During this unprecedented period, security companies in the UK are asking their teams to rotate. From planning the logistics and security of the world’s largest intensive care unit for the treatment of coronavirus patients, NHS Nightingale, to providing free local patrols of customers’ premises during lockdown, to volunteering to help elderly, vulnerable or ‘at risk’ people who are unable to leave their homes, security companies of all sizes are rising to the challenge.
Within just a few weeks, the sight of a security guard outside stores has become commonplace to ensure the safety of shoppers, limit the number of people who can enter a store at any one time, and ensure that social or physical distance is maintained. stores. Prior to COVID-19, retail protection has traditionally focused on loss prevention and employee safety, although still an issue, it is no longer its sole focus.
In most supermarkets, markings have been installed to indicate a two-metre spacing distance that customers are encouraged to observe. Markings have also been installed outside the stores to ensure that customers queuing to enter maintain safe distances of two metres. Store managers have the discretion to implement crowd control systems at store entrances to limit the number of customers allowed in the stores at any one time by placing security guards at store entrances to help support this new policy.
Patrolling, holding keys, assisting with incidents, protecting high-risk products to prevent theft and checking on the welfare of workers are just some of the roles that security guards perform on a regular basis. But with most main streets and retail parks now closed, there has also been an increase in the need for mobile patrols in the UK to secure empty and closed commercial, retail or office premises, CCTV surveillance and alarm provision. response centres, including mobile units. Additional security patrols are also required to ensure that fire alarm systems are kept under control and to confirm whether alarms are real or false.
Covent Garden Market, which closed on March 18, 2020 due to COVID-19 problems, opened in April to serve downtown Londoners. While radical changes have been made to the market, such as removing all seats and switching to take-out options only to ensure the safety of customers, the market will have security guards who check people before they enter and keep track of numbers for crowd control.
Fortunately, some security companies were already equipped to meet the new challenges posed by the COVID-19 coronavirus before its outbreak. With new and improved security software, customers can have clear visibility into what is happening at a vacant site through their own customer portals. In the event of an incident, instant notifications are also sent and received by the appropriate person. Finally, head office can communicate updated information on COVID-19 (or other) directly to site teams via electronic bulletin boards. If instructions change, the information can be sent via updated post orders and verified if the new instructions are recognized. It is precisely this type of future-proof technology that helps keep security guards safe as they strive to keep the world safer. By adopting readily available technology, such as cloud applications optimized over cellular networks, security companies can be more efficient and increase the value of the service they provide.
While security guards may not be recognised as often as frontline heroes such as medical staff working in the NHS, security guards in the UK are key workers, working behind the scenes to support the UK’s critical infrastructure. Remember to recognize these exceptional men and women and the crucial work they do to keep everyone safe on social networks by using #frontlinesecurity to show them that we care.
