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Coronavirus, Lockdown, COVID-19, A&R Security Services, Business Security, Commercial Security, Manned Guard, Mobile Patrol, Key holding and alarm response

How to keep your business safe during lockdown

With Wales now put into lockdown to prevent further spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) many businesses have closed their doors to ensure the safety of their staff and the public.

However, with the closure of these businesses, many will be vulnerable to criminal activity such as burglaries, vandalism and malicious damages. So, what are they doing to protect themselves during these trying times?

Some businesses will have security measures such as CCTV and alarm systems in place. But these are sometimes not enough to dissuade and protect them from criminals.  To help keep your business safe during this lockdown period here are some effective security measures:

Identify Risks and Objectives.

Conducting risk assessments prior to hiring a professional security service will highlight areas within your business that will need additional security. This will help identify which area of your business is weakest against criminal activity and allows you to implement security measures accordingly.

If your business is still operating but only with a small team then it may be sensible to invest in manned security to increase your security measures.

Keyholding and Alarm Response

Finding someone to be able to hold onto your business’ extra set of keys and respond to alarm call outs at this time can be difficult. Outsourcing your keyholding services to a professional security provider will ensure that there is always someone is available to hold onto your extra set of key and quickly respond to call out – giving you peace of mind.

Manned Guards

Manned guards are both an effective deterrent against criminal activity and effective at crowd control. If your business is still in operation, manned guards can be used to control the number of visitors to your building and ensure that they are sanitising their hands before coming in. Also, if your business is closed over the lockdown period manned guards can be placed inside to monitor CCTV or placed at key access points to ensure that no one attempts to get inside.

Mobile Patrols.

Mobile patrols are another effective deterrent against criminals. Mainly used to patrols large building or areas, mobile patrols guards can patrol the perimeter of your business (Externally or internally) ensuring that access points such as doors, windows and skylights are secure and look out for any suspicious behaviour or disturbance. Mobile patrols can also be key holders, allowing them to quickly respond to any alerts at your business and investigate.

 

Having these security measures in place can help ensure the safety of your business during the lockdown period. If you are going into lockdown but would like to invest in further security, then please take a look at our website for further details or call us on 01656 713950

Mobile Security Services, Mobile Security, A&R Security Services, Mobile Patrols, Mobile Guards, A&R Security Services

Mobile Security: What is it?

Across Cardiff and South Wales, many security companies – including A&R Security Services – offer mobile security services to businesses.

Mobile Security Services is a core service for any security company, but it plays a key role in providing effective safeguarding and security to thousands of businesses. But even though mobile security plays a key role in safeguarding businesses there are still some businesses who are unsure about what mobile security is.

To help you understand what mobile security is, we’ve written this article about what mobile security is, the types of businesses that can benefit from mobile security and how to choose a mobile security provider

So, to start off – What is Mobile Security?

Many Security companies in Cardiff and South Wales primarily offer two security solutions: Manned guarding and mobile security. Although security providers offer a range of other services including CCTV monitoring, event security, key holding and alarm response – manned guarding and mobile security are the most popular.

Some businesses require 24/7 monitoring to ensure proper security. In these types of circumstances manned guarding is the most appropriate.

This is mainly because manned guards are required to be permanently stationed at a particular location. For example, the entrance to a corporate office building or a construction site. Manned guards act as a visual deterrent and are trained in physical intervention techniques that effectively restrain or remove intruders off-site.

As mentioned before, some businesses or sites require 24/7 monitoring and so manned guards will work through the night, at weekends and during public holidays to ensure that the business or site that they are responsible for is properly secure. Although manned guards sound like that they are only stationed at one particular spot, they can, however, undertake patrols of the premises – but this is usually limited.

Compared to manned guarding, mobile security involves guards actively patrolling large areas or multiple sites (which can be located far away from one another). With some sites being located quite far from each other many mobile guards use fully branded vehicles to cover these areas during their patrols.

During patrols, Mobile security guards will undertake scheduled and random checks of the premises that they are patrolling. This ensures that they are not predictable to anyone who is watching the premises and prevent criminals from planning crimes around their security routine.

As mobile security guards are effectively mobile, the service is often paired up with keyholding and alarm response services. This means that guards are able to access your premises at unsociable hours without having to wake you – and can grant you and your employees’ access if the originals set of keys are lost.

