.

“The new COO role will therefore provide the S12 day-to-day leadership, strategic oversight, governance, engagement, workstream oversight and will work in collaboration with key agencies and partners.

“Paul Fullwood’s background as former Executive Director for the Security Industry Authority (SIA) and Assistant Chief Constable (Policing) will continue to add significant leadership, experience, and knowledge to support the S12’s aims to help raise standards, shape policy and improve public safety across the UK Private Security Industry.

“Through 2026 we will also look to streamline the current S12 workstreams to bring overlapping areas of work together and define clearer objectives.

“Paul will also directly oversee the selection and appointment of the two additional ‘Non-ACS’ S12 board members we will shortly be advertising to diversify representation. His previous background and commercial independence will ensure we select the best candidates for these crucial S12 roles.

“Along with the latest appointments to the S12, these changes put us in an excellent position to start 2026, laying the foundations for us to build real progress towards our mission of raising standards and improving public safety.”

 About the S12

The S12 meets regularly with the Security Minister, the Home Office and the SIA to drive the highest professional standards across the industry. Its work is informed by data, insights from trade associations, and collaborations on initiatives such as the proposed Security Skills Academy.