Security Guards

What it takes to be a security guard?

The role of a Security Guard though demanding is equally as morally rewarding. Security personnel risk their own personal safety on a regular basis to keep people and their property safe. Security guards patrol properties to protect customers and employees and thwart vandalism, theft, crime and terrorism. If you are considering a career in the security service sector, listed below are 10 essential qualities and requirements expected of security guards which will indicate if man-guarding is for you. Licenced- By law all security guards must obtain a SIA licence People orientated– Selflessness is a characteristic that is essential if you are considering a career in the security services therefore you must be willing to be attentive to the safety of our clients, residents, employees or customers before your own when on duty. Attention to detail- Security guards are always required to be alert. When patrolling their allocated premises, they must not only stay focused however also absorb their surroundings by paying attention to the smallest of details which could later prove to be important. An unobservant guard might easily overlook something that could put lives in jeopardy or miss out on witnessing a criminal or thief in action to ensure the security of those we protect. Physical fitness– Security jobs require all hired personnel to be physically fit due to the unpredictability of the job. Security guards must be physically fit enough to handle any physical challenges that may arise suddenly by responding quickly in an appropriate manner. Patient- Often when on the job situations may arise that require a guard to remain calm and level headed to avoid disruption therefore patience is key. Honest- A good security guard is always honest. They are trusted to represent the company for which they work and often find themselves working long shifts alone, therefore they must be a reliable and honest person. Willing to work long hours- Most security services require guards to work long hour shifts therefore if you are considering a career in this field you must be willing to work hours. Training- All security personal must be provided training so they are able to deal with the many different situations that may arise. Good communication skills- A good Security Guard knows how to communicate effectively both verbally and in their writing skills. Clear, courteous communication can be the deciding factor in handling a tricky situation effectively. Communication also allows the security officer to carefully and accurately document each incident of importance, as well as the status of the facility at the close of his/her shift. Join a reputable company to represent you- After reading the above points if you feel that you are suitable for a role as a security guard get in contact with us. G3 Security Ltd is the fastest growing most reputable security service agency in London. Send your cv to career@g3security.co.uk and we will get in contact with you shortly or give us a call on 02032880000 to discuss your suitability.  

