An essential component of keeping people safe in public spaces is the private security agency. Security officers have the task of keeping each day running safely and smoother, whether in a shopping mall, office building, or school. While one can compare private security to police officers, it is vital to know the difference between them, even though they are essential to public welfare in these busy, large spaces.
The fact that police officers typically get involved after an incident has already happened is the main difference between private security officers and police officers. People call the police to the scene if there is a break-in, violence, or shoplifting to intervene after the trouble has started.
On the other hand, private security is there to prevent these types of things from happening in the first place. The primary role of private security is to deter a crime by being present instead of reacting to crime without law enforcement. As such, the possibility that criminals can target an area with active, engaged security personnel is less likely. This personnel is also trained to intervene until the police arrive if a crime does happen. Here are some roles of the private security agency to show how critical and practical they are.
Response and Reflexes
When something suspicious happens, a private security guard must respond immediately and always be prepared to act at a moment’s notice. Different situations require an extra level of urgency. That is why making accurate and quick assessments to come back with the best response is vital for security personnel.
Security guards often diffuse a situation by getting involved early on before getting out of hand or making their presence known. Sometimes, a little more finesse is required while it appears to be easy. It is essential to remain on high alert even when it seems like everything has returned to normal. The security personnel has been able to get situations under control. They must also follow the chain of command to prevent these issues from happening by reporting to the right people.
Vigilance and Visibility
Being visible is one of the simple things the members of a security team have to do. The situation is almost the same with private security guards, including watching the CCTV system, verifying IDs at the building entrance, or operating checkpoints and gates. Thus, people can prevent a crime from happening when they have an active security guard present.
The presence of private security can deter most vandals, shoplifters, and burglars. However, it is when the guards are vigilant. Those looking to commit a crime have the habit of checking out the place beforehand. As such, situations like having their backs to the CCTV, skipping patrols, and finding security guards sleeping on the job will not do much to deter a crime. Private security needs to be diligent to be effective. This personnel smells, hears, and sees everything and can pick up on anything unusual. The security personnel can tell when a visitor is indeed suspicious.
