Mobile Security Patrol London - Coming Soon!

Mobile Security Patrol London - Coming Soon!

Due to popular demand, Westminster Security are establishing a 24 hour mobile security patrol in London for our security conscious customers. But not just any old patrol, as with everything we do, our service promises to be the best and most efficient, effective and professional security patrol in London. But be quick to register your interest, because we’re limiting this service to just 50 customers.

• Protect your home and business from just £5 per day!

• Unbeatable value & service from London’s premier security provider.

• 24 hours a day, 365 days a year!

• Environmentally friendly, 100% electric vehicle fitted with the latest CCTV and tracking device.

• Limited to 50 properties throughout London!

Our mobile security patrol is available to private residential homes and businesses based in Central London and the surrounding areas. All security guards at Westminster Security are highly trained, fully vetted, licensed and registered with the Security Industry Authority. The vast majority are recruited from the British Armed Forces and Police Force, in line with our Armed Forces Corporate Covenant pledge to veterans and reservists.

Other related services available include; Alarm Response, Key Holding, CCTV Installation & remote monitoring, Opening up/Closing down, Emergency Repairs, Property Custodian, Manned Guarding and Security Dog Patrols.

To register your interest and for more info, Please visit: http://www.westminstersecurity.co.uk/services/residential-security/security-patrol-london/

10 essential pieces of equipment a Security Guard can’t live without

10 essential pieces of equipment a Security Guard can’t live without

Being a security guard can be risky business. Whilst their role is to protect, it’s easy to overlook their own personal safety. Lack of adequate safety measures can put a security guard at unnecessary risk, so regardless of whether their job is to protect people, property, or assets, being equipped with the right protection is crucial to ensure their personal safety isn't compromised.

So what protection is necessary for the security guard in order to reduce risk and allow them to carry out their duties safely?  We’ve identified ten essential pieces of personal protective equipment that should be considered by both employees and security guards.

1. Two-way radio

Communication is critical for security guard safety. Two-way radios are a common communication method for close protection officers, or a security guard working at events or in retail.  Designed to swiftly communicate information over long or short distances, a two-way radio will allow a security team to communicate effectively and easily activate instant back up if a situation becomes dangerous.

2. Smartphone

Smartphones are indispensable in today’s continually connected world. 80% of the UK population now own one and it’s hard to imagine a day without one. It offers the security guard a powerful mobile communication tool, with access to the internet and a camera, it enables you to plan and react to unforeseen circumstances. It also allows easy access to a range of apps, including rapid recording apps that allow issues to be captured and reported quickly and automatically.

3. First aid kit

Having access to a first-aid kit for self-help, or to render assistance to a colleague is the most effective way to help prevent an illness or injury from becoming more serious. Particularly in remote locations where medical care might be limited, the ability to administer first aid will help protect against minor trauma or wounds.

4. Lone worker alarm

The very nature of a being a security guard means that they are often required to work on their own, and sometimes late at night when there may be increased chance of threat. Technology has made a huge difference to the way in which security guards can now be protected.  Lone worker protection systems can now be centralised and monitored via an app, making it simple to track the exact location of your security fleet, and enable the security guard to easily raise an alarm in the event of an emergency.

5. Torch

A torch can be a handy piece of equipment; not only to aid your vision in the night, or if there is a power cut. But a torch can also be used in self-defense, a bright torch can dazzle an attacker giving you enough time to raise the alarm or make your escape. A large torch can also be used to protect yourself physically too, by blocking strikes by weapons such as bats or knives. You could also utilise a torch as a weapon to strike your attacker as a last resort.

6. Notepad and Pen

Carrying a notepad and pen might seem outdated with today’s technology, but the batteries never run out with these! This is an essential piece of equipment for any security guard. A note pad is easily looked at to reference your all-important notes, names and numbers. It’s also useful to be able to jot down important information whilst you’re on the phone.

7. Stab proof or ballistic vest

The severity of risk will largely depend on the environment in which you work, but working as a security guard you will face aggression or threats from time to time. Wearing protective clothing such as stab proof vests will help protect you from any dangerous threats you may encounter.  In some high-profile risk situations, ballistic vests may be more appropriate for those looking to convey a high level of vigilance and protection against every eventuality.

8. Appropriate footwear

Most security guards will be on their feet most of the time, so it’s important to invest in appropriate and comfortable footwear that should be practical but durable, comfortable and look suitably professional.

9. SIA Licence

An SIA licence is a necessity for most security professionals. It should be worn in a prominent position, usually the SIA issue lanyard or armband. Professionals working in the Close Protection sector are exempt from this requirement due to the frequently confidential nature of their work and the need to have a degree of anonymity. However they need to have it on their person and be able to produce a valid licence on request from a Police Officer or SIA inspector.

10. Hi Visibility Clothing

Not only does hi-vis clothing distinguish you from members of the public, it also alerts would be criminals or trouble makers to your presence, which may deter them from attempting to break the law. Should you injure yourself or fall ill, it is also a lot easier to find you by day and night.

Article by Mathew Colley of LoneALERT, the UK’s leading provider of lone worker protection solutions, offering a range of lone worker alarms, man-down devices and solutions to protect staff who work remotely, alone or who are vulnerable.

Private Security in London to Police Protests

Private Security in London to Police Protests

Private security companies in London could replace the role of the Met Police during protest marches in London, as protesters are told to hire private security for traffic control and event stewarding. We’ve all been inconvenienced by a protest at some point in our lives, and the cost to tax payers runs into the many thousands of pounds for each event. So should Britain now pay to protest?

