The safety and security of staff and data is a burning issue across many industries. Organisational security in the UK is trending, and security patrol firms are increasingly offering their services. 

Security guards are vital in many situations where it’s necessary to think on one’s feet. Sometimes a customer will present anti-social behaviour, or a break-in will lead to theft, compromising property safety.

Some industries depend more on security patrols than others – let’s explore them below.

Organisational Security by Industry

Many industries have grown to rely on the services of security guards – and for a good reason. A 2021 statistic revealed that around 38% of retail and wholesale UK businesses suffered from criminal activity between April 2020 and March 2021. While burglary was the least common, theft, threats, and physical assault were prevalent.

From financial institutions and retail stores to construction and educational facilities, here are the industries that benefit from these services the most: 

Financial Institutions

Where money is involved, security and safety are a top priority. The financial industry records the highest demand for high-level security. 

However, it is not only about protecting the money. It is also about protecting the employees and clients and their valuables. 

A security guard is a familiar face in every bank or financial institution. Most of the in-house security measures and procedures implemented in these institutions are not disclosed to the public. However, some are disclosed to deter criminals from taking action. It is wise to let criminals know that security will easily catch them if they engage in criminal activity inside the bank. 

Educational Facilities

Sadly, more schools and other educational institutions require hiring security guards. With the increased violence in schools due to vandalism, classmate bullying, and disruptive behaviours, the presence of security guards can help deter these occurrences. 

Some incidents involve students carrying weapons, so guards need to ensure that educational facilities remain a weapon-free environment. Their presence is intended to provide students, teachers, and other employees with a safe learning environment.

Hotels and Other Types of Accommodation

The reason for travelling may differ, as some travel for business and others for pleasure. What all hotel guests have in common is that they want to have a stress-free environment where they can feel safe and unwind.

The role of security guards is to maintain peace in all shared spaces and escort intoxicated guests off the hotel property. Guards have regular patrols of the lobbies and parking lots. They also patrol and monitor all hotel facilities like stairwells and mechanic rooms through CCTV surveillance and take care of any security issues. 

If guests feel their valuable possessions are in danger, security guards should respond to calls or complaints. 

Retail and Wholesale Facilities

It is known that retailers lose a lot of money due to shoplifting. And it is a misconception that teenagers are the group that does most of the shoplifting. 

Thieves come from all age groups, and retailers take the hit. No items are spared – from clothes and accessories to alcohol, shoes, or electronics. 

Busy stores are in desperate need of security guards who can help prevent theft. If shoplifters see a security guard at the entrance, there is a high possibility that they will not enter the store. 

Larger stores go for a more sophisticated strategy in preventing loss and damage. They employ video monitoring from a surveillance room where security guards can follow real-time activity 24/7. Video surveillance is also helpful in offering clarification during an investigation or incident. 

It is not rare for security guards to walk among the customers in regular clothes. This is an excellent way to blend in with customers and be on the lookout for possible suspicious activity. 

Healthcare and Medical Facilities

Medical facilities are one of the busiest places in a town or city. The staff can’t monitor the visitors, so security guards are the answer to this problem. Guards can conduct regular patrols throughout the buildings and monitor the staircases. 

Medicine storage units, equipment rooms, and emergency exits also need to be under maximum security. If any inconsistency is spotted during regular patrols, guards should contact appropriate parties to inform them about the occurrences. 

Medical and healthcare security is required to provide a safe environment for the medical staff, the patients, suppliers, and all other parties on the premises. 

Construction Sites

Construction sites are places where you can find a lot of valuable machinery and tools. Vandalism, theft, and trespassing are common on these sites, leading to significant losses and delays in projects. 

Hiring security guards who will implement rules and orders for those accessing the site is advisable. Regular security patrols can help deter criminals from getting tempted to enter the site without authorisation. 

Event Sites

Events are gatherings with a high concentration of people in one place. Whether it’s a concert, a festival, or a business event, the organiser should prioritise the safety of all parties on the site.

Hosts must create a safe and violence-free environment for all guests. Security guards should arrive prior to the event to make the necessary preparations. 

