Knife Crime Epidemic makes Security Guards more necessary than ever
All UK Police forces have recorded a clear rise in knife crime from 2011. From March 2018 to March 2019, there were 43,516 knife crime offences, the highest number since knife crime data was compiled and an 80% increase from a March 2014, where there had been 23,945 from the past 12 months.
Within these figures from 2019, about half, 21,700, were assaults with intent to cause serious harm or resulted in an injury; the other majority of 20,172 involved robberies. This begs the question what do businesses need to do to secure their property, staff and customers from knife crime?
What should businesses be adding to their security plan?
Supermarkets, retail shops and banks are the typical targets that people assume criminals will commit theft from. But it’s not just goods that criminals will now target to achieve their objective, as clear from the statistics.
Guarding security such as static security guards is one effective safety measure that would help secure business and reduce the opportunity for theft or assault with the use of a knife.
Digital approach must also be considered with security measures such as CCTV monitoring.
Perimeter security must be considered as well, knife detection is possible with metal detection on door-ways.
This graph, sourced from the Home Office and BBC, demonstrates the total knife offences in England and Wales over 12 months from March 2018 to March 2019.
What BGB can offer
Boundary Gate and Barrier division has a dedicated team of skilled and experienced individuals and a reputation for knowledge and expertise in Perimeter Security systems. Perimeter security measures include; fencing, gates, barriers, turnstiles and metal detectors. Which is just a few options that businesses should make use of to be safe against the rising tide of knife crime.
BGB gives you the power of access control, to ensure no unauthorised people enter your property. By using BGB’s security solutions it will significantly increase the time it would take for a criminal to enter your property. In combination, with metal detectors it will assure your safety by preventing people being on the premises with a weapon, knife or otherwise. All our perimeter security measures are constantly evolving and improving to maintain their effectiveness against new crime waves.
All products can be bespoke designed, installed and maintained to fit your unique specification. We pride ourselves on offering the highest level of service and support always. BGB also maintain a 24/7 manned Service Desk for all call outs and the dispatching of our national team of trained engineers to wherever the customer needs, we know crime doesn’t tend to happen in office hours. More information on BGB can be found here.
What ARK can offer
ARK (Alarm Response and Keyholding), specialise in providing professional keyholding and alarm response services across the UK, to secure your home or business and ensure the safety of your family and staff.
Alarms are the natural first line of defence on properties against crime. If activated ARK will send a response officer to arrive in minutes and execute the appropriate actions to secure your building if an intruder with a weapon is present. Security guards are also available temporarily or on a permanent basis to help identify potential threats like criminals carrying weapons and are trained to act accordingly.
ARK is accredited by the Security Industry Authority (SIA), the organisation responsible for regulating the private security industry. It manned guarding (including security guarding, door supervision, close protection, cash and valuables in transit, and public space surveillance using CCTV), key holding and vehicle immobilising. This accreditation ensures the security operatives ARK is using are effectively trained and qualified to do the job.
To read more on ARK, click here.
What VRC can offer
In addition, to ARK and security guards, Video Receiving Centre Monitoring Solutions (VRC) also offers reactive CCTV monitoring, iLocate (GPS asset tracking), call handling & visually verified alarms. Their brand new Calipsa CCTV software has the capability to reduce false alarms by over 80%, by being able to differentiate between true security threats and otherwise. This can better support your business and staff by streamlining the process of alarm filtering and make your premises more secure from the increasing rise in knife crime.
VRC holds an accreditation by the National Security Inspectorate (NSI). This ensures VRC regularly audited to maintain a high-quality security service. NSI approved companies have the reassurance that their contractors will work to the highest industry standards demanded by the Police, Fire and Rescue Services and the insurance industry.
More details on VRC can be found here.
Benefits
Peace of Mind
The presence of a security guard on business premises can give the business owner, employees and any customers a feeling of safety.
Employees that work in a high-risk criminal target environment are shown to be more productive when a security guard is present, as it reduces anxiety over their personal safety. Security guards on premises are also shown to improve business to customer relationships, by showing a customer the business wants to ensure their safety and have taken measures to ensure they stay safe.
It is a Deterrent
The visual of a security guard, without them necessarily doing anything, serves as a warning for criminals and can deter them from attempting to commit a crime on the premises. Effectively trained security guards are well equipped to continually look for suspicious activity and assess the appropriate action. A guard in addition to correctly installed and functioning CCTV, would be a serious deterrent to reduce knife and other crimes on premises. Thieves are wising up to a lot of the familiar methods of security therefore, the visual of CCTV alone, when not fully functioning, is no longer enough to prevent crime.
An Effective Marketing Tool
The presence of security guard reduces customer safety concerns when visiting a business, making it more likely that customers will revisit, spend money and spread positive word of mouth to friends and family about the business.
Additionally, security guards can also be used to improve customer service. Dependent on the business a guard may work the front desk, control the access to the business, provide help to people searching for a product or right part of the business and aiding customers and employees to get to the car park if they leave at night time.
In these instances, a business should ensure the security guard employed is friendly, customer-orientated and can give employees the right protection. All these factors can be incorporated into internal and external marketing strategies, by increasing employee happiness it will feed into customer perception of the business.
Their Job Description
Contingent on business requirements for a security guard, they can be trained to varying levels to dealing with crime. This can range from making note of suspicious activity and relaying this to the local Police to detaining a suspect of their own accord. If it’s a high-risk business, containing sensitive information or highly valuable items this may affect the number of security guards required. This will also affect procedures for dealing with a criminal carrying a knife or otherwise, which should be agreed before putting the guards on their post.
The Modern Age
With the ever-increasing use of technology in day to day life, they are now trained to do much more than patrol properties. They can monitor CCTV and other video surveillance equipment, check credentials of visitors and employees and search for any unauthorised objects entering the building. Businesses should assess their individual needs against the benefits of having a security guard before introducing them into a security plan.
About ARK
Alarm Response and Keyholding is part of the Asset Protection Group and we specialise in providing professional keyholding and alarm response services across the UK. Securing your home or business to ensure the safety of your family and staff. We have been providing keyholding and guarding services since 1982. Because we take the responsibility for responding to out of hours of alarm activations. As well as securing sites on behalf of owners with fully licensed SIA security officers.
About VRC
VRC offers bespoke monitoring solutions because we want to protect people, property and peace of mind across the UK and Ireland. As a result of our state of the art, Remote Video Response Centre (RVRC) in Yate. VRC’s highly experienced team work night and day to ensure your people and property are protected. Our facility is an NSI Gold, Category II RVRC offering a range of services.
About BGB
Established in 2007 Boundary Gate and Barrier Contracts dedicated team of skilled and experienced individuals have quickly established an impressive national customer base and an enviable reputation for knowledge and expertise in the application of Perimeter Security systems. Our mission is to provide you with a reliable, honest, cost-effective service and we are dedicated to giving you, our customers, the highest level of service and support at all times. Boundary Gate and Barrier Contracts is part of APG.
About APG
The Asset Protection Group comprises a group of Fire & Security companies with shared ownership and one common goal, protecting your most important assets. As a collective group, we look to offer protection to your assets to assist you with your ongoing success within your own business.