"As the global technology transformation continues, and the needs of clients continue to evolve, you may be mistaken for thinking that the requirement for people, and their collective competence, might be diminished. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth." says Hayes, who was recently appointed to the position of HR director at Securitas UK in November 2019.

Clients are demanding increasingly advanced security solutions and expect stable, uninterrupted operations. As the industry moves towards data driven intelligent security services, new technologies are changing the very nature of security officer responsibilities.

From sensors built in to uniforms and access to real time data on smartwatches, Hayes predicts that even the patrol car will become an extension of the security officer, cooperating with nearby officers, vehicles and third-party data.

The pace of transformation towards intelligent security solutions is gathering momentum however the security officer of tomorrow will remain at the heart of any security solution.

In an industry where a rather antiquated perception of security services persists and where certain roles are often regarded as low skilled, security businesses needs to be focused on attracting, retaining and growing talent.