1SC Guarding Media Centre.

Here's How to Build a Strong Security Team to Keep Your Company Safe and Sound

1.    Have a sound Aim for your Security Team

2.    Define your Objectives to fit the overall Aim

3.    Recruit Security Professionals, not persons in a uniform

4.    Ensure your Security Team fits the Culture of your company

1SC Guarding Limited (1SC) was established in 1997 by myself David Jones, an ex-squaddie suddenly in civilian life after 10 years of three-square meals and a bed. I was motivated to set up a Manned Guarding company by my considerable experience, both good and bad gained as a buyer and end user of guarding services with organisations as diverse as The BBC and The London Borough of Southwark both great institutions who I still respect today.

·       My vision was never to be rich, but it would be nice!

·       My vision was never to be the boss, but someone has to be!

·       My vision was never to be National; I love London!

·       My vision was never to be the same as my competitors, for obvious reasons!

Choosing the right Security Company/Supplier can be daunting as there are so many to choose from, it’s important to ensure the supplier can provide immediate responses through an unbroken chain of communication from their own 24/7 control Centre and response teams. This together with the right calibre of Security Personnel who are SIA licensed and trained is an excellent start to selecting an appropriate provider.   Effective internal training procedures and training plans should be accessible for would be clients to inspect, don’t just accept its done, check its done, “Audit” it’s a client’s responsibility to ensure their chosen supplier is suitable for purpose (check staff records). 

Good Quality management has a direct impact on the services being provided, managers need to know and understand both their staff and their clients to effectively provide a quality service (Supervisors should be more knowledgeable than Officers and Managers should have excellent background knowledge of all security matters). An effective Quality Management System (QMS) will provide daily alerts to all Security Managers, enabling them to be fully compliant with both site requirements and those that are covered by legislation these being e.g.;

·       Enhanced DBS working with the young and vulnerable, hospitals and schools

·       First aid trained 4 day

·       Fire warden trained, high rise buildings

Lost 2 won 1

2019 has been a great year of ups and down, you win some and you lose some but it’s the losing of contracts that concerns us most, especially when you have been in place for 15 years and never dropped below 98.75% in KPIs.  Whilst we accept contracts come and go for numerous reasons, we find it extremely odd when a large contract has been lost and the reasons given are a better ITT was provided, really? 

We decided this morning as it was quiet in the office at 05:30 to visit some of our sites around London and wow what an eye opener.  London is famous for its many modern and old tourist destinations, which give its visitors many trips and adventures in history through many ages.  London is vibrant exciting and a thrill to be in, but there lies its problem, your guard is down.  There is a mixture of commuters using the DLR trains and buses not to mention those who commute by road and pavement, the place is packed.

We started at South Quay DLR around 7am and boarded a train for Bank, aptly named, passengers were so busy getting on and off eating breakfast and smelling extremely bad they forget their surroundings and who’s next to them.  One man on the train next to me had his wallet in an open pocket, I could clearly see it and the money within which included euro notes, he was either a visitor or just came from holiday, so I told him to look after his wallet but he was more interested in his breakfast sandwich.

The jostling went on all through to Bank a pick pockets dream, a train full of fools and their money waiting to be parted, an open invitation especially those who wear head phones and are not aware of their surroundings both male and female, well, London  is the place to make money!.  We entered out onto the street which are not paved in gold, beggars and rough sleepers, commuters in a rush to their destinations, open bags earphones blazing, money to be had everywhere, the mobile phone truly is king in London or so it seems.  Females seem to care about their I phone and texting more than their own safety, they have no idea who is behind them, we informed several to close their bags, that’s after they removed their earphones in order to hear us.

Well it was an ordeal to start then we arrived at Tottenham Court Road where we had breakfast in Gregg’s, bacon and sausage roll with coffee whilst watching undesirables lifting sandwiches and walking out, what a City free food and money!

After three hours in London we decided to return to sunny Docklands via the Jubilee Line, not as busy but the same undesirables were still in plain sight loitering and watching for those to busy to protect themselves and their valuables, lambs to the slaughter comes to mind.