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Security Company London

10 tips on how to keep your property safe during the Christmas period

  THE FESTIVE SEASON IS HERE! It is time for family gathering and long over-due catch-up’s with our old school friends. Undeniably, it is such occasions like Christmas that bring cheer to our lives as we reconnect at the old local pub, a mutual favourite restaurant or our childhood home all cosy around the fireplace. However, amongst all this festive spirit, we mustn’t forget to keep our properties safe. The Christmas period is a prosperous time for burglars and squatters. The expensive gifts neatly packed away under your Christmas tree along with your justified absence from home (last minute Christmas shoppers like me or boozing late night in the pub with friends) provides the best opportunity for burglars to enter the treasure troves that are our homes and our vacant properties It was reported last year that the number of burglaries, thefts and robberies committed over the Christmas period reached an alarming peak. According to new research as reported by the Daily Mail ‘The Christmas fortnight saw more than a 20 percent more offences in 2016 than three years earlier in 2014. The number of thefts rose from 11,804 to 15,148 while burglaries were up from 5,222 to 6,278. Robberies rose from 674 to 918’ and these statistics rose a considerable amount in 2017 as expected. This is because the winter months are especially tempting for burglars as longer nights provide more opportunity for crime to take place under the cover of darkness, therefore it’s important to remain vigilant and ensure your home is adequately protected.   Below I have listed 10 step’s you can take to safeguard your personal and professional spaces during the Christmas period. Install a security and fire alarm- (and if you already have one make sure that it works) Take advantage of those nosey neighbours and create a neighbourhood group chat- Sometimes nosey neighbours can prove to be extremely useful! Creating a group chat on WhatsApp with a member of each household from your street will allow everyone to communicate their concerns if they suspect any suspicious activity. Improve lighting- No lighting or dim lighting is usually the first indicator of a vacant property to burglars. Therefore, either install sensor active lighting or timer lighting to deter burglars. (And if you’re old fashioned like and want to save some money, leave your passage and porch lights on) Install security cameras-For your piece of mind, it would be beneficial to install security cameras, so you are able to keep watchful eye over your property even when you are physical absent from it (Perfect for those of you are planning on escaping to warmer continent to celebrate your holidays. However, if like myself you are not so fortunate enough to be able to do this, security cameras are a great way to keep track of what’s going on whilst you’re out doing your last-minute Christmas shopping or on a night late night out with your friends) Make sure your property is easily accessible- You can do this by introducing high fences and railings. (This will make it harder for burglars to get both in and out) Don’t broadcast your absence- I know this one may be a little difficult during the era of social media, but it is important not to overshare too much information about your whereabouts. Social media makes it easier for people to be targeted as burglars can monitor your every move. Therefore, make sure your posts are restricted to ‘private’ on Facebook, twitter and Instagram so nobody you don’t know can keep tabs on your whereabouts. Keep your tree out of sight of windows- It has become a somewhat festive tradition which I can’t deny Is absolutely beautiful to look at, this however, isn’t the movies. If you know that you live in a neighbourhood that has recently been targeted by burglars or has seen a rise in criminal activity, then it would be wise to advertise your tree and presents by placing it directly in front of a window. Don’t leave discarded boxes of expensive items (e.g. TVs, iPads, desktop computers) outside the house after Christmas. They simply advertise what’s been added to your home contents and enable burglars to work out where they should focus their attention. Double check that your doors and windows are locked before leaving your properly. Ensure that you have the right level of home contents insurance. If you are spending a small fortune on gifts at Christmas, remember to inform your insurer that you’ll have new, expensive items under your roof. Arrange for a mobile patrol to check your areas- If the area in which you live has a reputation of burglaries, thefts and robberies and you suspect that your property is at risk of being burgled mobile patrolling is worth consideration. G3 Security Ltd have noticed a high increase in companies and private individuals taking our mobile patrol services. This service best suits businesses looking to maintain a high level of security and safety at their premises or site, but who do always not have the requirement for a static security officer. Our mobile patrol service is the most cost-effective, efficient alternative to the presence of a static security guard. We offer mobile patrolling services of both residential and commercial buildings. Our security guards are available both day and night allowing you the peace of mind that your property is always safeguarded. Set up a key holding contract with a reputable security company who will control access to your property or building- Key Holding and Alarm Response is a simple and cost-effective security solution for companies wishing to secure their premises during out of office hours. At G3 Security Ltd we offer this service to ensure our clients that a guard to respond to any intruder alerts, fire alarm activations and other issues. Organise for a security guard to house sit your property while you are away- This is a new service we offer here at G3 Security Ltd in response to the rise of thefts, burglaries and robberies in residential areas during

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Construction Security

7 Things to consider when conducting a mobile patrol

Businesses and residential colonies are increasingly recruiting security guard companies in London to conduct mobile patrols of their properties. It gives them an additional sense of security and discourages criminal activity in the region. Here are some things you should consider while conducting a patrol: Remember that even though you are conducting patrols, you are not an officer in service. Your efforts should thus be proactive towards safeguarding the private property of your clients. You should always keep changing your security patrol pattern and timings to deter criminals. Watch out for vehicles that seem out of place or are illegally parked. Make a note of it and follow procedure. Always follow all laws – traffic and State. If you find something wrong, inform the authorities. Though you may act in case of an absolute emergency when someone’s life may be in danger to protect it as a good Samaritan. Don’t drive past in speed to cut time, instead drive under the speed limit and carefully observe the surrounding areas as well. Sometimes criminals can spot your vehicle and stop away from the property, waiting for you to pass. Driving at night can be tricky. You can use your spotlights or any flash-lights to get a better look at areas that may be dark and not easily visible. When conducting a drive past any retail clients, you should always slow down and get a better look at the glass walls and doors. Many times criminals cut through the glass wall and place the glass back in position with a tape to fool mobile patrols. Mobile security patrols are not quite similar to protecting a property on ground, however, they are equally as efficient in preventing criminal activity. Remember to use your common sense, follow all laws and memorise the procedures by heart as they could come in handy in your next patrol. Powered by Colm

