Posts

beauty spots, staycation, staycationers, littering, bad behavior, illegal camping, security, gwynedd, snowdonia, snowdonia national park

Do our welsh beauty spots need security?

/0 Comments/in /by

Wales, it’s a small country but it has its fair share of beauty spots. With the natural beauty spots such as the Pembrokeshire coast, Gower Peninsula, and Brecon Beacons National Park drawing tens of thousands of visitors each year.

However, in March of this year, many of them closed themselves off from the public following the Coronavirus pandemic and welsh government and national lockdown rules. Now Wales has relaxed lockdown rules, many of our coast’s, paths and nationals’ parks have once again re-opened and welcomed tourists back with open arms.

But welcoming tourists back with open arms hasn’t been smooth sailing for some especially for Snowdonia National park. Since the relaxation of the lockdown rules the National Park has experienced high levels of littering, bad behaviour and illegal camping and has resorted to them employing security to monitor activity and prevent the tension between tourists and locals rising further over the bank holiday weekend.

Illegal camping, Beauty spots, Security, Security Services

And this isn’t the only case of ‘Staycationers’ littering and illegally camping in beauty spots. Balmoral estate in Scotland and the Lake District have also been hit – with balmoral seeing increasing numbers of camping equipment and even human waste being left behind and the Lake District cleaning up mountains of litter.

To curb the number of tourists littering and illegally camping within the Snowdonia National Park, Gwynedd Council have employed a security firm to patrol areas within Snowdonia national park (Parc Padarn Country Park in Llanberis and beaches including Morfa Bychan and Abersoch). The security firm has been commissioned to conduct patrols out of normal operating hours, ensuring that visitors to the area, respect the rules in place.

But are our beauty spots soon to be patrolled by security guards?

Gwynedd Council has been the only local authority to announce that they are employing security over the bank holiday to ensure that tourist’s within the area remain responsible and no further damage is being caused. However, with other beauty spots such as the Queen’s Balmoral Estate and the Lake District coming under increasing ‘attack’ from irresponsible tourists, seeing security patrolling and enforcing rules could become the norm.

What do you think? Will we be seeing more security in our beauty spots?

For more information about our mobile patrol services and how we can keep your beauty spots safe from irresponsible tourists visit our website or give us a call on 01656 713950.

Retail worker, violent and abusive behavior, COVID-19, Coronavirus, Pandemic, Lockdown

COVID-19: Is violence against retail workers getting worse?

/0 Comments/in /by

When we think about those working through the pandemic, many think about the NHS staff, police force, fire, and ambulance services. But there are one group of key workers who have been vital in keeping Wales and the rest of the UK going and that are retail workers.

However, since the start of the lockdown in March, there has been increasing reports of retail workers receiving violent and abusive behaviour from customers. In response to this increase in violent behaviour, one supermarket chain Co-op announced that they were going to supply frontline staff who worked at 250 stores with body cameras.

The issue surrounding retail workers becoming victims of violent and abusive behaviour is one that has been around for years. But has the recent COVID-19 pandemic caused this sort of behaviour to increase? And is there anything being done to help protect retail workers?

In a recent article from ITV Wales, it mentioned that violent and abusive behaviour more than doubled during the pandemic, with the USDAW (a union representing welsh shop workers) calling for a law to protect retail workers from such behaviour.

Many retail workers who worked at supermarkets and other retailers felt anxious returning to work in fear that they would either be spat at, coughed or sneezed in response to them asking for customers to socially distance – as well as being pushed and verbally abused when enforcing buying limits on in-demand goods or being unable to issue returns on goods.

The USDAW conducted a survey and found that 1 in 6 shop workers were being abused on every shift and well over half (62%) of 5,000 workers surveyed said they experienced verbal abuse since the start of the pandemic. Whilst a third had been threatened by a customer and 4% had been assaulted.

One retail worker who took part in the USDAW survey said “I had never cried in work until the first week of the lockdown. I received constant abuse from nearly every customer during one shift when the rules were changed so that we couldn’t accept returns. I finally broke when one woman refused to leave the store and insulted me and berated me for not doing the return.

“The following day a man was very aggressive towards me for the same reason and I could visibly see him twitching in a way that suggested he was about to become violent. My job has become emotionally draining and it is really starting to affect my mental health.”

When averaged across the entire retail sector of 3 million workers, it showed that 3,500 workers were assaulted every day over a 34day period.

So what action is being taken to ensure the safety of retail workers?

