Security is all about protecting your organization, residence, property, and everyone involved there from harm. A static security guard can only cover a small area but with the help of regular patrolling, the entire premises can be covered and secured. 

Patrolling in security can help you deter crimes by letting the criminal know that security guards can visit a specific area any time. What is patrolling in security? Well we will try to answer this question in detail for you today. 

Definition of Patrolling

Patrolling in security involves regularly visiting designated locations within a given area to observe and assess the security.

Security officers may be on foot or in a vehicle and often work in teams to patrol an area. By actively surveying an area, potential threats and hazards can be identified, allowing for appropriate security measures to be implemented and completing the tasks.

Purpose of Patrolling in Security

Having gained an understanding of patrolling, let us now explore the primary purpose behind the practice. Patrol guards are responsible for safeguarding against assault and harassment, responding to emergencies, handling hazardous materials, and eyeing for any other physical threats. 

Following are some major purposes for having patrol security.

Inspection and Monitoring

Patrol security guards help ensure buildings, personnel, and equipment are safe by taking regular property tours, keeping an eye out with surveillance technology, and checking all doors, tools, and other access points, letting people in or turning them away as necessary.

They monitor areas to ensure that rules are followed and to look for suspicious activity. Furthermore, patrols can also help deter crime and respond to any alarms that may go off. 

Complying with Policies

They help keep everyone safe by checking out for any issues that don’t comply with policies and procedures, letting people know when they’re doing something wrong, and intervening if needed to stop intruders.

Detaining and Reporting

Patrol guards are authorized to provide a warning, issue a citation or detain any person who is found to have broken the rules. Additionally, necessary reports will need to be completed outlining the details of what happened.

Anticipating

Security officers are always one step ahead. They regularly patrol and check for potential issues, as well as take proactive measures to ward off theft, vandalism, or other wrongdoing.

Preventing losses 

By preventing theft, criminal damage, fire, floods, and any other potential misfortune, they also safeguard a company’s reputation, success in the industry it represents, and, most importantly, its profitability.

Types of Patrols

Clients with varying needs and working conditions can take advantage of different patrolling services which is offered by any expert security patrol company, each of which provides distinct levels of protection.

Foot Patrol

Foot Patrol involves an officer on the ground actively patrolling an area on foot. It offers increased visibility, enabling police to approach and engage with those in the community and be more accessible to members of the public.

Vehicle Patrol

Vehicle patrols are an ideal substitute for a foot patrol for larger sites with a broad area to be monitored. This patrol involves using a vehicle to monitor and evaluate the situation in the area for security purposes.

Bicycle Patrol

Bicycle Patrol involves officers patrolling an area using bicycles instead of vehicles. This approach allows officers to traverse areas that may be difficult to access with a car, such as parks, pathways, and certain streets.

Mobile Patrolling Procedure

Nowadays, with the advancement in technology, there are more and more police forces using mobile patrol procedures. Mobile patrol involves driving through a specific area regularly to keep an eye on potential criminal activity or disorder. These vehicles are usually equipped with several cameras (either body-mounted or dashboard-mounted) that are used to record incidents and arrests.

When setting up mobile patrolling, there are two main considerations to take into account: 

Physical security

 refers to the measures taken to prevent the vehicle from being stolen or damaged. Several steps can be taken to enhance the security of a police vehicle. These include fitting it with an alarm, installing a tracking device and monitoring software, and restricting access. 

Data security 

refers to steps taken to protect the data collected by the police from unauthorized access. This involves firewalls and encryption software to prevent hackers from accessing the data. There is also a need to restrict access to such data to authorized personnel.

A patrolling procedure usually includes three phases – preparation, execution, and review. Before a patrol starts, the patroller should prepare the equipment he will bring for the patrol. 

After the patrol is completed, the officer reviews the performance and makes any necessary improvements for future patrols. Finally, the officer can report back to his supervisor to report the results and discuss his next steps.

Planning and Preparation

Before embarking on any security patrol, planning and preparing for the task is important. This will help ensure a successful and safe patrol. 

It is recommended to create a practical checklist for patrolling, including the details of the patrolling area and any tasks that may need to be completed during the patrol. It should also list any safety equipment that will be required for the duration of the patrol.

Identifying Patrol Routes

It is important to survey the premises for security risks and vulnerabilities to identify potential patrol routes. Once identified, these areas should be targeted for patrols to ensure that they are secure at all times, whether the area is safe, and to identify potential threats that may affect the security of the property.

Scheduling Patrols

After identifying patrol routes, another important measure to be taken is scheduling. Patrolling should be done on a regular schedule. You want a pattern for when patrols happen throughout the day or week, so there are no breaks in your security coverage.

Patrols should vary based on the time of the day and the type of property being patrolled. If you still need to get a schedule for patrols in place, starting with a routine that you can easily maintain over time is best. 

Equipment and Resources Needed

When a security officer patrols an environment, he needs the right equipment and resources to stay safe. Here are some of the resources they will need to patrol effectively:

• Police radio or walkie-talkie system 
• Security cameras
• Flashlight/torchlight 
• Gun for self-defence 
• Binoculars 
• Medical kit 
• Uniform/clothing (e.g. bulletproof vest and bulletproof jacket for high-risk locations)

Conducting the Patrol

Regular patrols can reduce the potential for crime in your business. Some of its salient features include:

Observation and Reporting

A patroller needs to walk through the property and look for potential threats. When threats are detected, they should report them to a supervisor or the police immediately. They may also be required to make observations, such as a description or a license plate number of any suspicious people or vehicles they find on the property.

Handling Incidents

While conducting a patrol, a patroller might encounter an incident that requires a response. In these cases, it’s important to remain calm and act swiftly to prevent further injury or damage. Also, they only handle the situation with others if they can do so safely. 

Communicating with Dispatch

Often a security officer’s primary job is to communicate with dispatchers via a radio or other communication device. This is necessary for various reasons, including receiving updates and alerts about potential hazards and threats to property. It also allows you to request backups and other resources when necessary.

Post-Patrol

Post-patrol procedures can help you improve your services. Some of them are mentioned below.    

Debriefing and Documenting the Patrol

Debriefing and documenting your security patrols are important steps in ensuring effective protection. By tracking the steps your team takes during a patrol, you can ensure that all areas of your facility are covered and identify any areas where additional security measures may be needed. This can help identify areas where improvement may be necessary.  

Reviewing and Analyzing Patrol Data

Reviewing patrol data collected after each shift to determine what areas are receiving the most attention and what areas may need further review should be done. Looking for trends in the data to determine where further action may be needed to ensure that your facility remains safe and secure is also important. 

Data collected during your patrols can also be incorporated into incident reports or used to address any safety issues that may arise in the future.

Making improvements and adjustments

You can make many changes to improve your security patrol program and ensure that it effectively keeps your facility secure and safe. Reviewing your current security protocol can help identify any areas for improvement or potential problem areas that should be addressed to help improve your overall level of protection.

Conclusion

Security patrolling is an essential part of ensuring safety in any environment. It involves using personnel, vehicles, or surveillance systems to monitor and protect a designated area. Security patrols can detect and respond to suspicious activities, deter crime, and provide a visible presence that can help prevent criminal activity from occurring in the first place. Additionally, reviewing security patrols can help make improvements in the future.

If you are thinking of implementing security patrolling for your business, please take the time to visit our blog, which is specifically tailored to your business needs.