Who is protecting you really?

 If you’re reading this, chances are that you know how important it is to have security provisions in place for your business, and also your home. Whether you run a warehouse, an office or employ the services of a mobile patrol team to keep watch over your house while you are away, it might not be enough to have security in place - you need to know who you’re entrusting with your keys, and your reputation.

As the demand for personal and corporate security increases, the market is responding and more security companies are cropping up to cater for the shortfall of bodyguards, security drivers and officers. But you do need to do some digging before employing the services of a firm if you want to feel reassured that you’re investing in a high quality security service.

At Venture, we’re hot on keeping our licences and qualifications up to date, we also organise regular training to keep our staff up to speed as things evolve. As members of the Security Industry Authority (SIA) Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS) and being Safe Contractor accredited, we also place a good deal of importance on knowing the industry inside out. It’s not always easy maintaining such standards alongside the running of Venture, but it’s what we do in order to stay ahead of the game.

But not everyone in the security industry has the same priorities. In recent times, we’ve seen a rise in the number of people working without proper licences and insurances to protect themselves and their clients. It’s not just the obvious cowboys you need to be wary of – there are plenty of companies trading with smart officers and websites displaying various badges and accreditations who still aren’t all they seem. Stay safe by checking their references and memberships are valid before you have them working for you. If someone tells you that they are approved by the SIA, ask them for proof, then double check at www.sia.homeoffice.gov.uk/Pages/acs-roac.aspx  

Neglect to do this and you’ll not only risk wasting your money, you could also cause irretrievable damage to your business’ reputation and jeopardise the safety of your clients or your family.

A prime example of what could go wrong was recently shown on the news when phone footage of two security guards abusing a couple accused of shoplifting came to light, while their children cowered in the next room. When you place a team in charge of handling those, guilty or not, who may be breaching rules, you need to know that these officers are trained and know legally what they are allowed to do and how they are expected to conduct themselves as a representative of your organisation.

Of course, it’s difficult to have the full measure of anyone you employ – we don’t expect you to go out for a drink and counselling session with every security officer who works for you in order to properly assess their character. But you can ensure that by instructing an official company who works within the right perimeters and values their own reputation, that you have the assurance that any security officers you hire will carry out their duties respectfully and on the right side of the law.

Want to know more about our accreditations and training policy? Call us now on 0800 021 3949 or email [email protected].