The government has set out plans to crack down on the violent and abusive behaviour the retailers face on a daily basis. This included working alongside the National Retail Crime Steering Group (NRCSG) on best-practise guide to help support shop workers report acts of violent and abusive behaviour, strengthening and making full use of existing laws, and improving data sharing between businesses and the police.

However, there is opposition out there who think that the government’s plans aren’t enough to protect retail staff effectively. The BRC and Association of stores have both criticised the home office for not seeking to introduce specific and harsher offences to those attacking shop workers. ACS’s CEO said, ‘Warm words and working groups aren’t enough; we need tougher penalties for attacks on shopworkers and more police resources to stamp out violence”.

If your retail staff have been a victim of abusive and violent behaviour before and during the pandemic, then speak to us about our effective retail security solutions. Our manned guards hold full SIA licenses and are fully trained to act accordingly to protect your retail staff from abusive and violent customers. To learn more about how we can help take a look at our website here or get in touch with us on 01656 713950.

Vehicle theft, theft, vehicle crime, manned guards, mobile patrols, security services, A&R Security services

Did you know that a vehicle is stolen every 9 minutes in the UK?

/0 Comments/in /by

Across England and Wales, it’s been largely reported that vehicle thefts are on the increase – with reports saying vehicle theft rising by a fifth over the past three years. With vehicle

Last year the DVLA reported that 56,288 vehicles were targeted by thieves last year. That number of vehicles stolen equated to one being stolen every 9 minutes or 154 vehicles being stolen every day.

Which vehicle is stolen the most?

One leasing company (Rivervale leasing) conducted their own investigation and looked at a decade of government data and found that Ford Fiestas were the most targeted vehicle – with 2,384 being stolen last year. They also listed Range Rover, Volkswagen Golf, Ford Focus and BMW 3 series being on the top 10 list for most stolen vehicles in the UK (you can see the full list here)

Premium cars are the most targeted vehicles to be stolen and out of every 5 cars stolen, only two are returned to their owners – with 75% of them being damaged and 22% of them being completely written off.

And it’s not just the vehicles that criminals are targeting, it’s also their parts. With the recent lockdown, many manufacturers of car parts had stopped operations amid worries about their staff safety, leading to a gap in the market for vehicle thieves to target cars for their parts.

Rivervale Leasing found that 34.7% of popular items stolen are exterior fittings such as bumpers, lights, and grills, with 16.5% of electrical equipment being stolen, other vehicle parts being 9.5% and wheels being 2.2%.

Also, recent reports have revealed that there has been an increase in the number of catalytic converters being stolen – with 1,000 being stolen each month in places like London. Insurers have also seen a 600% increase in claims involving catalytic converters – costing an average of £1,000 per claim.

It’s not just a financial impact

Having a vehicle stolen doesn’t just cause a financial impact on a person or business, it can also affect the owner’s mentality with 84% of drivers saying that they have been emotionally affected by their vehicle being stolen.

But is it just personal vehicles being targeted?

No, it’s not just personal vehicles that are being targeted, commercial vehicles are too. Parkers (a van distributor) conducted their own research and found that between 2015-19 van thefts increased by 45% with 10,000 van thefts in 2018/19. During lockdown many abandoned or closed offices, factories or construction sites have also been targets for theft- with construction sites seeing a 50% surge in criminal activity.

Is it opportunist or organised criminal behaviour?

Both. Although many personal vehicles are victims of opportunistic thefts, many vehicles that are kept within compounds such as a construction site, fleet yards or car showrooms are victims of more organised crime (due to security measures). You can see our blog on Car Showroom security here.

So, what steps can you take to ensure the safety of your vehicles?

CCTV:

Many businesses like yours would have CCTV in place to monitor the perimeter of your business but they can only see so far. If you have vehicles that are parked in front or a parked in a compound close by, it is worth investing in further CCTV to ensure that blind spots are covered and you or your security staff can easily monitor and look out for any suspicious activity close by.

Vehicle tracking:

If you have multiple vehicles within your business, installing vehicle tracking allows you to track and monitor their location. So, if a vehicle is stolen from your property or whilst out on-site, it can be easy for you or the police to track its location and apprehend the thieves.

Perimeter fencing and gates

Whether you park your vehicles outside your building or in a compound close by, having perimeter fencing and gates will provide extra protection for your vehicles. However, it is important to choose sturdy fencing and gates as some fencing and gates can become easily damaged by criminals trying to get in.

Invest in physical security

To some physical security guards can seem like an expensive investment but actually it can save you money in the long run. Outsourcing your physical security to us means that you don’t have costly uniform, training or vetting fees to look at and allows you to get on and run your business, whilst we effectively protect your business and your vehicles with our manned guards and mobile patrols.

