A&R Security Services is based in Bridgend and provides security services to businesses across South Wales and the South West

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Eviction, Unoccupied, Empty, Squatter, Squatters, Industrial Unit, Industrial, Security Services

How to ‘squatter proof’ your empty industrial unit

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Industrial units are dotted all across the Cardiff area – with many being home to businesses. But when landlords have an empty industrial unit, it could attract unwanted attention such as squatters. Although squatting in non-residential properties isn’t ‘illegal’, many landlords of empty industrial units are reluctant to invest in updating their security.

However, updating your empty industrial unit’s security is a much easier and cheaper option than trying to evict squatters.

But how do you fully protect your industrial unit from squatters?

Protect and secure doors

Unprotected or unsecured doors such as fire exits, or entry doors are easy ways for squatters to enter your unit. Securing entry doors with solid steel security doors and other doors such as fire exits are fully secure. Remember, some doors only have one catch or no locks.

Protect your windows

Like doors, unsecured windows are an easy way for squatters to gain access into your unit. To protect your unit, cover windows with steel and use ant-tamper fixings. It may not add kerb appeal, but it will certainly stop squatters from getting in.

Securing skylights

If your unit has skylights, make sure that they are secured. Many squatters will try to climb through them to gain access but don’t realise, there may be a large drop and the surface isn’t soft.

Security Alarms

To ensure that no one gains access to your unit, install a security alarm. Installing a security alarm allows either yourself or security staff to quickly respond to intruder alerts.

Decommission utilities

Many units will have water, gas and electricity still being provided to them. Decommissioning utilities like electricity, gas and water will make your unit less appealing to anyone looking to make your unit their home.

Carry out regular checks

Carrying out regular checks on your unit ensures that all is in order and nothing has been disturbed whilst you have been away. If you cannot perform the checks, we can provide mobile patrols to perform regular checks around and inside your unit. This will make your insurers much happier.

 

If you have an industrial unit that is empty and are in need of additional security, get in touch with us on 01656 713950 or visit our website to see more of our services.

Warehouse security, Security Services, A&R Security, A&R Security Services

Warehouse Security: 5 Effective Ways to Improve it

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Warehouses in today’s world are not just a storage facility, they are an effective distribution system that is fundamental to the success of a business. However, if you want to have a successful business is with a productive supply chain, you will need to have proper warehouse security in place.

Within Cardiff, there are many warehouses that hold goods that are worth millions and due to this, they can become easy targets for criminals looking to make quick money. Some warehouses in Cardiff are located in industrial estates where others are located in more remote locations due to their size and complex layouts. These factors can create the risk of external theft or theft from employees – which is difficult to detect.

Large companies such as Amazon (with warehouses located in Swansea and Bristol) often report theft from their own employees with one employee suspected of stealing $250,000 worth of goods from their warehouse.

So, to prevent your warehouse being stolen from, we have listed some ways that can improve the security of your warehouse – ensuring that valuable inventory and assets are protected from theft or vandalism.

Employee check/screening

You want to minimise the risks of inventory being stolen from within your warehouse, so conducting check or screenings prior to hiring will help you identify any prior criminal offences.

Controlled access

If your warehouse is large and has areas that shouldn’t be accessed by all within the building, then having a proper access control system can minimise unauthorised personnel from accessing your warehouse. If you need to monitor who is coming to your warehouse, then hiring security guards will help protect your business from losses and maintain your reputation.

Another way of controlling access is through the use of ID Cards or electronic passes that enable access to the building.

A&R Security Services can provide fully trained SIA licensed security guards to monitor access to your warehouse and ensure that your premises don’t fall victim to vandals or anyone posing a threat to your business.

CCTV

CCTV is a highly effective visual deterrent for criminals. When installing CCTV it is best to install them in high places around your building and have multiple video screens to show that employees are watched at any given time.

Mobile Patrols

With warehouses becoming larger and larger to accommodate more inventory, it is important to ensure that every inch of your warehouse is protected. Having full protected within your warehouse and outside will allow your distribution operations to run smoothly.

Mobile patrols have the ability to effectively monitor every inch of your warehouse and maintain total security throughout the warehouse. Many opportunists often take advantage of larger areas and therefore visibility is important. Mobile patrols are fully uniformed and in a marked vehicle and will act as a highly effective security measure.

