SECURITY GUARDS

One of the most reliable and effective deterrents is a physical presence.

Rotating working practices such as shift changes can enable staff to be present throughout the day and night. You could also consider employing your own security guards, or as is now happening in many instances in cooperation adjacent businesses, employ the services of a security company. Such cooperation can considerably reduce the cost of employing security guards.

Security guarding companies are numerous and vary enormously in quality. They should never be employed without first establishing their credentials. Preferably, they should be members of the British Security Industry Association.

It is suggested that the following questions be asked when enquiring about manned guarding services:

> How long has the company been trading?

> What kind of liability and indemnity insurance does the company have?

> Does the company issue written contracts?

> Do the company's guards have terms of employment covering hours of duty and days of work?

> What type of uniform do employees wear and do they have ID cards?

> Are staff trained and to what level of qualification?

> Will the company subcontract to a lower quality security company?

> Does the company operate a control room or how are staff controlled/supervised in a work situation?

> Does the company work to the industry Code of Practice, ie BS7499?

> Has the company independent certification to verify this?

Security patrols have the advantage of being flexible, versatile and are able to respond to changing security conditions at short notice. They compliment and integrate well into other security measures such as CCTV or an intruder alarm system. They can also provide an alternative role in assisting in emergency situations such as power cuts or fire.

The advantage that a physical presence has over an electronic surveillance system is that a security guard can work with all other detection methods and act accordingly.

Being on site the security officer is in a good position to give information and updates to attending police officers and can often help identify offenders, something that most other detection systems, apart from CCTV, cannot perform.

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