Can a security officer follow me? Will robots replace security guards? We answer some more of the top questions about the security industry.
Last year we answered some of the top questions about security guards. It was one of our most popular blogs. So here we’ve tried to answer even more of the most popular questions about the security industry.
What are a security guard’s responsibilities?
Security guards are responsible for the safety of the assets of an organisation they are representing. For example, protecting a business’ staff, property and possessions. This includes monitoring business premises to prevent theft or discourage other illegal activities, such as vandalism.
Why are security guards required?
As police numbers fall, security officers are becoming increasingly important.
Able to respond quickly following an alarm activation, security officers can often be the first on the scene following an incident. They are also best placed to implement preventative measures.
Following an incident, security guards are then trained to collaborate with the police force, as and when required. An example of this is the Police and Security Group Initiative, which aims to increase partnerships between the police and private security providers.
It also allows low level policing tasks to be outsourced to private security firms.
Roles such as town warden or ranger are replacing traditional bobbies on the beat. They provide a uniformed presence on our streets and are able to provide first aid and assist when a crime has been committed.
Can security guards follow you?
Security officers have no additional rights over ordinary citizens. However, they may choose to follow you should they believe a crime may be committed. In a retail environment, a citizen’s arrest can be made if there is evidence that an offence has been committed. To catch someone in the act, some kind of surveillance will probably have been employed.
On a business premises, a security officer may follow someone trespassing on the site and may ask them to leave. To prevent a crime, they may physically block a member of the public’s path, unless that path leads to the exit. They may also escort someone off-site.
Are security guards drug tested?
It is down to the individual company whether they randomly drug test their staff. However, all security officers working in the private security industry must be licenced by the SIA. In order to obtain SIA licensing, applicants must pass a criminal record check. So any previous convictions may be taken into consideration.
Will robots replace security guards?
Artificial Intelligence is becoming more and more important to our daily lives. Personal assistants such as Siri and Bixby are becoming smarter, and the use of robots in the security industry becoming more of a reality.
Robots that can see in the dark, or detect people carry weapons could very soon be used in the industry. These robots are unlikely to take over from humans any time soon though. Vulnerabilities to hacking, unreliability and a lack of a human touch when making split-second decisions mean an automated security solution is a long way off yet.
Abbey Security are Cambridge and Bury St Edmunds based security experts
We supply security solutions to businesses and educational facilities of all sizes in Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex. To find out how we can help secure your business, please contact us on 01284 768832 or fill in our contact form.
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Posted on February 25, 2019