Random checks

With employee theft on the rise, it’s been reported that thefts have cost UK businesses £40m. Most employees are honest and will not steal from their employer, however, there are a small few who will take advantage of their position.

Carrying out random checks of your workforce will deter employees from taking the opportunity to steal your goods. If you cannot conduct the searches yourself – trained security guards can conduct regular random check and stock takes to ensure that nothing has been stolen or gone missing.

A&R Security Services can provide tailored professional security solutions to warehouses and industrial units in Cardiff and South Wales. To find out more about our security services visit our website or get in touch with us on 01656 713950

 

Demolition Site, Demolition Security, A&R Security Services, A&R Security, Security Services

Pembroke Demolition Site – A&R Security Services Case Study

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It can be seen as nigh on impossible to arrange security cover at such short notice, at A&R Security Services we have a large team of staff who are available at short notice for those last-minute calls.

Over December we were contacted by a demolition company that were working on a site in Pembroke. They were closing for the Christmas period but needed the site protected as there were hundreds of thousands of pounds of equipment on site but also to keep trespassers out for their own safety.

To be able to do this, the site required protection 24/7 for a 3 week period whilst the company was on shut down. With only 2 days’ notice, we were able to put a team together ready to provide full protection to the site and satisfy the needs of the companies insurance policy. With our latest in technology, we are able to know that staff are on-site and checking in regularly to ensure they are also safe whilst working on their own.  We were able to set up check-in areas to ensure the staff were completing mobile patrols and checking the perimeter of the site as per the client’s request. Using this technology we can also log incidents and the clients are able to see them as they happen.

To learn more about our construction security or manned guarding services then visit our website. If you would like to arrange a free quotation call us on 01656 713950

construction site, Security Services, unoccupied Site, Unoccupied, Vacant property, Vacant land

How to secure unoccupied land

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Around the Newport area, there are some areas of land that are yet to be developed on and are left unoccupied. Unoccupied land is very much like a vacant property and can be vulnerable to crime, which means that owners should take precautions to ensure the land remains safe and secure.

In Newport and the UK, vandalism is a growing problem where owners aren’t occupying the area. There is also the potential risk of squatters living on your property which can prove to be both time-consuming and expensive issues.

If you have a plot of land that is intended to be developed on or sold at a later date, then it may be worth it to keep reading and understand how you can properly protect and secure your unoccupied land.

Physical Barriers

Concrete blocks

Placing concrete blocks across tracks/lowered pavements/roads will prevent anyone from driving onto your site. As their name suggests concrete blocks are made of concrete and are extremely heavy which means that they cannot be easily lifted or moved by anybody who might want to get onto your land (unless they use machinery to move them)

Fencing

To maximise the security around your unoccupied land, having physical barriers such as fencing will prevent trespassers from getting onto your land.

Although having fencing on your site is not a sure way of keeping everyone out (especially if used on its own) it can add an additional layer of protection.

There are many types of fencing available, including some with anti-climb attributes or those with sharp points at the top. In many situations, the presence of fencing (especially ones that pose a physical threat) can often dissuade criminals from attempting to gain access to your unoccupied site.

Boarding

Boarding is mainly used as a temporary security measure for unoccupied land that may be vacant for a short period of time. Boarding usually entails boarding up doors and windows with solid timber boards. It’s a very cost-effect and simple solution to dissuade people from entering but it shouldn’t be used a long-term measure.

Security doors and windows

If you have a vacant building, then using steel security doors and windows are a great measure for safeguarding against vandalism.

Using heavy-duty security doors and windows offers a higher level of protection compared to standard doors and windows or boarding as they tend to come with anti-tamper fixings, as well as being damage proof.

This means that vandals and squatters and other trespassers are extremely unlikely to be able to gain access to your vacant property without having to use tools or machinery.

 

Security

CCTV

CCTV remains as one of the best deterrents to trespassers. If criminals feel like they are being watched, they are less likely to enter your premises in which they are not permitted.

CCTV allows the ability to monitor your site 24/7 and can provide detailed footage. This can help those who are monitoring your site and CCTV quickly identify any dangers or threats such as vandalism, thieves or other trespassers and can quickly respond before anything serious happens.

