Concierge Security, Concierge Security Services, Security Services,Security, A&R Security Services

Concierge Security: 5 reasons why you should have it

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Whether you are a corporate building, a lavish hotel in the heart of the city centre or a manufacturing unit based in outskirts, they all need one thing. Security. In Swansea, there are hundreds of security providers offering a range of security services that will protect your business including concierge security.

But what is concierge security we hear you ask?
Concierge Security acts as another form of receptionist where they greet visitors to your building, take messages and answer any queries. But Concierge security staff also have the ability to control access to your building (whether that is internal or external) monitor CCTV, quickly respond to any emergency situations and apprehend criminals targeting your business.

So, what are the 5 reasons why you should have concierge security?

Instant protection

There are many benefits to having concierge security and one of the main benefits of having concierge security is instant support in terms of safety and patrols.  Not only can concierge monitor CCTV and raise alarms should there be anything threatening the safety of your business, but they also have the correct skills and training to handle and diffuse potential criminal situations.

By hiring concierge security for your business, you will have someone who is watching for any potential threats to your business. Giving you peace of mind that you can leave your premises lone for long periods of time.

Fully Vetted and Trained Staff

When looking for concierge security it is important to hire fully vetted, licensed and trained staff to protect your business. All of our staff are employed directly by us and are fully vetted by ourselves, ensuring that they are legally allowed to work within specific buildings and areas and are trained to the highest of standards.

Employing your own security staff can be tricky and a bit headache-inducing so letting a professional security provider that is able to fully vet and train their own staff, leaving you more time to focus on running your business and us taking care of the security.

It’ll save you money

We all like to save a bit of money where we can but outsourcing your concierge security can do the same. As you only need to pay for one service you don’t have to deal with pay, uniform, training and vetting costs. Outsourcing your concierge means you pay for specific staff as and when you need them and what’s great about outsourcing your concierge to us, you only have to pay for the services you want (no hidden costs or price hikes).

5-star customer service

You want to give your customers and visitors a face that they can trust when they walk into your building. Having concierge stationed by your reception will allow them to greet clients and visitors to your business and answer any queries or concerns that they may have.

Alongside providing clients and visitors with 5-star customer service, they can ensure that they receive all the regular protection they need. Concierge security can arrange emergency procedures and can ensure that any incidents are fully logged and taken care of.

Clients and visitors so to your business will find concierge a wealth of knowledge and information, as well as help. They will make sure that your business is fully protected and that your guests receive full answers to their burning questions.

Takes the hassle off your hands

When thinking about concierge security for your business it can be very tempting to employ security staff yourself but with further inspection, it can be both timeconsuming and expensive. And think about the other hassle you need to deal with such as welcoming and checking in guests, making sure security protocols are being adhered to.

So, outsourcing your concierge security is a bit of a no brainer. You won’t have to worry about vetting or checking anyone that comes or goes from your business. Our professional security staff can be set to work in establishing a firm but friendly face at the front of your business. They’ll follow your security protocols and will make sure that your CCTV and other security measures are monitored and analysed.

Running a business can take up a lot of your time and you may not have thought or considered concierge security for your business, but there are plenty of reasons why it can benefit you and your business in the long run.

Rather than having to focus on employing your own security staff and training them, why not look at hiring concierge security from a security provider that you can fully trust.

A&R Security provides a wide range of security services that have benefited many businesses across South Wales and the South West. If you are considering Concierge Security for your business visit our website or call us on 01656 713950 for a free non-obligation quote.

Construction, Lockdown, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Construction Security Services, A&R Security Services

Lockdown: How to protect your Construction Site

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Those who work within the construction industry know that there are high levels of crime, with many reporting theft and vandalism on a regular basis. However, with only essential construction being carried out during the Coronavirus outbreak, many sites across Cardiff, Newport, Swansea and the UK have had to temporarily close their gates – leaving them vulnerable to criminal activity.

A survey carried out by the CIOB (Chartered Institute of Building) reported that 92% of sites claim to be affected by crime with a further 21% of sites saying that they are stolen from on a regular basis. These figures are often attributed to high staff turnover, poor record-keeping and poor security measures.

However, there are some cost-effective security measures that you can implement to boost your construction sites security during these difficult times.

Risk Assessment

Before spending vast amounts of money to improve your construction sites security it is best to have a risk assessment carried out by a professional security provider. This will help you identify which areas will need security, which areas will need improvement and ensure that your security is covering all possible areas of weakness on your site.

Construction Security

Professional Security providers like ourselves will provide professional construction security services to sites. But to many sites construction security is a little bit of an unknown, with many site owners not really knowing what it is or what it does.

