As we enter 2011, many businesses will be looking to renew contracts and issue tenders for the provision of security products and services.
With business expenditures running high and economic growth remaining slow, cost-cutting and the pressure to demonstrate maximum return on investment ever-present, security guarding services are often the first to fall victim to financial cutbacks.
Given that purchasing decisions are increasingly being made by procurement specialists who, in the main, have little or no prior knowledge of security, it’s easy to see what might transpire as a result.
Different perceptions of value for money
The perception of value for money can of course differ significantly between security and procurement professionals.
From a procurement perspective, value for money is reflected solely in the overall cost of a service and its return on investment.
However, those with experience in security might take into account the overall quality and long-term benefit of a service, whereby there may not be a short term saving but, thanks to the expertise of a quality organisation, future savings and efficiencies can be made.
In other words, looking at the holistic solution rather than simply comparing like-for-like costs can have significant long-term business benefits.
Without the expert knowledge of the security industry, procurement professionals might find it difficult to base their decisions on anything but cost.
Cost alone is not the only factor
It’s also important for businesses to remember that choosing a security guarding company on the basis of cost alone can have some hefty repercussions.
Primarily, it should be borne in mind that all guarding companies face a few basic, unavoidable costs. Uniforms, training, holiday, sickness, licensing and a basic rate of pay must all be covered by the cost charged to the customer, so on that basis alone it’s worth considering what has been cut back by cheaper services in order to drive costs down.
It may also be worthwhile for procurement specialists under pressure to demonstrate return on investment to consider the negative effects of security cutbacks on other aspects of the business.
The presence of security officers on site serves as an effective deterrent against crime, without which the business could be exposed to significant financial losses through theft or vandalism. As such, the importance of a greater understanding of the multi-faceted benefits of security guarding services can help procurement specialists consider the bigger picture when choosing a supplier.
The BSIA would advise anybody responsible for the procurement of security services to seek advice from a recognised expert, whether that expert be an independent security consultancy or the service provider itself. BSIA members, of course, adhere to strict quality standards.
A comprehensive list of members’ contact details can be found on our website (a dedicated link has been provided on the right hand panel of this page)
Security personnel remain the ‘Heroes of the High Street’
Throughout the busy Christmas and New Year period, door supervisors and town centre security personnel across Britain played a pivotal role in maintaining law and order on our High Streets during what’s always a busy and challenging time of the year.
Alcohol-fuelled night-time celebrations have long been synonymous with the festive period, pushing the door supervision sector to its limits in trying to protect revellers in pubs and clubs across the country.
Door supervisors themselves are often the unsung heroes here, protecting customers and staff into the early hours and all the while adopting a proactive approach to prevent incidents before they occur.
The BSIA was present last year at a gathering when Home Secretary Theresa May announced the Government’s renewed focus on the country’s licensing laws in a bid to reduce binge-drinking.
However, the pivotal role played by the private security industry in maintaining order in the night-time economy is often overlooked.
In truth, many door supervisors are now actively involved in local and regional initiatives aimed at reducing night-time violence, working alongside the police service, local authorities and crime reduction partnerships.
Frontline responders to incidents
Tony Clarke, chairman of the BSIA’s Leisure Industry Security Section, commented: “Door supervisors are very often the frontline response to incidents in our pubs and clubs. Without this quick response, many situations could well escalate with potentially dangerous consequences. Liaison with the police and other emergency services is essential to our work, and it’s important that door supervisors are seen by the authorities as a vital element in the protection of our communities.”
Despite such high levels of commitment, door supervisors are often faced with violence and aggression from members of the public. Indeed, a recent survey by the Security Industry Authority showed that up to 90% of those who have worked in the sector for five years or more have suffered either a physical attack or some kind of threat while on duty.
In recognition of the sterling work undertaken by security personnel across the country in the face of such varied challenges, the BSIA has begun the judging process for this year’s annual Security Personnel Awards, which are awarded regionally and then nationally to honour outstanding acts of bravery as well as the innovative use of technology and effective teamwork.
Regional awards will be announced in the coming months, with the national awards presented at the BSIA’s Annual Luncheon in July.
The Big Issue: Locked up – the role of the private security industry in prisons
Prison security hit the headlines once more over the Christmas period, with riots highlighting the challenges faced by the prison service in dealing with volatile inmates and subsequent security breaches.
To ensure the safety of prison staff and detainees, the security industry must continue to work closely with police services and the prison service to deliver up-to-date physical security solutions that will help maximise the efficiency of locking systems.
The police and prison services often face particular difficulties in terms of the need to operate at high capacity in premises that were often designed and built to cater for quite different demands.
Newly-designed prisons and custody suites are being built around the country, but there’s still a clear need for security systems that provide a safe environment for both staff and detainees in a wide range of scenarios.
From the corporate world to the prison space
Evidence shows that technologies often developed for corporate applications have proven beneficial when adapted to the particular need of prisons.
For example, the use of intelligent locking systems based on multiple-use electronic chips that may be incorporated into cards, tags, fobs and keys can be used to identify who’s gaining access to particular areas of the prison.
By linking these technologies to centralised control facilities, the systems are capable of monitoring multiple sites and delivering real-time data on the status of individual doors, barriers and gates.
This central programming can also make it possible to control the times that access is permitted or accord access with daily schedules for prisoners’ activities.
Prison managers benefit further by integrating access control solutions with technologies such as CCTV and alarm systems across the complete range of a given facility’s doors, barriers and gates. A central feature of these technologies is that they can be customised so prison managers can use them to control the movement of contraband and ensure there are never more prisoners than staff in a particular place at any one time.
Locking technologies are also adapting to the needs of prisons by dint of motorised locks. These are linked to electronic command units and work to ensure high levels of resistance to attack. In turn, they also enable security levels to be restored if a key is lost or otherwise compromised.
Given their ability to use various security systems that are able to integrate with each other, those prison staff operating inside the prison boundaries are better protected.
For more information on developments in physical security visit the BSIA’s website (a dedicated link is provided on the right hand panel of this page)
Amanda Beesley is PR and marketing communications manager at the BSIA
