A person dear to me, a brother in the Security Industry Authority (SIA), was brutally attacked while on duty, alongside some of his team members. Our shock reverberated when the assailants walked free, a glaring testament to a failing justice system. Countless SIA badge holders are in a similar plight, routinely suffering abuse and assaults on the job, with minimal legal recourse. The pain we endure physically is only amplified by the knowledge that our justice system fails to protect us.

This must change. Just as law enforcement officers are offered legal protection, so too should all SIA badge holders. The sentences meted out for assaults on us need to reflect the seriousness of the crimes committed. In England and Wales, for instance, nearly two-thirds of those convicted for assault on emergency workers were sentenced to fine alone, according to data published by the Sentencing Council. There is no similar statistical analysis available for SIA Badge Holders, but our lived experience paints a grim parallel.

We implore you to advocate for a reevaluation of the sentencing outcomes for brutality against SIA badge holders. We deserve the same protection under the law as police officers and other emergency personnel. The time for equal justice under law is now. Please, lend us your voice — sign this petition today.