Manned guards:

Although having manned guards to protect your work vehicles may seem excessive to some, they are an effective way to deter criminals. Manned guards can be used to monitor CCTV camera’s 24/7 for any activity close to your business or vehicles and quickly respond to any disturbances of any attempts to damage or steal your vehicles. Manned guards can also be placed in front of main gates to monitor activity coming in and out of your property or vehicle compound, ensuring that only authorised personnel are allowed access to your vehicles.

Mobile patrols:

Mobile patrols are another effective deterrent against criminals and compliment our manned guarding services. Whereas manned guards can be used to monitor activity via CCTV or being stationed by main gates and access points, mobile patrols guards can patrol single or multiple areas – depending on the size of your property – at regular or irregular intervals and can quickly respond to any disturbances that are located at a different location.

Both our physical guard services can greatly benefit your business and are effective deterrents against criminals looking to target your vehicles.

To find out more about our manned guards, mobile patrols services or any other security services then visit our website here or give us a call on 01656 713950 to arrange a meeting.

re-opening, Security, lockdown, crime risk, business security, keyholding, mobile patrols, a&R Security Services

Can re-opening your business from ‘lockdown’ put you at risk of crime?

/0 Comments/in /by

Many businesses like yourself will be looking forward to re-opening your doors after months of lockdown. But besides ensuring that your staff and your customers stay safe when open, there are a few security risks that you need to consider when re-opening your business after lockdown.

Here are a few security risks that you need to consider:

Forgetful staff

We all know how easy it is to forget something when we haven’t done it for a long time, and this can be said for staff who have been furloughed. Some of your staff would have spent almost 10 weeks inside their homes and 10 weeks is a long time if your staff haven’t anything to keep their brains stimulated.

So, when staff return to work, it can be difficult for them to return back to their normal routine in work and can lead them to forget to close windows, doors, reset alarm codes or lock up. Leaving your building unknowingly vulnerable to criminal attacks.

To avoid your business becoming vulnerable at the end of the day due to forgetful staff invest in our professional key holding services. Our guards can conduct internal checks to ensure that all areas of your building is secure and can lock up when all of your staff have left for the day.

 Increased stock levels

You will most probably agree that lockdown has been playing on your nerves and you’re excited to get your business open once again. And you know what this means? Stock can be ordered; goods can be stored, and shipments can be made up for clients. However, with these increased levels of stock being left overnight or a large influx of deliveries, these can put your business at risk. Whether you have a warehouse or store full of stock our professional security guards can patrol your business 24 hours a day, 7 days a week ensuring that no unauthorised personal trespass onto your site.

Boundaries

As mentioned, 10 weeks is a long time for businesses to be closed and over those weeks, your business’ external boundaries could have been damaged by those attempting to trespass, compromising its integrity and effectiveness at keeping trespassers out. Before you open your business, conduct a patrol around the perimeter of your business, taking note of any damages or potential areas that could be exploited by criminals looking to target your business.

One way you can maintain your perimeter security is investing in our professional mobile guards. Our professional mobile guards can conduct regular or irregular patrols around the perimeter of your business looking out for any damages to your boundary fencing or suspicious individuals.

For more information about our professional security services and how they can help keep your business security when re-opening then take a look here or to arrange a free quote call us on 01656 713950.

Has lockdown reduced crime rates in Cardiff?

/0 Comments/in /by

Right now, lockdown and social distancing have become the new norm.  But, with the recent relaxations in lockdown rules here in Wales and in Cardiff, there are more people walking the streets and businesses are beginning to welcome back staff and re-open their doors to the public (all the while maintaining social distancing rules).

However, if you looked at the streets in Cardiff Central or the large towns in the surrounding areas a few months ago, you would have seen them empty with a few people or vehicles going by. So, it would be easy to assume that with the lockdown measures in place crimes rates would have fallen. Right?

Well to answer that question we did a little comparison of the Crime Rates in both Cardiff Central and Cardiff County over a period of 6 months (3 months before and 3 months during lockdown).

Overall Crime Rates in Cardiff Central

February 2020 March 2020 April 2020
1,617 1,460 1,219
November 2019 December 2019 January 2020
1,458 1,518 1,453

 

Overall Crime Rates in Cardiff County

February 2020 March 2020 April 2020
3,907 3,641 4,152
November 2019 December 2019 January 2020
3,769 3,688 3,863

 

Compared to November’s recorded crime rate in Cardiff Central, February had the highest recorded number of crimes with it steadily decreasing in April by 16.1%. However, with April having the lowest number of recorded crimes out of the months spanning from November 2019 to March 2020 it had the highest number of anti-social behaviour reports at 533 (increasing by 87.7%).

