How we work
How we work
From site survey to first shift.
Every contract runs through four steps. We survey the site, write a security plan, brief and deploy the officers, then report on every shift. This page covers each step, what happens at night and at handover, and how we train your own staff on the systems we fit.
Control room
Answers alarms day and night and keeps watch on every camera and officer.
Where are you
Start where you are
Pick the stage you're at. Each section says what happens, who does it and what we need from you.
Planning cover
What the survey looks at, and how the plan sets the hours, the duties and the number of officers.
Open DuringGetting people on site
How officers, door staff or dog teams are briefed and deployed, sometimes at short notice.
Open AfterCover in place
Shifts, nights, handovers, training for your own team and the logs you receive.
OpenHow every contract runs
Survey, plan, deploy, report. One officer on a front desk or a team across several sites, the steps don't change, and each one leaves a record you can read.
1. Site survey
We visit before we plan.
What we look at
We walk the site with you: gates, fences, doors, lighting, blind spots and the times it sits empty. We ask what has gone wrong before.
2. Security plan
Hours, duties and people.
What it sets
Which roles you need, how many officers, their hours and their duties, all based on what the survey found.
The test we apply
Each duty on the plan should deal with a risk we saw on the survey.
3. Deployment
Briefed, then on site.
How it starts
Officers get the site instructions and contacts before they arrive. If the plan includes a dog team or a response vehicle, it turns up with its kit.
4. Reporting
Logs and incident reports.
What you receive
A log for each shift and a written report whenever something happens, so you know what was checked and when.
On shift
What an officer does.
The work
Patrols, door and gate checks, signing visitors in, watching cameras and being seen, so people think twice about trying.
Night operations
When most site crime happens.
Through the night
Night shifts run in all weather, with perimeter and building checks at set and random times until handover.
Site survey and security plan
What we need to understand before anyone starts. One visit, one written plan, and a quote built from what the site actually needs.
The site survey
A visit to your site, free of charge.
What it covers
You show us round and tell us what worries you. We look at entrances, the perimeter, any alarms and cameras already fitted, and how the site is used through the day and night.
How to arrange it
- Book a free site assessment online or call +44 7453 458936.
- Tell us the address, the type of site and roughly when you need cover.
- Have someone there who knows the site well. The visit goes quicker.
The security plan
Written for your site.
What goes into it
- How the site is used and when it's empty.
- The risks we found: theft, trespass, vandalism, fire, trouble at the door, or anything else.
- Entrances, gates and weak spots.
- The roles needed: officers, door staff, concierge, CCTV, K9 or a mix.
- Hours of cover, and patrol or check times.
- Any systems worth adding, such as cameras or access control.
Who writes it
We do, from the survey. You read it and tell us what we've missed before anyone is deployed.
Your quote
Built from the plan.
How it works
The price follows the plan: roles, hours and any equipment. You get it in writing before anything starts.
What it lists separately
- Extra shifts or call-outs outside the agreed hours.
- Alarm response and keyholding, where added.
- Systems we supply and fit.
- Cover at more than one site.
What we need from you
Before the first shift.
Checklist
- A site plan or marked-up map, if you have one.
- Out-of-hours contact names and numbers.
- Keys, codes or fobs for the areas we cover, handed over and logged.
- One person who can sign off the plan.
Deployment
Officers are briefed and deployed, sometimes at short notice. Here's what happens between agreeing the plan and the first shift.
What happens
Every officer gets written site instructions: the layout, the duties, the check times and who to call.
What they're briefed on
- Entrances, gates and weak spots.
- Patrol routes and check times.
- Fire exits, alarm panels and assembly points.
- Who to contact on your side, and when.
Who comes to your site
- Officers holding the SIA licence their role needs.
- Door supervisors for venues and events.
- Concierge and front of house staff for lobbies and receptions.
- CCTV operators where cameras are monitored.
- Dog handlers with their own trained dog, where the plan calls for K9.
Dog welfare
When a dog team goes out, its welfare is planned in: proper transport, rest, water and care, however long the shift.
How it works
After a break-in, a failed alarm or a gap in your existing cover, we can often get officers or a response unit out quickly.
What we ask for
- The site address and the best way in.
- What has happened and what needs protecting.
- A contact who can meet the team or give access.
Depending on the job
- Radios or phones, torches and hi-vis.
- First aid kit and fire extinguisher.
- Marked response vehicles for patrols and call-outs.
- Dog unit vehicles with fitted crates for K9 teams.
- Hard hats and safety boots on building sites.
On shift and at night
Once officers are on site the work is steady and visible: patrols, checks and a quick reaction to anything odd. It carries on through the night, when most sites are at risk.
The routine
Officers follow the duties in the plan. They check gates and doors, sign visitors in and out, watch the cameras and stay visible.
What gets checked
- Fences, gates and entrances.
- Fire doors, fire exits and alarm panels.
- Plant, stock and compounds.
- Vehicles or items left where they shouldn't be.
Overnight cover
- Perimeter and building checks at set and random times.
- Locking up and setting alarms.
- Response to alarms and anything suspicious.
- Handover notes and incident reports.
Weather and conditions
Rain, fog and frost included.
How teams keep working
- Patrols continue whatever the weather.
- Officers carry the right kit for the site.
- Dog teams plan rest and water around the conditions.
Why dogs help at night
A dog's nose and ears keep working when visibility drops, which is when a K9 team earns its place.
At every handover
- What was checked and when.
- Anything unusual seen or heard.
- Any incident and what was done.
- Keys, codes and fobs accounted for.