If you are hosting a private party and don’t wish to have intruders barging in, the security guards will make sure to keep them out. You should prepare a detailed guest list and give them precise instructions to help them do their job. 

Security patrols are always present during public events to maintain order and peace among participants. Large gatherings are sites for potential crimes, inappropriate behaviour, possible misuse of substances or firearms, and others – so it only makes sense they’d entail full security measures. 

Partner with a Professional Security Patrol Firm

Protecting your property, staff, and assets should be a priority and security patrol firms can provide the required safety.

All Time Security offers a range of security services tailored to meet the needs of various businesses and industries.

We offer 24/7 protection through CCTV remote monitoring, alarm response and key holding, or mobile surveillance.

Contact us today, and have any security breaches taken care of right away.

What does easing the lockdown mean for the security industry?

With the world still in shock of the pandemic and with lockdown restrictions easing, how will this affect business and the security industry?

Although the lockdown is easing, there will be several restriction rules still in place. Some of these include a restriction of large crowds. With many businesses and venues relying on large numbers of people attending their venues to make a profit.

What impact will this have on venues?

The issue with the venue being open means that although they operational, they will endure the costs for being open but might not get enough people walking in through the doors to make it lucrative. And in some cases, venues might end up making a loss.

In addition, with venues not able to make much profit, they will still need security to ensure things are kept in order. Having security in place is probably more important now than ever before.

What impact will this have on Security?

With things transitioning to the new normal, the need for security will be heightened but the question lies in whether enough venues will open for security agencies to back to normal and also whether venues will have the adequate finances to continue the same level of payment.

What other implications are there for security?

Health and safety

Although the health and safety of security staff have always been a priority for security service providers, a lot has changed since the outbreak of Covid19. Security staff are trained professionals and are skilled in dealing with a variety of different situations but they are still human and being human means that they are susceptible to catching the Coronavirus (Covid19).

Of course, frontline workers have always been at higher risk than other workers, but the outbreak of a highly contagious and potentially deadly virus raises serious concerns.

Security staff are in close proximity with hundreds, sometimes thousands of people and thus makes them vulnerable.

What is the solution?

Unfortunately, there is no clear solution. With the virus being so contagious and unable to be contained, the only solution is to be more conscious and careful. Security staff should ensure that they do not put themselves in unnecessary risk. Stand closer than 1 meter to other people, visitors and staff. They must have adequate personal protective equipment and follow the government guidelines in avoiding catching the virus.    

Why social distancing is particularly important in the security industry

The security Industry has become even more important and relied on since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trained security professionals are often relied on to offer crucial additional support to various industries ranging from emergency services to retail outlets.

With the UK going into lockdown, the pressure mounts for supermarkets and hospitals – thus they instruct professional security firms to provide additional security and support.

Why is security important?

Having adequate security measure in place is more important now than ever before. This is a time of heightened anxiety and often in times such as these, people panic. Security are instructed to help keep things in order and protect people who are on the front line and the vulnerable.

Security guards are not immune to COVID-19

Often people rely on security to help offer support and protect them but forget that they are not impervious to viruses, be it COVID or any other. This is why social distancing is crucial to prevent the virus from spreading. Security is a difficult industry and security professionals often have their work well and truly cut out for them but the epidemic has made things far more complicated.   

Security professionals are trained in dealing with people and difficult situations but in trying to uphold the social distancing requirements, are putting themselves at risk. They are often faced with people who do not want to comply to the law and thus are in a vulnerable position, especially as the people who they may have to deal with could be carrying the virus.

How can security guards and other security professionals keep themselves safe?

The truth of the matter is that if you are on the frontline, you are more at risk of contrating the virus – that’s just a fact. But there are some precautionary steps that can be taken to help reduce or even prevent the risk of catching the virus entirely.

1. Make sure your hands are clean and try to wear gloves
2. Keep a safe distance from other people
3. Do not shake hands or make any other physical contact with people even if you know them
4. Do not touch items unnecessarily, including door handles

By adhering to these simple steps you are already reducing the risk of catching and spreading the virus.