If something does happen on your property, the footage captured can be used as evidence for investigations and prosecution.

 

Other measures

Property guardians

Although property guardians is a new idea, they are used a temporary measure to help protect empty properties or commercial premises such as warehouses, schools and disused restaurants and pubs.

A property guardians’ role is to act as a ‘house sitter’ and live in unoccupied properties on a short-term basis so that it prevents squatters from moving in or damage taking place.

 Security guards

Although this would be quite an extreme measure for small plots of unoccupied land or properties, large properties such as warehouses and large plots of land can benefit from these services.

Manned guarding is mainly used to protect key access points such as gates and doorways so that no one can gain access. They can also be placed in areas that are deemed as a blind spot for CCTV camera’s and act as an extra set of eyes to ensure that there is no suspicious activity. Manned guards can also be used to monitor CCTV and can quickly notify other security guards or police that there is suspicious activity on your property.

If you have a large property or have multiple sites, then mobile patrols are the best solution. As the name suggests, mobile patrols can patrol the perimeter of your site or patrol the inside of your property, ensuring that key access points are secure and there is no suspicious activity. If there is an alarm sounded at any of your properties or sites then they can quickly respond and professionally deal with any intruders.

 

We at A&R Security Services can provide a range of professional security solutions from Keyholding and alarm response to manned guarding and mobile patrols across Newport and South Wales. To find out more about our security solutions then visit our website or to arrange a free security quotation then call us on 01656 713950

SIA, SIA Licensed Guards, SIA Security Guards, Construction Site Security, Construction sites, Construction Site, Construction Security, Security Servives, Security, Cardiff, Newport, Bridgend, Swansea, RCT, A&R Security Services, A&R Security

How to get the right security for each phase of construction

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Within the construction industry in Cardiff, theft and vandalism is one of the biggest reasons why construction sites lose money and go over their scheduled completion dates. Having professional security to protect your site is a good way of deterring criminals from your site, but with constructions sites constantly changing, security measure have to too, to ensure that your site is fully protected throughout different construction phases.

To see how you can fully protect your site through the different stages of construction, then keep on reading.

The Foundation phase

The start of the project usually has the least amount of people involved, as the foundations are laid during the first phase of a construction project. As the laying of the foundations usually don’t entail expensive material or equipment, security won’t have to be so tight compared to the later stages.

At this stage, it is best to establish a perimeter by using high fencing. This shows that this is a no-entry zone for unauthorised personnel.

Structural phase

This phase usually entails many different tradesmen and specialists coming in to construct the carcass of your building. During this time it can be difficult to monitor who is coming in and out of your site and this is where construction managers are unaware that there potentially unauthorised personnel on-site. Access controls such as key cards or physical manned guards that are placed at key access points such as main gates can monitor who is coming in and out of your site and also deter anyone else trying to gain unauthorised access to your site.

To give added security at night, installing CCTV cameras and sturdy fencing will prevent people from coming in and catch anyone who does manage to find their way onto your site. Also have security officers perform mobile patrols around the perimeter of the site can dissuade anyone from approaching your site.

Final phase

This is the most important part of construction and the one time where the most amount of expensive material and equipment is on-site. To prevent these from being stolen and potentially slowing the schedule of the site down, it is important that you have lock-tight security. As the main construction work is focused on the building itself, the security fencing that was around the perimeter can be moved inside in order to capture any unwanted activity taking place within the building.

Using sensors inside your building can help catch unauthorised personnel if someone enters the building after hours.

We at A&R Security Services can provide professional security solutions to construction sites in and around the Cardiff and South Wales area. To find out more about our security services, visit our website or to arrange a free quotation call us on 01656 713950

Security Officer, A&R Security Services, A&R Security, Mobile Security, Manned Guarding, Commercial Security

Mistakes Your Company Is Making by Not Investing in Security Officers

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If you and your business are based in Swansea and are just being protected by your security alarm and CCTV system then you are seriously endangering your business, site and employees. With technology constantly changing, there are a lot of technologically advanced security systems that can provide you with intruder alarms, monitoring and sirens, but investing in security officers is something that you won’t regret investing in.

