"The origins of manned security demand are changing as in commercial, retail and industrial settings, the development of technology in electronic security systems is limiting the role of manned guarding. Cash-in-transit services have also been affected by the struggles of the retail and financial sectors through the economic downturn."

- Ben Harris, Industrial Specialist

The prison and custodial services sector is expanding but potentially high-profile failures make the sector highly sensitive to political decisions and the tendering process is expected to remain the domain of the major firms. Smaller companies at the fragmented end of the market are expected to continue to diversify their services and mergers and acquisitions will see firms in this tier become ever more closely integrated with security systems providers and, in some cases, facilities management businesses.