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Corporate Security

Importance of Security Guards in Healthcare industry

Security guards who are trained to work in Healthcare facilities have their work cut out for them. Not only do they need to guard the facilities against external threats, but also have to often protect the patients from harming themselves. Those who work in mental health units need to be especially careful. Some recent findings have reported that there has been a 22% increase in violence in mental health facilities and as a whole, healthcare violence also appears to be rising. This brings to light the importance of incident reports that security officers file. With a properly written incident report, many future eventualities can be avoided. Which brings us back to the importance of hiring security guards who don’t shy away from paperwork. Every report filed by security officers in healthcare is critically evaluated to look for opportunities to reduce risks to patients. Many times this is based on individual behaviour of patients, which needs to be carefully monitored not only by the hospital staff but also security. A healthcare security officer needs to be not only physically capable but also mentally sound and responsible. Each report filed needs to be credible and factually correct. When hiring a security agency for your healthcare establishment, make sure that they provide a complete security cover that includes security for people, property and assets. Some of the most talented people work in hospitals, that includes researchers and surgeons which can be targeted by anti-social elements. Also, the hospital equipments can cost a fortune. It increases the responsibility of security guards to provide a safe and secure environment for the hospital to work and for the patients to recover. Some of the basic functions provided by Healthcare security officers are – Inspecting the facilities Active security monitoring and patrolling Escorting employees and guests Watching patients All security personnel who work in healthcare are trained in crisis management through non-violent use of force, CPR, Hazmat and healthcare regulations. Powered by Colm

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Corporate SecuritySecurity Company London

Useful security tips for small businesses

A lot of small business owners often neglect taking active security precautions till the time there is a serious incident. However, as a small business owner you should understand that you are equally (if not more) prone to burglaries and thefts as any other bigger business. Here are some tips you can follow: Don’t base all your security solutions on just one single method (for example, CCTV cameras), instead, use a variety of measures. Train your staff well in handling suspicious behaviour. They should always be on alert against any suspicious activity under their watch. Regularly, check your alarms and other security systems to ensure that they are working in proper condition. From time to time, whenever you change your key holder, make sure that their details are updated with the Police. Also evaluate your insurance policies and check to see if you need any additional cover. Refrain from putting up a ‘We are closed’ board as it could easily be an invitation for thieves. Check all access points to ensure that they can’t be tampered with easily. Tag all your equipments and machinery as a deterrent. Don’t keep a lot of cash in office and also vary your cash transfer routine to the bank every time. Keep an eye out for crimes in your locality or against similar businesses in the area. Always keep your business well lit, even at nights. Where possible use break-in alarm systems, silent alarms and motion detectors. Switch to card access system for better security. Use security guards. They act as the best possible deterrent! Also; Restrict access to sensitive areas in the building. Shred any documents that contain personal information securely so that it may not fall in wrong hands. Conduct a background search before hiring any employee. Security company in London Powered by Colm

