When shopping center managers hire security guard companies they've got an image in mind of what their contract security force will appear like, but too often what they get just isn't what they pictured. What we have found is that almost all security guard companies can handle providing the service that business managers want, but too often do not owing to a lack of ongoing quality control procedures.

Security guard companies are unlike any business that a real estate manager usually hires. At any time you hire a painter, you can still see whether or not they are doing their jobs by viewing the walls. But if you hire a security guard company, how often can you observe whether the guard company is doing their job which incorporates running background checks and drug screenings, providing good training for the guards, and effectively monitoring and supervising your guards. In most instances they probably are, but it is important to implement a system of verification and quality control to make sure that problems connected to the lack of performing these jobs do not begin to occur.

In this article we'll discuss five (5) easy steps to improving your security guard service and achieving what you picture as your ideal security guard force.

Examine Your Guards Skills

In many countries, guards are mandated to get a specified amount of coaching before they can begin working as security guards. But if your state is one these states, ensure that your security guard company is compliant.

For anybody who is in a state where there are no state requirements for guard certification, then investigate the sort of training that's being provided by your security company and ask yourself does it seem adequate.

Additionally, is your security guard company performing background and drug screenings on your guards BEFORE they send them to your property? If they really are, they ought to be providing you with verifications. If not, why?

Another excellent solution to screen whether the guard is a good fit for your real estate is usually to conduct a quick "interview" to get a feel for that guard and to elucidate your expectations. This primary conversation can tell you plenty about what to anticipate from that guard and it gives a chance to request a new guard if you feel that it is necessary.

Assess Guard Schooling

Even if most security guard companies have an incredibly thorough orientation that introduces each guard to this company itself, in several cases the guard's orientation to his assigned business seriously isn't as complete. We call the orientation for this assigned business "Site Specific Training".

Get the information what your site specific training seems like:

• Does it occur at your business?

• Who does the training?

• How long is each new officer trained?

• How long does the security company double bank? (Double banking is the process of getting a veteran guard working at the same time as the inexperienced guard.)

• How thoroughly are your post orders explained?

Determine the answer to each these questions and guantee that they fit with what you are feeling is adequate. You ought to even consider sitting in on yoursecurity guard company's orientation and yoursite specific training so you can get an understanding of what goes into preparing a guard to work at your property.

Examine Your Guard's Management

Guard supervision is among the most important factors of good security guard service. When security companies provide poor supervision, there is not enough emphasis put on stopping blunders, troubles, and complaints. Insufficient supervision also removes the chance to the guard to learn and better understand their duties. If ever the guards aren't being supervised, they begin to feel that their work is not important and they start to see themselves as less of part of the protection team. When guards tend not to feel like part of your team it typically results in unacceptable practices like unprofessional behavior, tardiness, as well as theft.

Depending on the structure of the contract, on-site supervisors probably are not included. But if your contract does not require on-site supervision, how does your security guard company remotely supervise its guards? Outside of the normal security company field supervisor spot checks, the twomethods of remote supervision that prove most successful are:

1. Officer Tour Tracking Systems

2. Officer Check-Ins

If your guards are required to walk rounds of the business, then a system for tracking them while on duty is essential. Officer Tour Tracking Systems provide a remote method of monitoring the guards while they really are on your business. These tracking systems allow the security guard company to monitor time and log the activity of the guards while they are surely making rounds to various areas in your property. Most Officer Tour Tracking Systems can generate reports that enable the safety guard company to quickly get an understanding of whether the guard is making rounds. The shopping center manager should also be provided with an abridged version of those reports. Manufacturers of such systems include Deggy and Timekeeping Systems, Inc.

Besides Officer Tour Tracking systems, now we have found that having a system for guards to check in regularly with the security guard company provides a method of ensuring that every guard is safe and alert. By having guards check-in regularly with the security guard company, not less than every 30 minutes, guards feel that their safety is essential knowning that being awake and alert is a vital part of their job.

After hours inspections of the guards will always be great ways of finding out exactly what is occurring with your security while you're not there. During these inspections, be sure that to ask your security guards questions about their duties and responsibilities to make sure that they understand their jobs. In reality, we advise having your security guards audited regularly, formally (i.e. post inspection) and informally (i.e. secret shopped) by a licensed security consultant as part of your ongoing security program.

Firms like Asymmetric Strategies provide a free service aimed at doing exactly that. Remember, when choosing a security consultant be sure that the consultant isn't actually a security guard company. If so, your audit is guaranteed topresent problems using your current security guard company.

Get together with your Security Guard Company On a regular basis

The fifth and easiest step is always to regularly meet with yoursecurity company. Without providing uniform opinion to your security guard company, business managers are missing out on opportunities to achieve incremental increases in efficiency. Topics including tenant feedback, guard attrition, comment from any remote supervisory systems, and any security audits is required to be discussed during these meetings about security guardservices cape town