However, the statistics for Cardiff County paint a very different picture with crimes rates being significantly higher in April compared to the 3 months during and before lockdown. With Anti-social behaviour being the highest recorded crime at 2,019 reports.

Normally Anti-social behaviour relates to youths either loitering, fighting, making loud noise or other behaviour but it also involves in the trespassing and the damaging of properties – which can cost struggling businesses thousands to put right.

So these statistics show that even with the stricter lockdown rules in place for the public’s safety, there were still a high number of crimes committed in Cardiff Central and in the county – which begs the question should you be investing more heavily in your security now?

We say yes.

Right now lockdown rules are beginning to relax and we are seeing more people walking around and travelling which increases the risk of businesses becoming targets for more damaging crimes – which can be devastating for businesses who are currently struggling during this difficult time.

One way you can deter criminals from targeting your business is investing in our professional Manned Guarding and Mobile patrols. You may be thinking having guards to protect your business may seem excessive, but they are the perfect solution to give your security that physical presence.

Manned Guards

If you are looking for a more fixed physical presence for your security during lockdown, then our manned guards are the perfect solution. All of our staff are fully trained in customer services and are SIA licensed to operate and provide security services and can work in shift patterns allowing your businesses to be protected 24/7 365days a year.

Depending on your business or premises our professional manned guards can be stationed by main entrances or main gates to monitor who is entering or exiting your building and turn away anyone who may be acting suspiciously or in a threatening manner. If you need secure keyholding our manned guards can hold onto a set of keys for your business, allowing contractors, tradesmen, authorised staff, and emergency services to enter your building. They can also be used as concierge, providing customer service to your staff and visitors, answering queries and monitoring CCTV for any suspicious activity or damages (such as leaking pipes, etc)

Mobile Patrols

If you are a business that is located in a remote location, a large area or are spread over multiple sites then having mobile patrols is the perfect solution.

All of our Mobile patrol vehicles are fully branded and show criminals that you take the security of your business seriously. Our mobile guards can conduct regular patrols at a time that is suited to you or if you want to make the patrols less predictable then we can have our mobile guards conduct patrols at irregular times. Alongside conducting patrols around your property, we can create electronic check-in points for our guards to check-in so that you know that your business is being patrolled and is secure. Very much like our manned guarding services our mobile patrols can act as secure key holders, allowing contractors, authorised personnel or emergency services into your business and quickly respond to any alarm call-outs.

But not only do these two security services give your business a more physical security presence, it also showcases to staff that when they return to work that you take their safety seriously and you have taken steps.

Throughout lockdown, we have been providing effective and professional security solutions to businesses across South Wales including a large office block within Cardiff Central. Although the building saw a large number of their occupants leaving at the beginning of lockdown to work from home, our professional manned guards continued to provide our security services. To ensure that the building was secure throughout the day and evening our manned guards worked in shift patterns, providing concierge services to those visiting the business, monitoring CCTV for any suspicious activity, and quickly responding to any alarms and alerts.  Giving the building manager and owner peace of mind that their building was in safe and capable hands.

For more information about our Manned guarding, mobile patrols, concierge services and key holding visit our website or to arrange a free quote call us on 01656 713950

Office, lock down, staff, return to work, Cardiff, A&R Security Services, Security Services, Office Security, Coronavirus, Healthcare, schools, industrial, retail

Security, Social Distancing, Crowd Control oh my!

/0 Comments/in /by

Lockdown has been a worrying and uneasy time for businesses across South Wales, with many having to furlough staff and close their doors for which could be the final time.

But with the Welsh Government slowly relaxing lockdown rules, many businesses across South Wales will see this as an opportunity to get staff back in work and begin the process of returning to normal operations.

However, even with plans for staff to return and businesses returning to normal operations, it is important for you to do this safely and at the right time, ensuring that strict social distancing measures are still being followed to keep everyone safe.

This means that you should be planning for the safety of your staff, visitors, and reputation to avoid any costly and potentially devastating mistakes. If you haven’t already thought or considered a security presence at your business, thinking all security guards do is simply patrol at night in industrial estates, you couldn’t be more wrong.

Just as your business has had to change adapt to the changing environment, so have we and there are several ways a trained and specialised security presence could benefit your business.

1.      Social Distancing and Security

Although lockdown procedures are relaxing social distancing rules are very much still in place. Our Security officers are trained to maintain social distancing measures and understand the increased risks that lockdown may have caused to your business. Our professional security guards can assist with the monitoring of people allowed within your building and can have security officers inside to keep your staff and customers safe. This may include guiding people to follow your one-way system and managing some individual who don’t follow guidelines.

