There is no-one with more responsibility at any business, construction site, or major event than security guards.
They must ensure the safety of the property and people they are charged with protecting whilst always acting with the utmost professionalism.
Reputable security companies are putting their reputation on the line every time they provide a security guard for any job and as such will only hire the very best.
Prime Secure have been one of the UK’s leading providers of security officers for over 25 years but exactly what qualities are essential to becoming a great security guard?
Awareness
The best security guards are always alert and observing their surroundings for suspicious behaviour or potential incidents.
Losing their concentration for even a moment could cause their employees, property or staff to come to harm.
Security guards should not only be aware of the behaviour of the people in their immediate surroundings but also analyse the property itself for potential weaknesses.
When conducting their patrols, officers should always be observing their surroundings to identify and access points which are not well secured and that an intruder could target.
They will also check for any areas which are not covered by CCTV, or which require more lighting at night and make extensive and informed recommendations on how their employer can maximise their security.
As a leading provider of bespoke CCTV systems Prime Secure’s security staff are all trained to utilise CCTV to maximise the effectiveness of their protection services and to help them respond quicker to incidents.
Strong morals
Security guards must balance being a powerful figure deterring criminals with being an approachable and personable presence when in employment.
It is the fundamental duty of security guards to act in the best interests of their employers and their employers’ customers.
They must not disclose any personal or confidential information that they may handle during their time in a post and must not let personal opinions or prejudice affect their professionalism.
A security guard’s uniform should inspire confidence and trust in staff and members of the public, and as a guard you should always be working to earn that trust.
As such they should remain courteous and respectful when carrying out their duties even in face of rude behaviour or confrontation.
All Prime Secure’s SIA accredited guards are fully trained in crowd management and conflict resolution so they will stay calm at all times in high emotion situations and always look for a peaceful solution whenever possible.
Fitness
Being a security guard is a challenging and physically demanding job.
Good security staff will keep themselves in good shape at all times with regular exercise to ensure they are prepared for whatever comes their way.
If a guard is unfit, then they may not be able to perform essential duties like pursuing criminals and breaking up fights.
It is also important that a guard is strong in stature in order to act as a deterrent to criminals, so being out of shape physically is really not an option.
Just as physical health is important, a great security guard needs to be in top shape mentally to perform to a high standard.
Security guards are often the face of a business, manning the front desk, checking credentials, and being available and approachable should an emergency situation arise.
They, therefore, need to be polite and know exactly where to direct people in emergencies, as well as needing to memorise extensive security protocols so they are primed to react to any eventuality.
Communication Skills
Good communication is vital to success in any role which involves working with people.
For security guards being able to be gracious and respectful is essential when dealing with situations which could easily escalate into a violent incident.
Good written communication skills are also very important for guards who will have to provide detailed reports on any incident of note that took place whilst they were on duty.
Their employees may also request an analysis of how they can improve their security systems and any weaknesses that the guard has noticed during his patrols.
Prime Secure’s SIA accredited security guards undergo extensive training to ensure they possess these qualities and many more.
As a UK wide company, who has been providing professional security guards for over 25 years, we have a national reach backed by the local knowledge of our operatives who are always on hand to fulfil all your security needs.
Prime Secure can have SIA licensed and highly trained security guards deployed to your site rapidly. Whichever type of security guard you are looking for, Prime Secure is ready for your call on 0345 88 88 333.