How security will help


businesses rebuild... A


s business restarts, the security industry continues to adapt at


pace to a changing world and to demonstrate the key role it plays.


Security officers have really stepped up to the plate since the start of the lockdown – evidenced by the fact that they were designated key worker status by the Government.


The British Security Industry Association (BSIA), in partnership with the Security Commonwealth and the Security Institute, is looking to capitalise on all the great work undertaken by security officers with a campaign to raise awareness amongst the public. The timing makes perfect sense, because as buildings reopen security officers are going to have a more prominent role than ever before in how workplaces, shops, pubs, hotels and public spaces function.


The future of guarding


Everyone in the security industry understands that there is a lot more to the job than simply being on guard, but that’s usually as much as the public sees. That’s already starting to change as supermarkets and other shops that were operating during the lockdown had security to help manage social distancing and queuing.


As workplaces reopen, officers may be called upon by businesses to enforce protocols such as one-way systems, and helping secure areas of a building that remain closed while occupancy is at less than 100 per cent.


Security officers will also have additional front-of-house responsibilities, most notably administering temperature checks with handheld devices. It’s not inconceivable that officers may sometimes be met with aggression or hostility, especially if someone registers a temperature above the threshold and is asked to leave the premises.


Even though the lockdown is easing, a lot of people are still on edge; many will consider being able to return to the office a big milestone in a return to normality. Being turned away because of a high temperature could lead to raised tensions so officers will need to be calm and tactful as they explain why they are unable to permit someone to enter a building.


In retail, now that mask wearing has been mandated for all shops, many businesses will be asking their security personnel to ensure that customers abide by the regulations. We’ve all seen viral videos of people angrily refusing to wear a mask and again it will fall to security officers to deal with these situations in a professional manner. These new roles will see officers further develop their skill sets, especially soft skills. They will also further develop their expertise in the implementation and management of environments, and be able to quickly adapt depending on the setting.


Of course, there are many buildings that remain vacant or partially closed, and security has a key role to play in these settings too.


Security of empty premises


When the Government announcement in March requested that anyone who could work from home should do so, almost overnight thousands of offices became vacant. When non-essential retail outlets, along with pubs and restaurants, were ordered to close soon after, thousands more properties emptied out. All of these properties needed to be secured and so the industry saw a surge in need for personnel to physically guard or visit sites.


Workplaces had been vacated with such haste that plenty of expensive IT equipment and sensitive files had not been properly secured.


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