2.      Crowd Control

For businesses in the retail industry during lockdown queues outside as become the new norm, with many setting strict 2-metre guidelines. For supermarkets and smaller local businesses, this many see an increase in crowds at peak times (especially around lunchtime) and these will need to be managed.

Having security guards at your business acts as an incredible deterrent to unfavourable behaviour and can support social distancing measures too.

3.      Traffic Control

Many popular fast-food restaurants are implementing drive-thru services and at peak times this could mean large queues of traffic. Maintaining good traffic flow within and outside of the restaurants’ premises, assisting with any parking or one-way systems and being highly trained in de-escalating any potentially heated outbursts, our security guards can be a welcomed addition in these difficult times.

 

If you are looking for quality professional security solutions for your business during these uncertain times please give get in touch with us here or visit our website for further details.

Construction, Lockdown, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Construction Security Services, A&R Security Services

Lockdown: How to protect your Construction Site

/0 Comments/in /by

Those who work within the construction industry know that there are high levels of crime, with many reporting theft and vandalism on a regular basis. However, with only essential construction being carried out during the Coronavirus outbreak, many sites across Cardiff, Newport, Swansea and the UK have had to temporarily close their gates – leaving them vulnerable to criminal activity.

A survey carried out by the CIOB (Chartered Institute of Building) reported that 92% of sites claim to be affected by crime with a further 21% of sites saying that they are stolen from on a regular basis. These figures are often attributed to high staff turnover, poor record-keeping and poor security measures.

However, there are some cost-effective security measures that you can implement to boost your construction sites security during these difficult times.

Risk Assessment

Before spending vast amounts of money to improve your construction sites security it is best to have a risk assessment carried out by a professional security provider. This will help you identify which areas will need security, which areas will need improvement and ensure that your security is covering all possible areas of weakness on your site.

Construction Security

Professional Security providers like ourselves will provide professional construction security services to sites. But to many sites construction security is a little bit of an unknown, with many site owners not really knowing what it is or what it does.

Construction Security is an umbrella term and usually entails services such as:

  • CCTV monitoring
  • Alarm response
  • Manned Guards and Mobile Patrols
  • Access Control
  • Secure Keyholding

Construction Security is very good for covering all aspects of security and can be easily tailored to suit your site’s needs while it is temporarily closed.

Alongside having construction security for your site there are a few other measures that can be implemented to give you tighter security.

Create and maintain an up-to-date log

Whether your site is on a small scale or large scale, you will have materials, equipment and possibly vehicles left on site (preferably secured). However, there are employees or criminals that will take advantage of the fact that your site is temporarily closed and will take this opportunity to steal anything that they can get their hands on.

Creating and maintaining an up-to-date log of materials, equipment and vehicles will help you keep track of what is and isn’t onsite – allowing you to quickly respond and report anything stolen. After all emergency services such as the police have a better chance at returning stolen good when they are reported missing quickly.

Have a clear zone around your perimeter

Fencing is a very basic security measure to keep trespassers off your site. However, if your fencing is close to the perimeter of your site this will make it very easy for criminals to sneak in and out of your site without anyone noticing.

When installing fencing on your site, ensure that it is a couple of meters away from the site itself. This will make it harder for criminals to sneak onto your site and easier for you, your guards or CCTV to spot them trespassing onto your site. It also makes it difficult for criminals to see what is actually stored on your site.

Mark Equipment

Equipment such as mini diggers, generators, heavy tools and other equipment can be very easy targets and are often stolen and quickly sold on. Engraving marks on your equipment will make them less likely to be stolen and if they are, they are easily recognisable.

Most tools on construction sites are metal so engraving certain numbers, your company logo or symbol will easily deter thieves. Engraving tools are cheap, readily available and easy to use, but the amount of money and time they will save you could be substantial. Some tools are interchangeable or can be broken down for easier transportation so make sure to engrave multiple areas.

Reduce access points

If you have a reduced team of workers working during your lockdown, then you may want to reduce the number of access points you have. This allows you or your security team to easily track who is coming in and out of your site and also ensure that your workers aren’t able to sneak off-site with valuable materials or equipment through another gate on site.

Reducing the number of access points make your perimeter stronger but your main access points (main gates) are still vulnerable. Placing CCTV camera’s, security lights and manned guards at your main access points will reduce the chances of someone attempting to get onto your site illegally.

If you are interested in our Construction Security Services then please visit our website for more information or contacts us on 01656 713950 to arrange a free quotation.

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

/0 Comments/in /by

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