Mobile Security Patrols

Many premises are at most risk when they are empty: overnight, at weekends and over bank holidays. A static officer for every one of those hours is often more than the risk justifies. Mobile patrols give you regular, documented checks and a visible security presence at a fraction of the hours, because one patrol officer visits a number of sites on a planned route.

Patrols work well on their own for lower-risk sites, and alongside other measures for higher-risk ones: monitored CCTV, intruder alarms with alarm response, or a static guard at peak times. If you are weighing the two options, read mobile patrols vs static guarding.

The checks for each site are set out in the assignment instructions. A typical visit includes:

• Driving the perimeter and car park so the marked vehicle is clearly seen.
• Checking fences, gates, shutters, doors and windows for damage or signs of attempted entry.
• Checking yards, containers, compounds and parked vehicles or trailers.
• Internal checks where agreed: alarm panel status, doors, fire exits, plant rooms, water leaks and lights left on.
• Recording conditions and any issues with time-stamped notes and images.
• Reporting urgent findings straight away, including calling the police where a crime is in progress.

Visits can be fixed to a time, for example a check shortly after staff leave, or spread randomly across a window so the pattern cannot be predicted. Most clients use a mix. The number of visits per night is set by the risk: a single check might be enough for a low-value unit with good physical security, while a site holding stock, plant or fuel, or one that has had incidents, may need several visits spread through the night and at weekends.

Patrols can also include lock and unlock services at the start and end of the day, and can act as a response unit for alarm activations under a keyholding arrangement.

When an alarm, CCTV system or fire panel fails, or a door or shutter cannot be secured, a site can be left exposed until repairs are made. Patrol officers can attend to assess the problem, provide extra visits or a temporary on-site presence, and help coordinate emergency remedial repairs through approved contractors. For longer gaps, see emergency security cover.

Patrol officers carry out security guarding activity and hold SIA front-line licences, as the Private Security Industry Act 2001 requires. Where patrols involve holding your keys, the work is also subject to SIA licensing for key holding.

When comparing patrol providers, ask how visits are evidenced, how keys are stored and tracked, what an officer will and will not do on attendance, and how lone-working officers are monitored. Employers have a legal duty to manage the risks to lone workers, and HSE guidance sets out how.

Our patrol vehicles are high-visibility marked vehicles fitted with satellite tracking, and officers use wearable digital patrol recording. A digital report is produced for each visit, recording the time on site, checks carried out and any issues found. Officers are supported by 24-hour control room support. See technology and reporting.