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Construction Security

6 Tips for protecting your construction site

Recently, there has been an increase in the number of incidents reported at construction sites. Security measures are not only expected, but essential for the protection of any construction site as they are not only prone to crimes like thefts and vandalism, but can also be easy targets for terrorists. Here are some tips to protect your construction site: Mark your equipment – To prevent theft of your equipment and machinery, you should inscribe the name of your company or its logo into every bucket and shovel. You could also use paint or UV markers for the job, but paint can be washed off with chemicals and UV markers are not visible to the naked eye and thus are not as effective a deterrent. Report any missing equipment to the manufacturer – Almost all big manufacturers keep a record of the equipments they sell. You can ring them up and they will keep an eye out for it in case someone brings it in for repairs. Bolt it down – Generators and lighting are easily susceptible to theft. You should bolt them down to the ground using steel plates and locks so no one can just tow them away. Provide ample lighting – Use bright white lights to cover your construction site. They provide for a good quality color differentiation to identify faces and number plates easily. Also make sure that they don’t blind-sight the observers. Restrict visitor access – Your site will involve frequent visits from contractors and laborers. You should thus restrict access to whoever visits your site by following a proper gate security procedure. Use security patrols – In addition to following the above tips, you should also hire a responsible security guard company such as us to provide for active patrolling of your site. Believe it or not, some insurance companies don’t pay for the entire cost of replacing your equipments in case of an accident. Having human security guards patrol your site can really save you a lot of trouble! For more tips on Construction Site Security, you can download Construction Site Security by Michael J. Arata from Google Books. To book a free Site Risk Assessment of your construction security site, call us on 020 3288 0000/0011 or email info@g3security.co.uk. Powered by Colm

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Construction SecurityCorporate SecurityEvent SecurityRetail SecuritySecurity Company London

The importance of a detailed site risk assessment in the security industry

Site risk assessment before commencement of any new sites Risk assessment is a logical as well as consistent method of assessing the assets, their vulnerabilities, associated risks and their impact. By conducting a detailed site risk assessment, you can reduce the damage from any potential risks to an acceptable cost. To understand the importance of a detailed site risk assessment in the security industry, we need to familiarise ourselves with a few terms: Risk – It is the potential of loss or damage to an asset. Asset – It can be a person or property, information or activity; anything with value to it’s owner. Impact – It is the amount of damage or loss that could be caused by an adversary. Threat – It is the potential to cause damage or loss to the asset. Adversary – It can be anyone – a group or an individual, that wants to cause damage to an asset. Vulnerability – It is any weakness that can be used by the adversary to access the asset. Countermeasures – These are actions on the part of the owner, taken to reduce vulnerabilities. Cost-Benefit Analysis – It is part of the decision making process where the management considers the costs and benefits of each proposed alternative and selects the most viable option available. What can a professional Risk Manager do for you? While identifying potential security risks for your site, the Risk Manager would look for ways to: Reduce damage to your business Eliminate or control any indicators Utilise your security budget in a cost-effective way Minimise intelligence collection by any adversaries They will then formulate a strategy to – Identify vulnerabilities in security Manipulate indicators to deceive your adversaries Apply countermeasures Modify countermeasures from time to time The strategy they develop would depend on the needs of your organisation, the current laws and policies in place, expected risks to your site as well as your security budget. With a professional risk assessment of your new site, we will assess your assets, threats to them and  any vulnerabilities that can be exploited. We will then go on to assess risks and devise countermeasure options for you to implement, and at each step of the way we will advise you with the costs and benefits, so you would always know what to expect and decide on what is necessary. For a FREE site risk assessment call us now on 020 3288 0000/0011 or email  info@g3security.co.uk. Powered by Colm

