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The presence of security guards at a business can help customers and employees alike, feel safe and protected throughout the day, while sending a clear message to any potential intruders, burglars or trespassers, that all criminal acts will be spotted, stopped and acted upon swiftly.

If you haven’t yet hired a security service to help protect your business, perhaps now is the time to give it the best protection possible. But, should you hire armed or unarmed guards?

Read on to determine which type of security guard would offer the most appropriate level of protection for your business:

What is the level of risk?

Some businesses are typically more at risk of physical security threats than others, and your business might benefit from armed security guards if any of the following apply:

• You have high value assets on site
• You have large amounts of cash on site
• You host large, publicized events
• You deal with sensitive data or large sums of money
• You provide accommodation for large numbers of people

Alternatively, your business may benefit from unarmed guards if any of the following apply:

• You need to protect a school or a church
• You need to control traffic
• Security is needed at a recreation area, museum or gallery for example

These are considered to be low-risk businesses, and ones in which the presence of armed guards may cause consternation or unnecessary fear.

What is your budget?

Due to the level of training armed guards have undergone, and the skills they’ve developed to perform their role and handle a weapon with expertise, they will always cost more per hour to hire than unarmed guards. Not only that, but you’ll need to pay for liability insurance due to the risk of injury or death in the event that an armed security guard on your premises discharges their weapon.

That said, armed guards may be worth the additional cost if you’ve got more to protect and are at a higher risk of crime than some other businesses.

Unarmed guards will cost you less per hour as while they do undergo training to carry out their role effectively, it isn’t as extensive as that of an armed guard, and you won’t need to purchase liability insurance. They are still able to provide you with a high level of protection though, and can make arrests if necessary, monitor surveillance systems and generally keep an eye on the comings and goings at your business.

If you want to keep your business safe but your budget won’t quite stretch to armed guards, then these would be the next best thing.

Whether you opt for armed or unarmed guards, having a security service presence at your business is always going to give you the peace of mind that you, your employees and your customers deserve.

Potential physical security threats can take on many forms, but more often than not, they can be seen in an individual displaying suspicious behavior and/or an unnatural demeanor. While not always obvious to the innocent bystander, a trained security should be able to spot them in a crowd, and take the appropriate action.

What are the signs of a potential security threat?

A dedicated security guard (armed or unarmed) should be on the lookout for the following signs in any individual on or close to the premises:

• Shouting often or loudly
• Being verbally abusive or making threats
• Talking casually about violence
• Invading the privacy or space of others around them
• Unusual or suspicious body language, such as balled fists, a red face or flared nostrils

Trained to deescalate potentially violent situations, a good security guard will deal with the individual(s) in the following 3 ways:

1. Listen to them – by taking the time to listen to what the person wants to say, they will encourage them to engage calmly, and believe that whatever they’re upset or angry about, is worth being heard. Whether it is or it isn’t is neither here nor there, but the person must be made to believe that.
2. Communicate with them – listening to the individual is the first step, and this should always be followed by an appropriate form of communication. Actively listen to what they want to say, and where possible, interject a question or two that isn’t designed to antagonize, rather find out what they want to achieve. By listening and talking to them one-to-one, a good security guard should be able to deescalate the situation and help the person find a solution to their problem (whether the problem be real or perceived).
3. Offer solutions – After listening and communicating calmly with them, the security guard should then help the person with a solution to their ‘problem’. This may involve some quick thinking and diplomacy, and may only be a stalling tactic until the police arrive (if the situation warrants a police presence), but it’s an important stage of the deescalating process.

Security guard roles can be challenging ones, and in busy locations, guards must always be prepared for the unexpected, and never let their guard down (excuse the pun!). With experience, skill and a calm persona, however, security guards can diffuse potentially dangerous situations and help keep your business safe for everyone.

Whether your bank is a sprawling one with multiple floors, or a small building with a couple of tellers and an office, you must ensure that all customers and employees feel safe when entering the premises, and once they’re inside it, too. Banks are always going to be targets for thieves simply because of the amount of money and other valuable items kept inside them on any given day, so your bank should have a number of security measures in place, including, but not limited to, the following:

Security guards

Security guards should of course be present to help protect the public while they’re inside the bank (and entering and leaving it), but they can also be extremely helpful in guiding customers and controlling queues.

