Security can so often be a complex requirement for businesses. From the tried-and-tested measures we’ve all no doubt seen protecting sites across the country, to the hidden tactics businesses employ to catch criminals in the act, we’ve seen countless questions emerge around the best options for securing companies across a spectrum of industries.
Chief among these is how we understand the role of mobile security patrols. While we’ve all seen static security officers monitoring the entrances to premises, a more mobile security presence can play an entirely different role, adapting fluidly to larger sites or multiple buildings.
With Churchill’s latest industry guide, we’re looking at the intricacies of mobile security officers, what they can do for your site, and why they’ve quickly become the go-to choice for some of the UK’s more complex security requirements.
We’ll explore 5 of the key responsibilities you can expect your mobile security to undertake, and why these form the basis of any effective security package aimed at larger businesses.
When we imagine how we’d approach securing our site, we’d rarely consider the outside of the premises. Instead, there’s a – perhaps understandable – tendency to focus on what’s inside, using intruder alarms or motion detection systems to address trespassers or thieves. Of course, these options have their place, but they work best when coupled with mobile security officers.
These expertly trained professionals take the time to check multiple different aspects of your site, including:
An exterior mobile security patrol also offers one of the more visible ways to reinforce that your site has a security presence. For the vast majority of criminals – especially those who are just looking to take any window of opportunity – just the sight of a security officer is enough to deter them before they can ever cross that first hurdle.
You could think of your exterior mobile patrols as the first line of defence, offering that weatherproof solution and reassurance that your site is in safe hands.
Of course, an exterior mobile patrol is only one side of the security coin. The likelihood is – particularly so for larger buildings like warehouses or housing complexes – that you’ll want that same level of reassurance for your property’s inside as well as its outside.
These provide an unmatched synergy between your existing measures – CCTV cameras and an intruder alarm, for instance – and the more physical reinforcement that a mobile security patrol service can provide.
As standard, you can expect your patrolling security personnel to be alert for:
While less visible than the external patrols we mentioned earlier, they still have that authority that can prevent any criminal activity from ever happening. The science supports that, with a recent study seeing a sharp decline in the amount of crime that a site experiences simply by having a more visible security presence.
Arguably one of the more understated benefits of opting for a mobile security patrol presence on your site is that they’re able to securely hold a copy of your keys if that’s ever needed. Having been at the forefront of the security sector for more than 28 years now, we’ve seen countless customers opt for this, and for good reason.
The benefits are twofold, with the first – and arguably most important – being that you remove any onus or undue pressure from your staff members. While trusting a colleague or yourself to lock up at the end of the day might work well when you first start, it becomes infinitely more stressful as the business grows.
Secondly, those keys can be used in the event of an emergency, or if an alarm has been activated. While we’d always hope those situations would never happen, they’re all too common, and trusting a security company with a set of your keys is a simple, cost-effective way to respond to those incidents.
We’ve done this for decades now with our bespoke key holding and alarm response services, but combining that with mobile patrolling officers only serves to augment the service, and offer a more instant response.
It’s easy to forget at times that your mobile security patrols are conducted by people. While they’ll no doubt be assisted by the latest in cutting-edge security technology, they are still humans, and as such, you’ll be able to ask for detailed, bespoke security reports for your site, as well as reports on any issues that have occurred.
All security officers are trained to do exactly this – it’s part of the process they undergo to become a security officer. That’s very rarely known by those looking into security, but it’s a crucial part of the process and ultimately helps reassure clients, reinforce the security measures we recommend, and provide a more all-encompassing service.
That’s only set to grow with further developments in the tech we talked about earlier. Take how we at Churchill Support Services have adapted as a great example. We’ve equipped our mobile patrols with precise geolocation options, as well as one of the cutting-edge reporting systems in SmartTask.
You’re also able to receive more automated updates through innovations like our VPOD visually-verified intruder alarm system, which connects directly to your smartphone for unlimited access and control over what you see. More on that in our next point, though.
The true beauty of the security sector lies in how the services we provide mesh together to create the level of protection your site demands. That’s one of the areas we most like to talk about – how a bespoke security solution, one that truly encompasses all your premises might need, is the ticket to peace of mind.
That’s another area where mobile patrol security excels. While your officers will always be on the move, they’re able to check on any CCTV cameras or monitoring stations your site might have (construction sites often have these in a port-a-cabin, for instance) for a more omniscient view of your site.
We touched earlier on the VPOD system, and that’s particularly pertinent here. It’s just as mobile as your security personnel – requiring just a single person, 30-minute install – and operates as a more stationary companion to those mobile security patrols. It’s the latest development and one we’ve been proud to pioneer.
In truth, most businesses could find substantial benefits in opting for a mobile patrol. As we’ve seen, they’re among some of the most adaptable solutions offered by the security sector, and can seamlessly switch internal and external patrols. They’re the bread and butter of many sites.
However, it’s equally true that some sites will find far more advantages than others. For example, a boutique retailer or small renovation works would likely be self-contained enough for static security officers or more “hands-off” solutions (think CCTV or intruder alarms). Again that’s where a more bespoke solution comes to the fore.
We’d suggest considering a mobile security patrol solution if you’ve got multiple buildings or you’ve got a particular expansive site that’s one large area. That includes:
That’s far from an exhaustive list, of course. We’d strongly advise doing a simple test – if you stand at the front entrance to your site, can you see the opposite side with a quick glance? This puts you in the shoes of a security officer and can help you decide whether a static security officer or a mobile security patrol is best for your premises.
Now that we’ve got a good grasp of where mobile patrol security is most effective, and why you’d opt for them for your site, it all comes down to the decision process. We won’t sugarcoat it – choosing the right security provider can be a difficult process, but it doesn’t have to be.
We’ve highlighted 4 key areas to look out for, what they mean, and why they’re a crucial consideration when deciding who to opt for in a competitive industry.
There are naturally other factors you’ll want to consider, and that’s completely understandable. While we’ve given you 4 of the main talking points, it’s always worth doing your due diligence and finding a solution that works for you.
Here at Churchill Support Services, we tick all those boxes and a range of others besides. We’ve been the #1 security provider in the UK for 2 years running now, and have fought exceptionally hard to maintain that reputation. That’s all done through exceptional, industry-leading service, and keeping pace with the wider security industry.
Our mobile security patrols are the epitome of that. We’ve honed and perfected an approach to mobile security that really resonates with sites across the UK, and has truly meant we’ve earned the mantle as the UK’s best.
From customised patrol routes and complete 24-hour service through to some of the industry’s most impassioned professionals, Churchill are the clear choice. Get in touch today to discuss your options in much more detail, and to receive your free, no-pressure quote.