Most businesses in Swansea believe that their workplace is safe and free from intruders, criminals or suspicious activity. However, this kind of thinking can put your business at a disadvantage and if anything does occur, you or your staff will not be well prepared to handle a situation or deal with intruders effectively.  A&R Security Services can provide fully trained SIA licensed security officers that have experience in protecting commercial properties from intruders, criminals and suspicious activity in Swansea.

Many businesses will have one of their own members of staff provide extra security when it is needed. This can be a big hazard as employees aren’t trained or equipped with the knowledge to deal with threats to the business. Having Manned or Mobile security officers can help be a visual deterrent to criminals and can effectively and quickly deal with any threats to the security of your business.

If your business access isn’t controlled by security entry (concierge, key fob/card, pin) then it can be quite easy for intruders to enter your premises. Security officers such as manned guards can ID people that want to enter your site and notify you or other employees if someone is there to see them. This can deter intruders from entering your business and reduces the risk of any crimes occurring. Also, manned security officers can check visitors’ belongings for any suspicious articles. This will help you and your business relax and not worry about any security threats taking place.

A&R Security Services provides exceptional security services to protect businesses and personnel in Swansea and South Wales. Hiring security officers such as manned guards or mobile security guards will certainly put your business at an advantage. Officers provide a more physical presence and are able to survey your business for any suspicious activity or potential security threats.

A&R Security Services can provide your businesses with professional Manned guarding or Mobile security officers. All of our security staff have experience in providing exceptional customer service to our clients. If you would like to know more about our other security services visit our website or give us a call on 01656 713950.

 

Christmas Party, event Security, Cardiff, Event, Security Services, A&R Security Services

Event Security: Does your Christmas party need it?

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We are now officially in the run-up to Christmas. This means that it is acceptable to wear garish Christmas jumpers, sing and play Christmas songs and eat chocolate and mince pies every day!

But, it’s also that time of year where businesses throughout in Cardiff plan their Christmas parties.

According to a poll, 23% of workers have admitted to awkward dancing at the Christmas work party, 20% said they kissed a colleague and 14% admitted to flirting with the boos (bit risky).

While event security guards can’t do much to prevent some dodgy dancing or some office flirting, they can help ensure that your Christmas party goes without a hitch.

So, here is how event security can help keep your Christmas party under control.

Access control

If you are in a venue with multiple events going on, it can be easy for gate-crashers to sneak in posing as your business’ employees and if it’s a large crowd of gate-crashers – it can be a big problem.

Handing over your guest list to event security guards that are stationed in front of doors can ensure that only legitimate employees are allowed inside. Having professional security guards on the door also gives the event organiser more time to mingle with other employees and enjoy themselves – and ensures that the entry process is done in a professional and safe manner.

 

Crime Deterrent

Having event security guards on the door not only means that unwelcomed guests are kept out, but it also invites employees who are in the party to be well behaved and stay out of mischief.

This means that arguments, fights and other disturbances are less likely to occur – and ensures that everyone gets home safely and in one piece. It also means that cloak-room thieves or even other employees are less likely to steal private possessions such as phones, wallets and bags. If they do try, they are more likely to get caught and be dealt with accordingly.

Situation management

In any party, there is always someone looking to push the boundaries when it comes to harmless games and situations can quickly get out of hand. Dancing on tables and building human pyramids could potentially become dangerous (especially with drink involved). However, having a quiet word from a security guard will be enough to bring people back down to earth.

With security guards constantly monitoring what is going on at all times, the chance of any serious accidents is less likely to happen.

 

Emergency liaison

Security guards are fully trained to quickly respond and make decisions in any security incident. If an incident does occur at your Christmas party, security guards will make sure that it is dealt with in an effective and practical manner – this includes notifying the relevant emergency services.

 

We at A&R Security Services can provide effective event security services to corporate events in Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, South Wales and the South West. To find out more about our services call us on 01656 713950 or visit our website.

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

Mobile Security: What is it?

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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.

Trealaw Primary School, Keyholding and alarm response, keyholding, alarm response, Security Services

Trealaw Primary School – Keyholding and alarm response Case Study

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With schools becoming increasing targets for theft and vandalism, it is important for them to be vigilant and have the right security measures in place such keyholding services and alarm response.