London is a real hotbed for protests, not a week goes by without some group, country, religion or organisation protesting about something, that quite frankly has nothing to do with London, let alone Britain! So why should British tax payers be left standing with the bill? and why should local communities suffer when police resources are diverted to police the protest?

The Guardian Newspaper reports: “The right to stage demonstrations in Britain could be threatened following a demand that climate change protesters planning a march next month hire a private firm to oversee it – a role previously carried out by the police.

New, more restrictive, interpretations of traffic laws, coupled with constrained policing budgets, lie behind the Met’s decision. A large protest, which will block off roads, requires a temporary traffic regulation order to ensure public safety is maintained and congestion managed. However, Westminster council says it will issue an order only when the organisers of the march have produced a traffic management plan outlining who will steward the event and how”.

Surely if protesters are so passionate about their cause, a 50p or £1 donation per head to cover the cost of traffic marshals and event security guards, is not an unreasonable request. Private security companies in London, like Westminster Security, have plenty of experience in event security management, with many of their security guards having experience at the Olympics, Royal Wedding and Queens Golden Jubilee celebrations.

A Met spokeswoman said the police’s core responsibilities were “preventing and detecting crime, maintenance of the Queen’s Peace and protecting life and property”. She said that because the proposed demonstration, on 7 March, was expected to be crime-free there was little requirement for it to provide a policing operation.

Westminster Security have confirmed that if they where asked to police an event such as the Campaign Against Climate Change, they would liaise with the Met Police and Transport For London to develop an efficient traffic management system which would least impact road users and provide maximum security for both protesters and the public, providing physical and asset protection.

If you would like to enquire about private security in London, please visit our Event Security Page for further details. Or call Westminster Security on 0208 123 3323 or 0755 4000 300

http://www.westminstersecurity.co.uk/private-security-in-london-to-police-protests/

Security Alert at Parliament as Westminster Brought to a Standstill

Security Alert at Westminster Palace as Suspect ‘device’ found

A mobile phone and drinks bottle sparks security alert at The houses of Parliament, Westminster brought to a temporary standstill as roads are cordoned off and people advised not to use mobile phones near suspected device. James Kirkup, Political Editor at The Telegraph reports:

• A section of the Palace of Westminster in the shadow of Big Ben was evacuated in a brief security alert after an X-ray detected a mobile phone and a drinks bottle.
• Police and security officers cordoned off a section of the Parliamentary estate around New Palace Yard, next to the base of the clock tower.
• One officer said the alert was triggered after an X-ray operator at the Parliament visitor centre detected what appeared to be a mobile phone connected to a liquid bottle in a bag.
• Specialist officers from the Metropolitan Police, wearing rubber gloves, were called and inspected the package.
• It transpired that the phone was not connected to the bottle.

The security alert comes just 2 months after it was announced that cutbacks had to be made to the security budget, and that some of the policing roles at The Palace of Westminster would be replaced by private security contractors. Although the Met Police would continue to have an armed presence at Parliament. Some MPs have expressed their concerns that security companies may employ agency staff, who have had little training and not yet completed vetting.

Police at the palace warned people not to use their mobile phones “for your own safety”, the roads around Parliament square were closed off to prevent vehicles and pedestrians from passing in front of the Houses of Parliament. A 30 meter cordon was in place across the square to keep tourists away from the suspected device. A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “There is a security alert. We have no further details.”

A spokesman from local London security company, Westminster Security commented: “MPs have every right to be concerned for their personal safety, they should be able to go about their daily duties without the worry that their safety is being compromised due to budget cutbacks. You seen what happened at the London Olympics, who’s to say that won’t happen again, but with fatal consequences?.”

The area around Westminster Palace was declared safe within one hour of the security alert.

http://www.westminstersecurity.co.uk/security-alert-at-parliament-suspect-device-found-westminster-at-standstill/

Private Security in London may replace some Police roles at Parliament

Security is paramount for highly-important locations, especially in a country’s seats of power. Rebecca Keating of BBC News reports:

“Police officers could be replaced by private guards to cover some aspects of security at the Houses of Parliament. The Metropolitan Police force currently provides all security services for the Commons and the Lords. In a cost-saving move, airport-style security checks at the entrances will be put to tender – although the Met will still provide armed officers. But parliamentary officials said there would be no downgrading of security as a result of any changes.”

The development may be met with mixed reactions amongst private and public officials, especially in an internationally-important place such as London, England. The city is already smarting from a recent scare near the Bank of England, and memories are still fresh of unnecessary military mobilisations to compensate for gaps in the 2012 London Olympics’ security. Labour MP Barry Sheerman said he was concerned that private security companies in London would rely on agency staff. Westminster Security recruit, train and supply former British Armed Forces veterans and former Police officers for private security in London and throughout the UK, they would be high on the list of preferred contractors to bid for the tender.

A panel of security experts, MPs, and peers recommended the change in personnel as part of efforts to save more from the Parliament’s annual security budget, which stands at £24 million this year. Scotland Yard currently handles the screening work, but its contract is slated to expire in April, 2015. The tender is scheduled to be opened within a short period after. Guarding the entry points goes a long way to stopping potential threats, even when roving personnel are on the premises. In the case of Parliament, officers manning the public entrances have reported confiscating imitation weapons, knuckle dusters, and illegal substances such as cannabis. The same is true of security operatives finding unauthorised materials among retail patrons or event guests. It is unclear how the change will affect security for the lawmakers, even those who may be provided close protection by London security companies like Westminster Security. Sheerman said some MPs and their staff lamented a failure of Commons authorities to consult them about the development. Commons Speaker John Bercow would not even consider discussing the issue on the chamber floor.

http://www.westminstersecurity.co.uk/private-security-in-london-may-replace-some-police-roles-at-parliament/