Security officers and technology – the ideal combination?

The debate about the relative merits and drawbacks of employing security guards versus buying electronic security measures has existed, contrary to popular belief, since long before the introduction of the National Minimum Wage caused panic among unscrupulous employers and procurement departments.

Manufactures and installers of electronic solutions such as CCTV, alarms and access control devices have long extolled the virtues of their systems, while being quick to point out all the pitfalls of employing the security guard; while guarding companies have retorted with the issue of the ‘human touch.’ Octaga and other reputable companies who operate both manned and technical departments, however, have long realised the strengths and weaknesses of both systems – and the symbiotic relationship between guards and technology that is possible.

Technology challenged security guarding on two fronts; those of cost and cover On both counts the arguments were sound, namely that once installed, a system of cameras and alarms is much cheaper to run than a even a single guard and of course, an electronic security system does not need holidays, will not wag a day off sick and will not be asleep or reading a magazine at work when it should be keeping an eye on the site. Client’s premises are cheaply and reliably monitored 24/7/365.

Audit trails

Other benefits of technological security systems are that they cannot be intimidated by intruders and will never let someone into a site just because they’re a family member or a ‘mate.’ Furthermore, modern access control solutions using swipe cards, fobs or fingerprint recognition can provide an accurate and undisputable record of comings and going from site – vehicles too with ANPR systems. In addition, the hard evidence of CCTV footage and stills can be of more use in prosecuting a crime than the eyewitness statement of a guard on minimum wage who was at the end of a twelve hour shift.

It would seem on cursory examination then that the only weaknesses electronic systems have as opposed to a manned guarding presence is that when failures do occur, though rare, they can take a while to fix, and that the CCTV or alarm or access control system cannot make a human decision and cannot itself respond to any given situation.

The last point is an important one, as unless a camera or alarm system is monitored by an operator or ARC, then it is of little use, especially against the intruder who, aware of the system in place, wears a hood or mask. Technology then, is generally of practical use only when backed up by a skilled human operator – a point we shall return to later.

Security guards

With respect to security guards, the biggest drawback, especially in the current economic climate, is that they are expensive. For just one officer to be on a site 24/7, it would cost a client around GB pound 75,000 – and that is if the guards in question are paid minimum wage. And as every employer knows, low wages = high turnover + high sick rates + low quality and when sick levels and turnover reach a certain level, a contractor must lower their recruitment criteria just to fill gaps, and if turnover is too high, there’s no point in training and developing staff who are probably looking for another job anyway, so quality drops even further. It is a vicious downward spiral.This was a significant factor in the appalling state of the UK private security industry in the 1990s. It is still, sadly, seen all too often and two of the most common client’s complaints to security contractors are, “they can’t speak English!” and “I keep seeing new faces every week.” Further, the long hours worked by many guards have an effect on their ability to concentrate or even stay awake.

Just as a camera is no better than its human operator, guards are no better than the training and development they have received, the back up from their managers they have, and whether or not they take home enough pay to have any pride in their work..

Good quality trained guards though, who are paid a living wage and therefore stay with their employers, can provide a point of contact for a client’s staff and visitors that a barrier, turnstile or CCTV camera cannot. They can respond to an emergency or incident, provide first aid or fire marshalling duties and perform searches and checks of premises no electronic system would be capable of. An alarm may just be an alarm, but a guard is not just a guard and potential clients are well advised to look for a company that pays a competitive wage and whose staff turnover is low and training/development standards high.

The real benefits of a comprehensive security regime come when quality guards have access to and are backed up by technological measures. A controller monitoring CCTV, for example, can despatch guards to an incident they may not have seen were they on routine patrol in a prescribed area, and an access control system as well as a security guard will allow the officer to adequately perform other work, instead of simply looking at passes and lifting a barrier.

Physical and technical security should be embraced together as a potential asset rather than as a grudge purchase at the behest of insurers. The two can complement one another – and should reflect the quality of the company that employs them. In the corporate world, reputation and image are crucial to us all, and considering that security guards are likely to be the first people any visitors to a premises meet – and therefore a representative of the company who has hired them – one must ask the question; do we need cheap, or do we want quality?

When selecting security measures then, there are more than mere economic factors – security must be proportionate to the risks faced by staff and premises and far from being a grudge purchase to satisfy insurers it can, if the right company is chosen, be an asset to the safety and reputation of a customer and their employees.

Carl Martin is national sales manager at Octaga Security Services.

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