Construction Security is an umbrella term and usually entails services such as:

  • CCTV monitoring
  • Alarm response
  • Manned Guards and Mobile Patrols
  • Access Control
  • Secure Keyholding

Construction Security is very good for covering all aspects of security and can be easily tailored to suit your site’s needs while it is temporarily closed.

Alongside having construction security for your site there are a few other measures that can be implemented to give you tighter security.

Create and maintain an up-to-date log

Whether your site is on a small scale or large scale, you will have materials, equipment and possibly vehicles left on site (preferably secured). However, there are employees or criminals that will take advantage of the fact that your site is temporarily closed and will take this opportunity to steal anything that they can get their hands on.

Creating and maintaining an up-to-date log of materials, equipment and vehicles will help you keep track of what is and isn’t onsite – allowing you to quickly respond and report anything stolen. After all emergency services such as the police have a better chance at returning stolen good when they are reported missing quickly.

Have a clear zone around your perimeter

Fencing is a very basic security measure to keep trespassers off your site. However, if your fencing is close to the perimeter of your site this will make it very easy for criminals to sneak in and out of your site without anyone noticing.

When installing fencing on your site, ensure that it is a couple of meters away from the site itself. This will make it harder for criminals to sneak onto your site and easier for you, your guards or CCTV to spot them trespassing onto your site. It also makes it difficult for criminals to see what is actually stored on your site.

Mark Equipment

Equipment such as mini diggers, generators, heavy tools and other equipment can be very easy targets and are often stolen and quickly sold on. Engraving marks on your equipment will make them less likely to be stolen and if they are, they are easily recognisable.

Most tools on construction sites are metal so engraving certain numbers, your company logo or symbol will easily deter thieves. Engraving tools are cheap, readily available and easy to use, but the amount of money and time they will save you could be substantial. Some tools are interchangeable or can be broken down for easier transportation so make sure to engrave multiple areas.

Reduce access points

If you have a reduced team of workers working during your lockdown, then you may want to reduce the number of access points you have. This allows you or your security team to easily track who is coming in and out of your site and also ensure that your workers aren’t able to sneak off-site with valuable materials or equipment through another gate on site.

Reducing the number of access points make your perimeter stronger but your main access points (main gates) are still vulnerable. Placing CCTV camera’s, security lights and manned guards at your main access points will reduce the chances of someone attempting to get onto your site illegally.

If you are interested in our Construction Security Services then please visit our website for more information or contacts us on 01656 713950 to arrange a free quotation.

Card, fraud, contactless, Security, Security Services, A&R Security Services, Card fraud

Contactless card payment increase: Does this pose a great risk for card fraud?

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From Wednesday 1st April, rules surrounding contactless payments will change with the limit being increased from £30 to £45. With social distancing now in effect to control the spread of the Coronavirus, retailers want to limit the amount of cash that staff are handling.

However, with the increased limit on contactless payments does this pose a greater increase for card fraud?

In September 2019, fraud prevention rules came into play where you would have to input your pin for one in every five contactless payments. Around South Wales and the UK, we make around 700 million contactless transactions to pay for our goods. However, £108 million is said to be lost to fraud with 1 in 12 people admitting that they wouldn’t spot a rogue £20 entry on their bank statements.

However, to stop thieves going on a massive spending spree on your debit or credit card, payments can be blocked if the number of payments adds up to more than £100 within 5 payments.

But even with these security features in place, there are exceptions where thieves can use your card without being blocked.

Public transport

With buses, trains, train stations all adopting contactless payments it can be easy for thieves to spend your money using your card multiple times without having to input the cards pin number.

Google or Apple Pay

Google or Apple pay are features that are on everyone’s smartphones. Although you do not need to input a pin after making 5 payments, they often ask for some kind of ID (fingerprint or facial recognition).

Stay safe

The SGA or Strong Customer Authentication will help prevent fraudulent spends on your debit or credit card but to ensure that you know to stay safe here are some tips:

Check your bank statements regularly

With banks becoming increasingly paperless many of us receive our bank statements online. However, to keep track of your transactions, it’s recommended to download banking apps and set up alerts for spending.

If you have looked at your account and see unusual transactions contact your bank immediately and have your account frozen. Contactless fraud is treated like any other type of fraud and so any transactions that were carried out without your knowledge should be repaid as long as you can prove that you haven’t been negligent.

If you have checked your account and think that you are a victim of fraud, then you should report it as soon as you can to Action Fraud either using their online tool or by calling them directly.

Check your credit report

Running a credit report does more than showing you how well your finances are and your eligibility for finance and loans. It can help you spot any suspicious activity – for example, if someone uses your credit card or tries to open a bank account in your name it will show.

If you are interested in commercial security services then visit our website or call us on 01656 713950