So, when an alarm is sounded, it important to have a security provider that can quickly respond and deal with the situation (even if it’s a false alarm).

One school in Rhondda Cynon Taff were having their keyholding services provided by the local authority. Although Trealaw Primary was being provided with keyholding and alarm response services from the local authority, they wanted to see if they could find a security provider that could provide them with an even better service.

As Trealaw primary school were already being provided professional cleaning services from our sister company A&R Cleaning Services, they approached A&R Security Services for a quotation and to find out what other services we provided.

They found our security services to be competitive, but Trealaw Primary also loved the incident reports that they would receive and having the ability to access the client part of our systems.

Within the first week of us taking over the keyholding services, the alarm was sounded, and we attended the site within 30 minutes to find that a pigeon had gotten into the school and had set off the security alarm.

We were able to safely remove the pigeon from the building and provide the school with a full incident report and secured the window in which the pigeon had gotten in. After the incident, Trealaw primary were very impressed with our response time and how we dealt with the incident and look forward to working with us going forward in both cleaning and security.

To find out more about our professional Keyholding and alarm response services take a look at our website or to arrange a free quotation call us on 01656 713950

 

Taxis and Private Hire vehicle, taxi, PHV, Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, Security, Personal Security, Security Services, A&R Security Services

Staying safe in Taxis and private hire vehicles

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Whether it’s travelling to the airport or getting home from a night out in Cardiff, Swansea or Newport, you will most likely hire a taxi. With private hire vehicles such as uber, it is easy to make bookings.

Since 2017 the number of taxis and private hire vehicles increased by 1.7% in England and Wales, which is quite a large increase, as it’s the highest since they were first recorded in 2005.

But like any industry, there is a downside, with crimes in recent years committed by drivers leading to a consultation launch on the taxi and private hire industry in the hope to implement stricter rules on licensing drivers to protect vulnerable people.

If you’re planning to travel by taxi or private hire vehicle, follow some simple tips on how to stay safe.

 

Wait near well-lit areas and CCTV cameras

In the UK, only a small group of licensing authorities require taxis and private hire vehicles to have CCTV installed (however this could change to all taxi’s and PHV’s to require CCTV) Until this new law is put into effect, waiting in Taxi ranks which have CCTV installed will allow people to trace where passengers are being picked up in an event of an emergency situation. Criminals are less likely to target passengers who will have evidence of them being attacked. Also standing in well-lit areas when it is dark will make you more visible to passers-by and to taxi’s/ PHV picking you up

 

Let someone know when you are travelling

Telling someone that you are on your way to meet them, or someone who you have just left will reassure people that you are safe. When travelling, make sure that your phone has enough charge and if it hasn’t, have a portable charger so that you will be able to get in touch with someone in an emergency.

 

Plan your journey

If you are travelling to somewhere that you are unfamiliar, it is best to plan your journey. Outlining your route will give you peace of mind that you will be travelling to your destination in good time and show others that you are safe. Try and familiarise yourself with the location in advance and keep relevant information at hand, including an emergency contact.

Have find my phone installed

Having apps such as Find my phone or find my device will help locate your smartphone if it is lost or stolen. Too often, many people who go on a night out will get into a taxi and realise that their phone is missing. In the UK 183 phones were stolen with the majority being iPhones. So, it may be a good idea to install these apps to trace your phone.

 

Be alert

If you are travelling alone, stay vigilant and aware of your surroundings. If you are on your own trying to travel back at night, hail a taxi in a well-lit area where there is plenty of people and traffic. No matter what, it is important that you are visible to plenty of people so there are witnesses who can help you in an emergency.

If you are in a taxi or a Private Hire Vehicles, check that the direction you’re going in is familiar to you. If it is not, check on maps on your smartphone that you are travelling in the right direction. If you feel that you are in danger, don’t hesitate to ask the driver to stop at the nearest opportunity – if they do not stop, stay calm and call 999.

 

A&R Security Services offer comprehensive security solutions to commercial properties in Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, South Wales and the South West. To find out more about our security solutions visit our website or to arrange a free quotation call us on 01656 713950