Security technology has improved a great deal over the past twenty years. Cameras are cheaper and sharper, alarms connect to your phone, and access control systems log each door that opens. Businesses still hire security officers in large numbers, from offices and shops to building sites and schools. A camera records a problem, and an officer can do something about it.
A visible deterrent
The main job of a security officer is to prevent crime, and the best way to prevent it is to make your site look like a poor target. A uniformed officer at the door or on patrol tells a would-be thief that someone is watching and will act. Most opportunist offenders move on to an easier site.
CCTV has a place, and many sites need it. On its own, though, a camera can’t challenge someone climbing a fence or ask a stranger in a corridor who they are visiting. Even with 24-hour recording, someone has to review the footage, often after the damage is done. An officer on site sees the same thing in real time and can respond within moments.
Handling emergencies and incidents
Emergencies don’t wait for the police to arrive. A fire alarm, a medical problem, a flood or an aggressive customer all need someone to take charge. Officers trained for these situations can keep people calm, direct an evacuation and contact the emergency services with clear information about the problem and its location.
If a crime does happen, a professional officer knows the limits of the role. UK security officers are unarmed. They observe, record and report, and they work with the police rather than in place of them. A good officer keeps notes on what happened, preserves any evidence and gives the police a clear account, which helps them act on it. Your business benefits from a written incident record that you can use for insurance claims or to improve your procedures.
People and technology together
The strongest security set-ups combine officers with technology. An officer can watch CCTV screens, respond to alarm activations and patrol the areas that cameras miss. The technology extends what one person can cover, and the person turns the information into action.
Officers also have an effect on the people around them. Staff on early or late shifts feel safer walking to their cars, and customers shop or visit with more confidence. A front-of-house officer can greet visitors, sign them in and answer questions, so the role often doubles as a point of contact for your site.
Choosing a provider
The value of a security officer depends on how well the company behind them recruits, trains and supervises. Check that each officer holds a current SIA licence and ask how the company screens its staff. Ask for written instructions for your site, so each officer knows what you expect.
1st Nationwide Security is an SIA Approved Contractor for security guarding and keyholding. Our officers are screened to BS 7858 with enhanced DBS checks, and each one works from written assignment instructions and stays in contact with our office on duty. We carry out a free site survey and risk assessment before we quote, and we provided security at the London 2012 Olympics. Find out more about our manned guarding services or call us on 020 8540 8830.