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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

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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

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.

 

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.

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

Festive cheer and crime? Protect your business this Christmas

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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

A&R Security Services, Keyholding services, secure keyholding services, Security Services, Keyholding services, keyholding

5 reasons for outsourcing your keyholding responsibilities.

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It’s all well and good giving an extra set of keys to your business either to a close friend or work colleague. But if an alarm goes off in the middle of the night you don’t really want to put them in a potentially dangerous risk (especially if there is a threat still at your business).

Here are five reasons to outsource your keyholding responsibilities:

Staff safety

It is estimated that 5% of out-of-hours alarm calls are a result of a genuine break-in situation. If your keyholder is a work colleague or another member of staff, you are potentially putting them at risk should an intruder still be there.

A recent British crime study (2018) confirms the possible risk. It says that property crime accounts for 70% of crimes committed, of those 22% were deemed violent.

By delegating secure keyholding responsibilities to a third party such as A&R Security Services, you are safeguarding your staff. You are also ensuring that any alarm alerts are responded to by a trained security professional.

Corporate Safety

If your keyholder is a key member of your team they tend to be experienced, trusted and valued employees.  However, if such a person is attacked whilst responding to an alarm call, this can have a massive impact on your business. Having a key member of staff off sick can lead to your business operating ineffectively and that’s before you consider sick pay for their recovery period.

Injury in fulfilling work-related duties (even outside of work hours) could leave your company liable for damages. By outsourcing this responsibility, that risk is reduced.

Doubling up

Normally keyholders are paired up to respond to alarm calls, for reasons of personal safety. In real terms, one keyholder is always going to get there first and respond to the alarm, which can put them at risk. Even with two members of staff, their safety isn’t always guaranteed. After all, there is no way to know how many are involved in the break-in.

With third party keyholding services, key holders are already familiar with the possible risks. They can attend the property as a pair if need be and are fully trained security personnel.

Training

Some keyholders aren’t adequately trained to respond to alarm calls and this doesn’t mean dealing with possible intruders at your business (although that is important). Even switching off and resetting the alarm requires a thorough knowledge of the system.

Team morale

By hiring security professionals to act as your company keyholders you send a clear message to your staff. That message is that you value them and their safety. This can greatly boost employee morale as a whole. For keyholders, even if they don’t encounter a threat, it is a difficult role. False alarms in the middle of the night can be infuriating and disruptive. By outsourcing your keyholding responsibilities you’re showing that you care about your employee’s work/life balance.

 

If you’re a business in Cardiff, Swansea, Newport and Bridgend and in need of keyholder services, then get in touch with us. At A&R Security Services, we provide the best Secure Keyholding Services and Alarm Response. For a free quote call us on 01656 713950 or visit our website for more details.

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

Construction Site Security – Why should you have fully SIA licensed guards on your site?

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Construction sites up and down South Wales can become very easy targets for criminal activity. The construction industry suffers enormous loses as a result of theft of equipment and materials, and damage by arson attacks. It is estimated between £600million and £1billion were lost because of theft alone from construction sites across South Wales and the UK.

A large portion of these losses can be attributed to inefficient or non-existent construction security measures.

Construction sites are easy targets for thieves. Constant staff turnover means it is difficult to keep good construction site security records. High-value equipment such as heavy machinery can lead to quick turnover and easy profits for successful thieves.

Even though construction sites are easy targets for criminals, many sites will contract external security services with fully licensed guards.

So why is it important to have fully licensed SIA security staff?

SIA (Security Industry Association) is an organisation responsible for regulating the private security industry.

Anyone who wants to work in the private security industry must have a full SIA license. Having a full SIA license means that anyone who is a security guard is legally able to work and have the skills and training necessary to operate.

However, fully licensed SIA security guards also require a CSCS Construction Related Occupation (CRO).  The reason why security guards must hold a CSCS card is to show that they can operate safely on a construction site. During day or night patrols, individuals must be aware of specific health and safety risks that are exclusive to a construction site. This is so that a security guard can work safely, efficiently, minimising the possibility of accidents.