Training your team on your systems
A camera system nobody can work is no use to you. When we fit or take over CCTV, alarms or access control, we train the people who'll use it, on your site and on your equipment.
Systems covered
- CCTV: live viewing, finding and exporting recordings, moving PTZ cameras and setting motion alerts.
- Access control: access levels, adding and removing fobs or cards, reading the entry log.
- Alarms: setting and unsetting, what to do when one goes off, clearing common faults.
- Combined platforms that run cameras, doors, alarms and fire detection from one screen.
Typical groups
- Homeowners who want to check cameras and alarms from their phone.
- Owners and managers who look after staff access and incidents.
- Security officers who monitor and respond.
- Facilities managers running systems across a larger building.
- IT staff who handle software, updates and faults.
What the course covers
From first look to daily use.
Key elements
- A walk round every part of the system: cameras, sensors, panels and software.
- Day-to-day use: arming, viewing, pulling footage, granting and removing access.
- What to do when an alarm goes off, and when to call the emergency services.
- Basic fault-finding: dropped connections, false alarms and poor pictures.
- Exporting footage and checking access logs for an investigation.
- Reporting incidents and keeping the system and its data secure.
Formats
- Hands-on sessions at your premises.
- Remote sessions for software and apps.
- Written quick guides and fault sheets for your system.
- One programme adapted across several sites, with each role trained on its own tasks.
Keeping it current
- Training for new starters as they join.
- A follow-up session when the system is upgraded.
- Optional yearly refreshers.
Why it pays off
Trained staff react faster, leave fewer alarms unset and make fewer mistakes with access. Some sectors also expect staff to be trained on their security systems.
Reporting
A record after every shift, so you know what happened on your site without having to chase anyone.
What they show
Where officers patrolled, what was checked and when, and anything worth noting. You get them as often as the plan says.
Incident reports
When something happens.
What each report covers
- What happened, where and when.
- What the officer did and who was called.
- Anything you need to act on, like damage or a broken lock.
Reviewing the plan
As your site changes.
When we review it
When the site changes, a project moves to a new phase or the logs show a pattern, we go over the plan with you and adjust the cover.
Getting started
Before day one
A few things from your side help the first shift go well. Hand them to the people who know each area best.
| Step | Who on your side | What to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Site survey | Whoever manages the site | Access to the whole site and what has gone wrong before. |
| Security plan | Operations or facilities lead | Anything we missed, and hours that suit the site. |
| Access | Facilities | Keys, codes and fobs, handed over formally and logged. |
| Site rules | Health and safety lead | Site inductions, PPE rules and any no-go areas. |
| Contacts | One named person | Someone we can reach out of hours when a decision is needed. |
| Reporting | Whoever reads the logs | Where patrol logs and incident reports should be sent. |
Reference
What keeps a start on time
Most delays come from one of these six things arriving late. Have them ready and the team can start when you need it.
Site details
The address, the best way in and a marked-up map if you have one.
Contacts
Who the officer reports to on site, and who decides things out of hours.
Site rules
Inductions, PPE and any areas officers shouldn't enter.
Approval
One person who can agree the security plan quickly.
Keys and codes
Handed over formally and logged, never left under a mat or sent by text.
Dates and hours
When cover should start, and whether you need days, nights, weekends or all three.
Ways to set up cover
Three ways to set up cover
Every option follows the same four steps. They differ in where officers are based and how often they move.
On-site officers
Quoted after a free site assessment
Officers based on your site for each shift
- Site survey and security plan
- SIA-licensed officers, door staff or concierge
- Entrances and visitors managed through the shift
- Days, nights or weekends
- Shift logs and incident reports
Best forBuilding sites, shops, venues, offices and residential blocks that need someone there all shift
Mobile patrols & response
Quoted after a free site assessment
Marked vehicles visiting your sites
- Survey and plan for each site
- Set and random patrol times
- Marked response vehicles, with K9 where useful
- Logged checks at every visit
- Alarm response and keyholding
- A report after every visit
Best forSeveral sites, empty buildings or estates that need regular checks
Combined cover
Quoted after a free site assessment
Officers, systems and response together
- Surveys across every location
- Officers or dog teams where the risk is highest
- Patrols between sites
- CCTV, alarms and access control fitted and monitored
- Training for your staff on the systems
- Night cover in all weather
- Clear, regular reporting
Best forLarger operations that want one security supplier for people and systems
There are no set prices because no two sites are alike. Each option is quoted after a free site assessment, from the plan: the roles, the hours and any equipment. Your quote sets it out in writing.
Questions
Common questions about how we work
What's the difference between the survey and the plan?
The survey is the visit, where we look at your site and its risks. The plan is what comes out of it: roles, hours, duties and any systems worth adding.
Can you deploy at short notice?
Often, yes. Tell us what has happened and what needs protecting, and we'll tell you straight how quickly someone can be there.
Do you work through the night?
Yes. Night shifts run in all weather, with perimeter and building checks until handover.
How is a shift handed over?
The outgoing officer records what was checked, anything unusual and any incident, and accounts for keys and codes.
What reports will we get?
A log for each shift, and a written incident report whenever something happens.
Will you train our staff on the system?
Yes. When we fit or take over CCTV, alarms or access control, we train the people who'll use it, on site or remotely, and leave quick guides behind.
Support
Getting help
For a quote, a report, a change to your site or anything about a live contract, email or call the team. We're available 24/7.
Use email for quotes, reports and changes to your plan. For anything urgent on site, call +44 7453 458936.