SJ Group International: crisis, kidnap and risk management, London
Recommended in Spear's 500 2026. Founded by Nick Shah OBE, former senior NCA officer and author of the UN anti-kidnap manual.
Clarity before action,
readiness before crisis,
by your side when it matters
Former heads of national negotiation, special operations and investigations, helping private clients, families and organisations assess risk, prepare properly and respond calmly.
01
Assess
See exactly where you stand.
A clear assessment of your exposure, helping you understand the risks, prioritise what matters and decide what to do next.
02
Prepare
Build readiness before pressure arrives.
Practical plans and realistic exercises that help your people act with confidence.
03
Respond
Decisive action, calmly coordinated.
When an incident demands a response, you'll have experienced people at the centre, keeping the situation contained, calm and under control.
Kidnap, ransom and extortion
Specialist response to kidnap, ransom and extortion, led by people who have managed these cases before.
Risk assessment and prevention
Identify exposure early and reduce risk with practical, proportionate measures.
Crisis and incident management
Expert support before, during and after incidents, so you're never managing it alone.
Negotiation and resolution
Specialist negotiation support where outcomes, safety and discretion are critical.
Investigations and intelligence-led enquiries
Establish the facts, protect your position and make decisions based on evidence rather than assumption.
Training and preparedness
Capability building and immersive simulations that give you genuine confidence, not just a plan that gets filed away.
Ongoing advisory and strategic support
A trusted partner for high-stakes situations and long-term resilience.
Meet the team
The people in the room with you
We bring together the expertise relevant to each engagement, with direct access to the practitioners involved and close coordination with your existing advisers.
Direct access. Practical coordination. Calm under pressure.
Director of Risk & Crisis Management
Former Head of the NCA's Anti-Kidnap and Extortion Unit.
Senior Consultant
Former National Police Training Lead for Hostage and Crisis Negotiation.
Chief Scientific Adviser
Former Senior Medical Adviser on CBRN and contamination threats.
Director of Strategic Threat & Security
Former Head of Special Operations at the National Crime Agency.
Director of Strategic Operations & Crisis Response
Former Deputy Chief Constable with over 30 years in UK policing.
Director of Investigations
Investigations leader across UK law enforcement, government and regulation.
"SJ Group provides the kind of government-grade expertise that is rarely available in the private sector. Their ability to navigate complex crises while protecting the interests of clients makes them an invaluable extension of any legal team."
Partner, law firm
"When we faced a threat we'd never had to deal with before, SJ Group were the first call we made. There was no panic, no jargon, just a team that had clearly done this before and knew exactly what to do next."
Private client
"In cyber extortion cases, technical expertise alone is not enough. SJ Group's understanding of human behaviour, negotiation dynamics and crisis leadership brought significant value to the response and helped achieve the best possible outcome."
Cyber security firm
THE SITUATION
A family contacted us three days after a mother and child had been abducted in southern Africa and taken across an international border. Police were treating the matter as a missing-person case.
OUR RESPONSE
We rapidly assessed the situation, developed a negotiation and response strategy, coordinated intelligence gathering and activated trusted international contacts.
THE OUTCOME
The mother and child were rescued the following day, and arrests were made.
Case: cross-border kidnap response
THE SITUATION
A high-profile company wanted to know how its leadership would hold up in a serious crisis, before facing one for real.
OUR RESPONSE
We designed and ran a realistic tabletop crisis scenario, testing decisions, roles and communications under pressure.
THE OUTCOME
The leadership team saw exactly where their weaknesses were, while there was still time to fix them.
Case: board crisis exercise
THE SITUATION
A family wanted to understand how exposed they really were, including at their child's school.
OUR RESPONSE
We carried out a full family risk review, covering the child's school and every other part of the family's security.
THE OUTCOME
The family gained a clear picture of their risks, and practical steps to reduce them.
Case: family risk review
"Within hours they had a senior negotiator working the case alongside us, coordinating with the authorities, and giving us a clear plan. Every decision was explained before it was made. Our family member came home safely."
Private client, Europe
"We brought SJ Group in to review our principal's security arrangements before any incident had occurred. They took the time to understand our family's specific exposure across travel, property and public profile, then built a plan that was genuinely bespoke rather than off the shelf."
Family office
What clients say afterwards
Who we work with
For high net worth individuals and families, organisations and advisers
Private clients & families
If something happened to someone you love tonight, who would you call?
Corporates & Boards
Would your board know who decides what, in the first hour?
Law Firms
When a client’s matter turns into a security problem, who do you call?
Insurers & Underwriters
When a claim becomes a live incident, who’s running the response?
Family offices
What happens if someone targets the family while they’re travelling?
Superyachts & Maritime
Would your crew spot a threat or misconduct before it became an incident?
Police & Public Sector
Is your CPD-approved training taught by people who’ve led the cases?
Speaking & Events
Want your audience to hear from people who’ve been in the room?
Academy at Bylaugh
Immersive decision-making at Bylaugh Hall.
The time to build composure under pressure is before you need it. We host high-fidelity scenario exercises at Bylaugh Hall, a private estate in Norfolk, so your team can face the difficult scenarios and leave genuinely ready.
Private setting
Reserved exclusively for your group.
Real-world scenarios
Tailored, high-fidelity simulations.
High-stakes conditions
Build composure and decision-making under pressure.
A mother and child were taken across an international border. SJ Group coordinated the response. They were rescued the following day, and arrests were made.
Cross-border abduction response
1,000+
kidnap, ransom and extortion cases managed
100%
safe return rate in the cases we've led
Within the hour
every time, an experienced specialist on the phone, 24/7
Every country but one
trusted contacts worldwide (we’re still working on North Korea)
How to reach us
A confidential first step
You don’t need to know which service you need before getting in touch. Tell us what’s concerning you, and we’ll help you understand your options. Share only what you’re comfortable sharing. The first conversation is confidential and obligation-free. Facing a live incident? Call +44 (0)20 8050 2939, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.