SIA Licensed Security guards can perform a range of duties on a construction site including:

·         Manned and Mobile guarding

·         Door/ gate supervision

·         Public Space Supervision (CCTV)

·         Secure Keyholding

Manned / Mobile Security

Having Manned and or Mobile Security is effective at deterring any potential criminal activity. Having security guards not only allows you to place them in areas that are likely to be entered by criminals, but you can also have them patrol the site – covering all areas. This is especially helpful overnight or when the site is unattended for a period of time.  We at A&R Security services can provide manned guarding services to properties that require guarding 24/7, deterring any criminals from attempting to vandalise or steal from your site.

Door/Gate Supervision

Construction sites aren’t just new builds – they can be redevelopments of existing buildings. But these types of construction sites can still be easy targets for criminals. Placing guards in front of gates or doors can help monitor who is coming in and out of your site and watch out for any suspicious vehicles or activity.

Public Space Supervision (CCTV)

CCTV is frequently used by businesses and can be used as an effective deterrent for construction-based crimes. Placing security cameras around the perimeter of your site will discourage criminals but also identify any who try to either enter, vandalise or steal from your site.

CCTV can be an effective way for Security guards to monitor but also rapidly respond to any infiltrations. CCTV can also be used in court to help prosecute any offenders who manage to steal or damage the site.

Secure Key Holding

Although it is very easy to give someone a set of keys to your site in case of an emergency there is no stopping that person from letting anyone into your site and causing criminal damage. Security Guards can hold your keys and quickly respond to any suspicious activity on your site during out of hours. They can also allow trades onto your site and monitor them coming in and out – and can securely lock up your site at the end of the day.

If you are interested in Manned Guarding, Mobile Patrols, Secure Key Holding or other commercial security services please visit our website or call us on 01656 713950

Burglaries, Swansea, Cardiff, Newport, RCT, Bridgend, Security, Commercial Security, A&R Security Services

3 most common types of commercial burglaries in Swansea

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According to recent reports and statistics from Police.uk there were 1,231 burglaries reported in Swansea between August 2018 and July 2019.

Combined with data from You.gov – which shows that burglaries cost small businesses on average £2K and the UK economy over £1.8bn – clearly showing that burglaries present a threat to businesses in Swansea.

In order for business owners to protect their business, staff and assets, it’s important for business owners to understand what they are up against. Knowing what they are up against allows business owners to implement necessary security procedures that will protect their business.

There are three types of commercial burglaries. Here we’ll outline what they are as well as give you tips on how to avoid becoming a target.

Opportunistic Burglaries

These types of burglaries are often carried out on a whim. For example, a potential criminal may notice an open window or door that has been left unlocked. By taking advantage of these lapses in security, an opportunistic burglar will enter your property and steal as much as they can in a short amount of time.

Most of the time, opportunistic burglars will make little to no effort to conceal their presence and avoid detection by alarms or CCTV, and will often enter your property quickly, grab whatever they see and then leave.

Opportunistic burglars are the easiest to prevent. However, within the last year, only 5% of burglaries in the UK were solved by police, indicating that even opportunistic burglars aren’t successful.

In order to prevent opportunistic burglaries:

·         Ensure that doors and windows are closed and locked whenever your premises is unoccupied.

·         Close blinds to ensure burglars can’t see into your property.

·         Lock valuables and important documents in secure lock draws or cabinets

·         Don’t leave cash on your property (if it is un-avoidable keep it in a secure safe)

 

Smash and grab burglaries

Smash and grab burglaries involve criminals using heavy objects to smash windows and gain entry into a property. Occasionally stolen vehicles or heavy machinery are used to ram into shop fronts and help thieves make a quick getaway.

Crimes involving vehicles being used to ram into buildings is often known as ‘Ram Raiding’ and are especially dangerous to the public, to your staff and can be expensive to recover from.

Whether smash and grab burglars use a vehicle or not – Smash and grabs can often occur day or night, usually targeting the front of the building and are often over with within a minute.

To protect yourself from Smash and grabs:

·         Use metal shutters to protect the front of your business.

·         Ensure to use high-density glass on windows and doors throughout the property

·         Position visible CCTV cameras so that you always have a clear view of any large windows or doors.

