Importance Of Security Guards

If you run a business that sees expensive stock kept onsite that you want to protect or you live in a bad part of town, you might want to hire security guards to give you some peace of mind. But why is this important and what exactly is it that the guards do? We have taken a closer look at the answers to both these questions in this article to help you decide whether to proceed or not.

• Patrolling
  The guards will patrol your premises, keeping an eye out for anything suspicious (such as people who are acting out of place, physical obstructions and hazardous situations, like fires). Patrols used to be run on regular schedules, but criminals learnt to predict behaviour so most security companies now use randomly generated patrol schedules.
   
• Surveillance
  As well as keeping an eye out during patrols, guards will also use video surveillance. This is most often used to catch employees and customers committing fraud, malpractice or theft. Video footage is an essential tool when it comes to assessing a situation and gathering evidence to accompany detailed incident reports.
   
• Deterrence
  The presence of visible security can go a long way towards preventing crime on your premises. If criminals know that you have guards regularly patrolling the premises and they can see cameras watching their every move, they are less likely to conduct themselves illegally. Preventing a crime is always better than cleaning up after one.
   
• Citizen’s Arrest
  If someone does commit a crime, however, security guards will often be required to make a citizen’s arrest. This means that they will be able to detain the criminal until the police arrive to make the official arrest. Such procedures should be part of their training, so they will know how to perform them according to the correct guidelines.
   
• Emergencies
  Guards are also required to handle emergency situations (such as a fire, injury and even bomb threats). They should be trained in CPR and basic first aid, they will have measures in place to evacuate in case of a fire, and they will know how to react in the face of myriad threats. This can give you peace of mind that your employees and customers will be kept safe.

As you can see, the presence of security guards is important for protecting your premises against unauthorised entry as well as for keeping employees and customers safe. If you feel that the situation calls for it, you also have the option for your guards to be armed – this can provide them with greater control over the situation, as well as increase their ability to protect the innocent.