FOCUS SECURITY
ON YOUR
GUARD
32 NOVEMBER 2020
The perception of security o icers has changed
in recent years but none more so than during
the last six months. Its modern-day role is more
than just a guard within a gatehouse, explains
Steven Moore, Managing Director of Security,
Atalian Servest.
“When the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, the role
of the security o icer saw a greater transformation.
Rightly so, there was an expectation to protect
properties and assets but most importantly, the
wellbeing of people. This rocketed to the top of
the agenda. For security o icers, this involved
new responsibilities including implementing
temperature screenings at entrances to buildings,
enforcing mask-wearing and managing social
distancing and one-way systems around
properties.”
Security o icers have many other skills that have
set them up well for dealing with the crisis and their
new responsibilities argues Darren Read, Managing
Director, Amulet. “O icers have public-facing roles,
such as front of house and in retail centres. Many
of these are so skills such as communication and
problem solving, duties that require tact, delicacy
and empathy.”
According to Nigel Davies, Director of Security
for Salisbury Group, while some organisations
are using automated access control and visitor
systems, at the many buildings without this kind
of tech, security o icers who have previously been
tasked to record visitors, contractors and issue
passes must oversee safe signing in procedures.
“When issuing or checking passes, our o icers
ask each person to confirm they do not have
COVID-19 symptoms. They are also briefed to look
for symptoms and to tactfully prevent entry and
report to management if they suspect a person to
be infected.”
As returning employees find their o ices changed
to allow for social distances, this is likely to be most
evident at the entrance and reception areas and
major pinch points, says David Mundell, Managing
Director, Axis Security.
“Security teams at multi-tenanted buildings, for
example, have been instrumental in implementing
new procedures that allow for social distancing, as
well as helping to educate and remind returning
employees and visitors of new one-way systems, or
new processes they need to follow.”
DEMAND FOR SECURITY STAFF
The level of demand for security sta during
the pandemic has been sector dependent says
Mundell, with some sites requiring more security
and some less at any given moment. He predicts
this will continue to change depending on the
movement of people and how long it takes the
UK to get back to normal. “Foot-fall is down in
the world of the arts and entertainment but
educational sites are opening up new learning
areas to allow for better social distancing between
students and so this requires larger security teams.”
Davies of Salisbury Group explains that to help
make buildings COVID-19 Secure, many clients
Security teams are employed to protect people and property. With the
COVID-19 pandemic, they are stepping up to help enforce social distancing
and mask wearing. We’ve gathered a range of views from security
specialists on what this means for security people now and into the future