·         Station security guards at the front of your business.

 

Sophisticated Burglaries

Unlike Opportunistic or smash and grab burglaries, sophisticated burglaries are often undertaken by criminals who observe to minimise their chances of being caught, as well as maximising the amount of time they can spend within your property.

Any criminal looking to undertake a sophisticated burglary will observe you and your staff and spot vulnerable security points that can later be exploited. For example, if your building is unoccupied either overnight or for a couple of days, they may choose these times to act. They may also approach employees in order to get insider information about your alarm system and how it can be deactivated. Alternatively, they purposely set your alarm system off numerous times to stop security guards and police responding to your property’s alarm system (thinking there is a fault).

To avoid becoming a victim here are some tips to help:

·         Hire mobile security guards to patrol the exterior and interior of your property at unscheduled times.

·         Ensure your staff do not give out codes or security information – regularly change your alarm codes.

·         Respond to all alarm soundings – no matter if it is a fault with the system or a purposeful activation

·         Hire manned security to guard your property overnight and over weekends

·         Monitor CCTV footage to see if anyone is spending time outside observing your property for long periods of time or approaching employees.

A&R Security Services provides professional security services in Swansea including manned guarding, mobile security, alarm installation and monitoring, and secure key holding services. If you would like to know more about our services call us on 01656 713950 or visit our website for more details.

A&R Security Services, A&R Security, Security, Mobile Security, Mobile Patrols, Security Services, Cardiff, RCT, Newport, Bridgend, Swansea

Benefits of having A&R Mobile Security Guards

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Businesses in South Wales and the South West are constantly under threat from criminals and so installing or implementing strong security is an effective way at dissuading criminals from attempting to cause a crime at your business.  One strategy that can dissuade criminals from your property is mobile security guards.

Mobile security guards are an effective way of dissuading criminals from attempting to cause a crime at your business – Whether that is on one or multiple sites. Unlike manned guarding, mobile security can perform regularly scheduled or un-scheduled checks on the entirety of your property. This makes mobile guards perfect for shopping centres, rural businesses, industrial estates and large industrial units.

Here we’ll be highlighting key benefits that come with having Mobile Security Guards.

Strong Visible Presence

When protecting your business, you want criminals to know that it is effectively secured and protected. Uniformed mobile security guards can give a strong presence and warning to whoever is scoping out your business.

24/7 Monitoring

Mobile security guards can operate at any time of the day. But most criminals like to operate under the cover of darkness to avoid being spotted. By ensuring your property is being monitored regularly it will make it more difficult for criminals to get at your property.

Rapid Response

As mobile security guards are not fixed to one position they need to quickly respond to any emergency – whether that is an alarm sounding, an intruder caught on CCTV or guards getting notified of suspicious behaviour.  For them to quickly respond to any emergency, a good mobile patrol team will ensure that they are always either on-site or in close proximity to it throughout the duration of their shift. Mobile Security will also record any incidents in logbooks, detailing any security events, so that you have a record of what has happened.

Health and Safety Skills

If there is a medical emergency or a fire, having first aid and fire safety trained mobile security guards will be beneficial. If any of your employees or visitors become unwell, if a fire breaks out or there are a health and safety issues – a patrol officer knows how to deal with the situation in a rapid and professional manner.

Internal Patrols

Mobile Security can patrol your property externally, but they can also patrol internally. They can monitor and patrol areas of your building such as warehouses, rooms that contain valuables, corridors and stairways.  While patrolling they can remove any health and safety hazards and ensure emergency exits are clear of any clutter and debris.

Keyholding

Alongside patrols, monitoring and H&S skills, Mobile security guards can offer secure key holding services. If your business has work scheduled to be carried out after working hours or you have early/late deliveries, mobile security can allow them into your property but also monitor who is coming in and out of your building. Also, if your alarm system goes off, mobile security can enter your property and check for any suspicious behaviour.

Here at A&R Security Services, we offer professional Mobile Security Guards to businesses across South Wales and the South West. To find out more about our services call us on 01656 713950 or visit our website.