Security Industry in Melbourne

The security guarding industry in Melbourne is a vital component of the city’s infrastructure, providing essential services to protect individuals, properties, and businesses. With a population exceeding five million and a diverse range of commercial establishments, the demand for professional security services is significant.

Key Aspects of the Security Guard Industry in Melbourne:

  1. Licensing and Training:

    • Requirements: To become a security guard in Melbourne, individuals must be at least 18 years old, possess a clean criminal record, and be Australian citizens or hold a valid work permit.
       
    • Licensing Process: Prospective security guards are required to undergo a background check, fingerprinting, and complete a security training course to obtain a valid license.
       

  2. Training and Career Advancement:

    • After obtaining a license, security guards can pursue further training and specialization in areas such as cybersecurity, private investigation, and risk management.

  3. Demand and Opportunities:

    • The need for security services in Melbourne is consistently high due to numerous businesses, events, and festivals. This demand presents various opportunities for those interested in a career in security.

  4. Specialized Services:

    • Security companies in Melbourne offer a range of specialized services, including:
      • Static Guards: Providing on-site security presence to deter and respond to incidents.
      • Mobile Patrols: Conducting regular checks across multiple locations to ensure safety.
      • Event Security: Managing crowd control and ensuring safety at events.
      • Construction Site Security: Protecting construction sites from theft and vandalism.

 

 

Safety Tips for Patrol Guard

Patrol security guards are critical in keeping our people, properties, assets, information and reputation safe. How do we keep them safe in return? Here are our top 10 safety tips for security patrol guards to remain safe and sound while performing their day and night patrols:

  1. Get proper training: ensure you have received proper training in self-defence, handling firearms, and other required skills. Attend regular training sessions and keep your skills up to date.
  2. Wear personal protective equipment (PPE): This includes your bulletproof vest, helmet, gloves, and any other gear required by your department. PPE can save your life in the event of an unexpected attack or incident.
  3. Be vigilant: Be alert and aware of your surroundings. Take note of any unusual or suspicious activity and be on the lookout for potential threats. Particularly pay attention to corners.
  4. Communicate: Always keep in touch with your National Operations Center or colleagues, keep them informed of your location and any potential hazards. It is essential for staying safe on patrol.
  5. Maintain a professional distance: Keep a safe distance, one arm away, from suspects or potential threats, and be cautious of sudden movements or aggression. Avoid getting too close to dangerous situations, as this can put you in harm’s way.
  6. Maintain clam and control during emergencies: It is easy to make mistakes and put yourself in a dangerous position when panicking. Try taking some deep breaths and relax when an emergency occurs. It is not easy but remember it will make a big difference on how you handle it.
  7. Follow the standard operating procedures: This includes calling for backup when necessary and following established protocols for reporting incidents.
  8. Maintain physical fitness: Staying physically fit can help you better respond to potentially dangerous situations. Make sure to engage in regular exercise and maintain a healthy diet to stay in peak physical condition. Also be aware of your limits. Don’t overdo it.
  9. Practice good mental health: Stress and trauma can take a toll on patrol officers. It is essential to take care of your mental health and seek support when needed. This includes taking breaks when necessary, seeking professional help, and engaging in self-care practices such as meditation and relaxation techniques.
  10. Be prepared for everything– You never know what might happen when you’re performing the patrols. Just get ready to deal with anything. It is handy to equip yourself with a first-aid kit in case if someone gets hurt, a flashlight to be able to see in the darker areas/corners, a whistle if you need help, etc.

Remember, staying safe on patrol requires a combination of awareness, preparation, and the use of appropriate equipment and procedures. By following these security guard Safety tips, you can help ensure your safety while on the job.

Security patrol guards are the first responders to any incidents that can occur on the premise. That’s why it is critical to keep themselves safe.

Interested in learning more about the duties of mobile patrol guards? Check out our blog post on Mobile Patrol Duties for more information.

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5 Best Practices in Video Surveillance

Remote monitoring security systems have become a must-have that provide peace of mind anytime and anywhere. How do we go about getting the best value for money invested in video surveillance for instance? What are the best practices to increase their overall effectiveness and lifespan? Here are our 5 best tips to enhance your video surveillance systems systematically.

PLAN AND BUY WISELY
Plan and invest your hard-earned money wisely to attain your purpose successfully. The infrastructure that needs the CCTV cameras includes cabling, power cabling. power supplies, fibre-optic components, adapters, and hardware. The main components of the infrastructure should last more than a decade. Cameras, however, will last significantly less than that period. Therefore, be sure to invest wisely in the basics, as they will outlast three camera generations at least.

REGULAR PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE & AUDITS
Regular checking of video surveillance footage is critical for any big or small video surveillance project. The system maintenance post initial installation is a critical component of an effective video surveillance system. In most cases laxity in regular audits result in loss of video data. The regular audits help to identify the crucial characters in the security incident (Theft, Attack, Stalking, or other serious crimes). The video surveillance footage if checked regularly, you may notice any unusual activity in the premises (loitering. Unknown person, suspicious activity etc) attempts by the serial offender at a particular site. Often oversight and negligence in having annual maintenance contract leads to loss of major video evidence, which defeats the very purpose of setting up Video surveillance system.
After you have ensured the proper setup of your system (again best performed by a professional), here are a few good tips for regular maintenance.

  • The system should be continually running/recording 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • Make sure to secure and hide your DVR/NVR.
  • Keep data stored on a DVR/NVR stored in remote cloud storage. Storage on a DVR/NVR alone is not a best practice, preferable to have in cloud storage as it cannot have its signal jammed or hijacked.
  • Save data for at least 30 days
  • After finding specific footage, save it to an alternative source like a portable USB storage or external hard drive.

STORE DATA IN A SECURE LOCATION
Commercial environment video surveillance footage may potentially contain sensitive information about your business and/or customers. All efforts should be made to secure access to the system. Login information (including usernames and passwords) should only be provided to trusted managers who have been property vetted. Written incident logs should also be created and kept near the video surveillance system. The written log will allow any employee to record the exact time and date of an incident in case the individual with access to the surveillance system is not on-site. Documenting the exact time of an incident can reduce the time spent attempting to locate necessary footage.

NEED SOPS
Most of owners do not have any written policy or standard operating procedures (SOPS) regarding the appropriate use and retention of recorded video. A proper policy should be developed in concurrence with corporate counsel and should conform to the records retention policy of the organization. The policy should specify for what purposes the video images may be used and what type of authorization is necessary to access or copy them. It should identify them as to the appropriate level of confidentiality. It should specify what constitutes inappropriate use and what disciplinary action may be taken if personnel violate the policy.

GO FOR THE RIGHT TECHNOLOGY
Using software technologies that are easily applied or even come included with the IP camera or Video Management System (VMS) can increase the overall effectiveness of your surveillance system and your security operation. While one-off, proprietary hardware technologies might be so unique they are not supported later, software technologies are usually less painful to resolve if they don’t work as desired.
There are many factors to consider when laying out a video surveillance system but applying the above principles when considering the scope and size of your CCTV system will help avoid some of the of the more common problems and pitfalls that can arise from poor planning.

If you need guidance in choosing the right security systems including video surveillance and alarm monitoring for your business, organist or your home, contact our professional team of technicians here.