Most bank customers feel safer knowing a security guard is present should the unthinkable occur, such as an armed robbery, and employees can carry on their work without having to constantly be on the lookout for potential robbers among the regular customers.

Camera Surveillance and Monitoring

Allowing banks to monitor and view live and recorded video footage of the comings and goings on any given day, CCTV cameras can be set up to cover a variety of locations, and even multiple branches at a time. Acting as a visual deterrent to criminals, it can also be immensely helpful for identifying suspicious persons inside the bank should a crime later found to have taken place on or near the bank (such as the theft of a purse or wallet), and of course, in the event of an armed robbery.

Alarm Response Systems and Security Guards

Installed at banks to signal the authorities should a threat be detected, security alarm systems consist of a detector that uses a sensor, followed by an alarm circuit. As soon as the alarm rings, whether it’s detected an intruder, unauthorized entry, fire or smoke for example, a team of alarm response security guards are notified, and they’ll reach the bank and get the situation under control. Often, if a bank employs a mobile security guard patrol, the alarm will alert them and they’ll arrive before the monitoring team.

Cyber security and access control

Online data protection is important for banks, too, as is being able to restrict entry to certain areas of the bank that may contain sensitive information or large amounts of cash.

All told, there are many potential security risks that banks face, both from a physical and cyber perspective, and sometimes no amount of security measures can offer 100% protection. However, with a combination of the measures above, banks can offer their employees and customers a safe banking experience in which nobody has to look over their shoulder at the ATM, or be suspicious of everyone around them.

If you don’t already have a security guard presence at your place of business, and can relate to any of the following six indicators, then it might be time to have a conversation with a professional security firm to arrange for a guard(s) to be stationed at your premises:

1. Your place of business frequently experiences safety issues

Safety issues come in many shapes and sizes, but ultimately, they are anything that can threaten the safety of employees, customers or the building itself, and if you’ve spotted them happening regularly, it could mean that your business is vulnerable and needs to be better protected.

Maybe you’ve recently had a spate of in-store theft, a fight has broken out on the premises or the building has been vandalized in some way. Whatever the issue, a security guard presence could put an end to it and prevent it from happening again in the future.

2. Your business has a lot of foot traffic

A lot of foot traffic may indicate that your business or other such facility is doing well, but it can also present a huge security risk if not closely monitored. A security guard stationed at the entrance can check IDs of everyone coming in, make notes of names and contact numbers and restrict entry where appropriate.

3. Record keeping isn’t at its best

If anyone should be involved in an accident or other such incident on your business premises, having a detailed record of day-to-day functioning can help you avoid potential liability issues, or even prevent a crime. Often, the task of maintaining such records – which can include information about suspicious employee behavior, a broken lock or damaged equipment – falls to security guards, and by having at least one in place every day, you can make sure they’re kept as up-to-date as possible.

4. Employees are working late

It’s a simple fact that a good deal of crime occurs after the hours of darkness, and if you frequently run night shifts or have employees who work overtime past their regular hours, then you should be helping to protect them by hiring a security guard. Giving them peace of mind, they’ll be able to safely leave the premises at the end of their shift, and criminals will be deterred from targeting your business due to an apparent lack of security presence.

5. You’ve needed an emergency response on more than one occasion

Not all emergency situations require a response from the police, but if you don’t have a security guard to help manage smaller emergencies, you’ll likely have to call the police, and while this can be helpful, it can also be incredibly disruptive. Not only that, but the police aren’t always able to make it to you quickly, and as a result, a criminal may flee the scene or more harm may come to an individual (or individuals) involved. Hire a security guard, and have someone on site, all day every day, to deal swiftly and appropriately with any emergency.

More often than not, security guards prove their worth pretty quickly, and investing in hiring at least one for your business, is going to give you a great return on your money, in more ways than one.

Give your customers, employees and anyone else involved in your business the peace of mind they deserve, by hiring fully trained and experienced security guards to watch over them and keep them safe while on the premises.

Mobile patrol services offer a range of benefits, and while a static security presence can be effective, they’re simply unable to compete with a mobile patrol that offers the ultimate in security and protection.

