If you run a business and are considering hiring a professional security company to oversee the protection of your site, you may be wondering what exactly you can expect from them.
The simple answer is that security companies protect things, normally property and people, in the workplace, at events, and in public.
If you walk around any town centre for a few minutes the chance is that you will see a security guard of some kind, but most of us never stop to consider what exactly it is that they do. Their overall remit may be simply to keep an area safe, but in order to achieve this goal they must perform a number of more specific duties to an extremely high standard.
Here are just a few of the things that you can expect from a security company hired to protect your company.
Act as a deterrent to thieves and vandals
Theft, vandalism and arson are all serious threats to any business with the destruction of assets and important documentation putting the very future of your company at risk.
A security company will help to massively reduce the risk of a criminal choosing your property to target. Security guards, CCTV cameras, and alarm systems are just some of the security measures that can be put in place that are powerful visible deterrents to intruders.
The evidence shows that vandals and thieves are significantly less likely to target a property with visible security measures as the risk of being caught and identified is simply too high.
In fact, the best security systems have very little actual work to do as they will have minimised the risk of incidents taking place in the first place.
Working with the local authorities
Security companies have close working relationships with the emergency services in the local area.
Should a major incident occur, they will focus on protecting staff and customers, contacting the emergency services and keeping the scene clear until they arrive.
In the event of a fire, they will evacuate the building and liaise with the fire service once they arrive, providing critical information such as the location of the fire itself and whether anyone is known to be inside.
Should a medical emergency occur SIA licenced security officers are trained in basic first aid, and will use this knowledge to look after the injured or ill person until help arrives.
Finally, if an intruder is detected they will detain them and wait for the police. If this is not possible, they will work alongside the police retrospectively, giving their version of events and giving the police the best possible chance of finding the person or people responsible.
Security guards are regularly asked to give evidence in court cases or to give statements to the police and are considered highly valuable and respected witnesses.
When it comes to event security Manchester, security guards will work with both the local police and the event venue staff to ensure a safe and smooth occasion.
Maintaining security Equipment
A modern security system should combine the tried and tested expertise of qualified SIA licenced security officers with modern security technologies such as biometric access control AI CCTV towers, and more.
As a result of this it is essential that your security guards are used to working alongside a wide variety of different security equipment.
The best way to do this is to only use the services of security firms who also provide industry leading security technologies themselves. Their staff will be used to training alongside their own equipment and will therefore be at an advantage when they are deployed on your site.
Improving staff productivity
This is not a direct duty of a security firm but rather a welcome side benefit. Commercial sites that have put a security system in place using a professional security firm regularly report a noticeable upturn in staff productivity immediately after deployment.
There are several possible reasons for this. Firstly, if staff know that they are under observation, whether via CCTV or security guards themselves, they are more likely to follow protocol. This not only results in an increase in productivity but by ensuring that health and safety regulation are enforced through best practice can lead to a significant drop in the risk of workplace accidents.
Secondly, a site that is properly protected is a safe site and a much more enjoyable place to work. If staff know that they are being protected whilst at work by highly trained professionals, they will be able to focus on their work without worrying about being disturbed or threatened.
The presence of a security officer in retail settings dramatically reduces the risk of staff being the victim of abuse or assault by customers or other staff members. Should an incident occur the security guard will quickly resolve the situation and detain the attacker whilst waiting for the police to arrive on the scene.