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Security Company London

Want to be a security guard? Here’s what you need to know about the job

The job of a security guard is extremely challenging. Your responsibilities may include protecting people or keeping houses and companies safe and secure from intruders and thieves. If you are seriously thinking of taking this as a profession, the below information is intended to provide a brief knowledge about the job requirements and responsibilities. Skills: A security  guard is required to have some basic set of skills. Such as: Politeness Well-mannered Honest and Responsible Good level of physical fitness Basic understanding of technology Good decision-making skills Brave, focussed, and Alert Good writing skills for making short reports Qualification: Most security guard jobs  require the candidate to have a Security Industry ( SIA) front line license. The SIA licencies vary depending upon the  different roles ie. CCTV operation and Personal Security might require different security license. So it’s essential to make sure that the training course you are taking covers your field of interest.   For any SIA license,  you’ll have to pass the SIA training from a college or centres which offers it.  Your criminal history is of importance and  should be clear  as these are checked regularly by most hiring security agencies Job:  As a security official, you might work  in different kinds of  industry. Each role varies and is proportional to the industry you are working in.  Common roles include: Patrolling or monitoring premises like companies, houses, or airport. Providing personal security Safe and secure transport of valuables or individuals from one point to another Customer care and assistance Guarding Doors Dog handling Working hours: Most security jobs involve working in shifts. The hours may vary depending about  the role or the needs of the situation. You can expect to work for around 48 hours/week. Powered by Colm

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Security Company London

Which equipments are used by security guards?

Security guard jobs involve protecting both people and property. They look out for any threats or illegal activities and also limit access to sensitive areas. Upholding the law often means that they can be easily susceptible to many unforeseen dangers. Even though specialist security guards working in high-level security duties use specialised gear, for others in the business it’s similar, regular equipment. Everyday tools Security officers normally carry a flash-light with them, the size of which depends on their duty. They also carry walkie-talkies, however now some guards rely on their cellphones. In addition, they use handcuffs to detain people who may come off as suspects and keep emergency kits like fire and first aid within reach. Some security guards also carry a whistle or a hand-held alarm to use in emergencies. Uniform Security personnel often wear a hat or a jacket that sets them apart from the general populace. Sometimes they carry a badge or have a patch sewn in their clothing that says ‘Security’. Their uniforms are designed for comfort as they often work for long hours at a go. Sometimes, they also wear gloves or masks when conducting physical searches for harmful material. Monitoring To monitor people or property, security guards use equipments like CCTVs, binoculars, audio recording devices, metal detectors, x-ray screens, etc. They can also be using vehicles such as a bike or a van to patrol an area. Self-Defence Sometimes, security personnel may be called on to defend themselves, their client or the general public. In order to do so effectively, they are trained for physical intervention. an initial health and safety assessment is done to ensure guards safety and reviewed regularly. Office Work For their daily work, security officers also need to submit reports or duty logs. They do it by filing reports on a computer or by carrying a log book. They might also need equipment such as access control key-cards or barcode badges to access restricted areas. Powered by Colm

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Construction SecurityCorporate SecurityEvent SecurityRetail SecuritySecurity Company London

Why security automation can never replace security guards

With the advent of sophisticated technology in the security industry, many private and public sectors have turned towards it for their security solutions. This has resulted in creating the conception that there is no more need of security guards. Which is an extremely dangerous idea, both for the companies and the security industry. Here are a few points why technology can never replace security guards Flexibility: Unlike technology which can be installed only at particular set points and have limited scanning perspective which can create blind spots, security guards provide the advantage of movement. Decision-making: Programmed systems can handle only a set of problems. Security guards are versatile decision-makers and capable of adapting themselves to any unexpected situations. Real-time response: Quick response is an important aspect when it comes to security. Compared to automated systems which only prompt police officials during emergencies, security guards respond and can tackle emergencies in a very short period. Cannot be hacked: In today’s world, where every system is prone to hacking, trained security guards provide a reliable solution. A human element: Having security guards taking care of you provides a sense of assurance which no amount of technology can. Also, unlike technology, the interaction is more direct and rich. Human barrier: From a thief’s point of view, it is extremely easy for him to plan and overcome technology than a security guard. The reasons being the unexpectedness and emotional elements which come with a security guard. An intruder will think twice before attacking a security personal rather than technology for the fear of an undesired outcome. Having stated the above, there is no intent of devaluing technology in any way. It’s just to showcase how some aspects covered by security guards are irreplaceable. In-fact, with proper training and knowledge, if we could couple guards with technology, it could prove to be the ultimate security solution.

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