Whether you hire a mobile patrol service that conducts their work in vehicles or on foot, they have a whole host of advantages when compared to static security guards, some of which can be found below:

Mobile patrol services act as a visible deterrent for criminals

Having a mobile patrol service means that anyone moving in and around the perimeter of your premises – or even traveling in and around the vicinity – will know that you have an active and mobile security service, prepped to protect it at all costs, and this could make a criminal think twice before targeting it.

They offer multi-location surveillance

When a mobile patrol service is used, they can keep a close eye on numerous locations during a shift, to ensure that much more than just the main entrances are being monitored. Whether on foot, bicycle or in a vehicle, they can work together to keep every section protected as best as possible, and communicate with one another should they need assistance or wish to report suspicious activity.

A mobile patrol unit can respond to alarms

If an alarm should happen to be activated on your property, you’ll need to get there yourself pretty quickly, or send someone on your behalf to address the issue and switch off the alarm. Failure to do this on more than two occasions could result in the police disregarding subsequent alarms. If you have a mobile patrol service on site, however, you can take advantage of their expert key holding and alarm response service, and have them deactivate the alarm as and when needed, and communicate with the police if necessary.

They will also be present to re-secure the premises where appropriate and liaise with the police to resolve the situation and safeguard anyone who may be at harm.

They can carry out numerous other security checks

Responsible for so much more than monitoring and responding to alarms, they can also carry out patrols in areas outside of the CCTV cameras scope, and even conduct checks on doors and windows to make sure they’re all locked and that nothing has been tampered with.

They are also available in response to emergency situations, and can be hired as and when they are needed; this often includes 365 days of the year, 24 hours a day.

Mobile patrol services may even cost less

If your budget won’t quite stretch to a permanent, static security guard, then you may be able to save money by paying for a patrol service as and when you need it, and choose the level of services they carry out for you.

Should your property be vulnerable to thieves or vandals, having a patrol service protect it will of course save you money in that respect, by preventing damage and eliminating the need for costly repairs or even a lawsuit.

Static guard services certainly have their place, but nothing can beat the roving guard services of a mobile patrol, especially when it comes to giving you and anyone else on your property, the best chance of staying safe at all times, and from all angles.

Why some may feel as if hiring armed guards to protect their home or business is an extreme measure, others will see it as a necessity. But, to understand what difference an armed guard can make and under what circumstances they might be deemed appropriate when compared to an unarmed guard, we’ve compiled a short guide:

Won’t an armed guard presence scare my customers and employees?

Usually, it’s quite the opposite. Considering the kind of world we live in today, where the threat of violent crime is never far away, most shoppers, clients, employees and homeowners feel far more secure knowing that should a rogue criminal target their premises, they will be well protected by a fully trained and licensed armed guard.

Not only that, but while unarmed guards undoubtedly have their uses, they offer little in the form of a deterrent. Criminals intending to access a building to cause damage or harm to anyone or anything inside it, will easily be able to overpower an unarmed guard, while an armed guard presents them with a whole different kind of barrier that is much less easy to penetrate.

Answer ‘yes’ to any of the following questions, and your business would benefit from armed guards

• When an emergency occurs in your area, are the emergency responders slow to reach you?
• Does the area your business is located have a high crime rate?
• Do you have employees who work late? Or do you, or other members of your household, come in and out of your home frequently after daylight hours?

Will it be worth hiring armed guards, considering the cost of liability insurance?

Because armed guards carry a firearm, and even with extensive background checks and fingerprinting there’s no way to guarantee they won’t discharge their weapon unnecessarily, individuals and companies are often charged a higher rate for insurance policies. While this may be the case, it’s hard to put a price on safety, especially when it comes to your family, employees and customers, so most who feel they need an armed guard, see this as a necessary evil of staying safe and protected.

Armed guards cost more, so shouldn’t I just hire unarmed guards to save money?

In much the same way as the previous question was answered, it’s important to stress that saving lives is priceless, and while it’s true that armed guards are more expensive due to their extensive training, the benefits they bring far outweigh the cost.

Ultimately, you take a risk when you employ unarmed guards, since you’re not offering yourself the very best protection available to you. Armed guards can handle all manner of emergencies efficiently and within the parameters of the law, and if it’s peace of mind and safety at all times that you’re looking for, then hiring armed guards will give you that, tenfold.