Also, if your security alarm system goes off, mobile security guards can quickly respond – making it more likely for criminals to be caught.

Many believe that some security alarm systems have a direct connection to the police, but this isn’t true. So instead, specially trained security controllers in Alarm receiving centres (ARCs) must confirm activations are genuine before alerting emergency services. This means that mobile security guards are often first on the scene when an alarm has sounded.

Whilst mobile security guards are on your premises, they will conduct thorough assessments to ensure that important security protocols such as locking doors and windows, turning on security lights, setting alarm, etc. are adhered to.

When is mobile security used?

Depending on your business security requirements, mobile security can be used as a stand-alone service or used alongside other security services such as manned guarding or keyholding and alarm response.

How do you choose the right Mobile Security Provider?

Within Cardiff, South Wales and the UK, the security industry is steadily growing – which means that there are many security providers offering security solutions. But finding a good security provider can be like finding a needle in a haystack and prove rather difficult. That being said, with the right know-how there are some things that you can look out for when looking for a new security provider.

  • SIA licensing – In the UK the security industry is governed and regulated by the SIA. With any security provider, they must have an SIA license in order to legally carry out their jobs. As such, always ask a potential provider if their staff holds a full SIA license. If they don’t or the company doesn’t have one, then they are breaking the law.
  • Other accreditations – Like any company a good security provider will place a high value on gaining professional and industrial accreditations. These may include qualifications that demonstrate how well they treat their staff, that they operate in an environmentally friendly way or that they adhere to good health and safety practices.

We at A&R Security Services we employ all of our staff in-house and ensure that all our guards are SIA licensed so that they can operate legally. We are Safe contractor approved and also ISO:14001 and ISO:9001 accredited ensuring that we look after our staff, operate in an environmentally friendly way and adhere to good health and safety practices.

A&R Security Service provides a range of security solutions to businesses in Cardiff and South Wales. Whatever your security needs, we will be able to provide the right security solutions that work for you – whether that is mobile security patrols or construction security.

Christmas, Security Services, Security, Business Security, Christmas security

Festive cheer and crime? Protect your business this Christmas

Christmas is a time for celebration and festive cheer, but for some, tis the season to cause mayhem. The truth is that Christmas isn’t always the fairy-tale scene for businesses. Behind the carol singers, glitter and bright flashing lights lie a sinister side to the festivities and for some business, it could spell the end.

December is a time of year where crimes such as drunken disorderly behaviour, burglaries and drink driving offences and deaths increase. When it comes to drink driving offences there is not much that can be done but for victims of vandalism and burglaries, there are steps that can be taken to prevent your business from becoming a victim.

So, what can you do to protect your business?

  • Plan – if you know that you aren’t going to be operating with not that many staff or shutting down over the Christmas period, plan for this by either CCTV coverage, mobile patrols or manned guards. Or a combination of all three!
  • Alarm – the simplest yet most effective security measure that can be used to protect your business. If you have a small team of staff in or are closing for the Christmas period, make sure that when your business is closed that the alarm is set. Also, to give you an extra bit of security and peace of mind we at A&R Security Services can provide key holding services and quickly and professionally respond to disturbances.
  • Be busy – the last thing you want for your business is to make it look like an easy target, so the busier your business, the better. If your business is closed over Christmas, our manned guards can station themselves outside of your business and make your business look like it is in use, deterring anyone from causing havoc on your business.
  • Lights – Many criminals like to strike businesses under the cover of darkness and if you have a large business or multiple buildings spread over a site, then it can be easier for criminals to strike. Investing in motion-activated lighting can easily deter thieves and make you look less like a target.
  • Be flexible – Mobile patrols are the perfect solution to check that the perimeter and the outside of your premises is safe. At A&R Security Services our mobile patrols can visit your site at agreed intervals that can deter any criminals and scare away opportunists.

As a business owner, you will do all you can to protect yourself from harmful situations. This year don’t let harmful situations ruin your Christmas.

If you are looking for keyholding services, mobile patrols or manned guarding services for your business over the Christmas period then get in touch with A&R Security Services.

A&R Security Services can provide comprehensive security solutions to businesses in Cardiff, Swansea, Newport and South Wales. For more information visit our website or a free quotation call us on 01656 713950