In 2020, many events, including the Black Lives Matter movement, cast doubt on public law enforcement capabilities and reduced the public’s trust in this institution. Every year, the government allocates a portion of the taxes to pay law enforcement officers to deter crimes.

However, sometimes, additional protection is needed to safeguard property or an individual. This is where private security guard companies come in. Here’s a comparison between private security companies and public law enforcement.

Roles OfPublic Law Enforcement And Private Security Companies

Public law enforcement includes police officers who represent civil authority and prosecutors. Police officers are charged with ensuring public order and citizens’ safety by enforcing state law when necessary to maintain civil order. The roles of police officers include investigating criminals and suspects to prevent crimes from taking place.

Private security companies such as Guard Services USA provide security guards for hire to private companies, residences, malls, airports, etc. These security guards patrol the premises and observe activities to report and deter crimes. They go through strict training and follow state regulations to ensure they’re behaving in accordance with the state law.

Private Security Companies Have More Authority

Private security companies have more authority than public law enforcement when they’re guarding private properties. The property’s owner usually hires security guards, so private security companies offer customized security patrol services to companies to meet their security needs.

Hence, private security guards have more control and can search belongings or enforce the company’s rules to ensure the company’s safety and protection. In contrast, public law officers have to follow specific guidelines such as the 4th and the 14th amendments, which govern police actions when they’re on-duty.

Private Security Guards Lower Chances Of Misusing Firearms

Public law officers are always armed and trained to use their weapons in an emergency. However, the use of weapons often escalates violence in a conflict situation and, as evidenced by news stories in the past year, police officers are seen to abuse their authority and misuse their firearms.

On the other hand, private security guards project authority that intimidates and deters criminals from attempting any ill-advised activity in premises that are being watched and guarded closely. While private security guards can also be armed, they usually refrain from using them unless deemed extremely necessary.

Moreover, private security guards have arrest powers for civil and criminal matters, while police officers are prohibited from getting involved in civil matters.

Private Security Companies Provide More Options

Private security companies have more options such as providing security patrol services, offering unmarked or uniformed security, bodyguards, crowd control officers, and more. They also offer security equipment and consultations along with quality protection, monitoring, and inspection of properties.

Public law enforcement needs to follow government restrictions, especially on private property, limiting the security and protection they can offer. They also have fewer resources and access to less technologically advanced security equipment due to budget constraints.

To hire private security guards, contact Guard Services USA. We provide licensed and insured security guards for hire, both armed and unarmed. Our security guards also check the temperature, ensure people are wearing masks and enforce social distancing during COVID-19. Contact us at Inquiry@GuardServicesUSA.com and get the security you need!

Hiring security guards to secure your premises is an effective way of deterring criminals and reducing the crime rate. Security guards ensure the safety of your home, business, or community and protect your property from theft, burglary, or vandalism.

Here’s a detailed explanation of the link between security guards and a subsequent decrease in crime rates.

Security Guards Deter Criminal Activity

Security guards for hire don’t always need to be armed to maintain a crime-free zone. Merely the presence of a uniformed security guard ensures that criminals will think twice before targeting that particular property.

For instance, a Southwest England study found that increasing security patrols on train platforms decreased victim-reported crimes by 16%.

The presence of security guards is intimidating and lends an air of security to the whole property. However, if security guards are not carrying arms, they must be adequately trained to ensure that they can safeguard themselves and effectively handle criminal behavior.

The Presence of Security Guards Keeps Criminals Away

Studies show that criminals often take advantage of properties that are not guarded or not brightly lit. These properties are more likely to give criminals a chance to successfully steal or commit some other crime without getting caught.

People who have ill intentions don’t target properties that uniformed security officers are patrolling as they fear being apprehended. Also, properties that security guards protect have more traffic as the general public feels more secure going in and out of the building. This also helps to deter criminal activity as criminals target remote areas that have fewer people.

Moreover, when people know they’re being watched or observed, they’re more likely to behave better, so the presence of a security guard reduces the possibility of attempted crimes.

Security Guards Monitor and Inspect the Property

Security officers are also responsible for monitoring surveillance and checking people’s credentials before allowing them access into the building. This regular inspection deters criminals from attempting to steal or vandalize property, as they know their credentials have been checked, and they could be identified later on.

Security guards surveil the surrounding property, and their proactive behavior can prevent crime from happening. For example, a security guard on duty can observe a group of shady-looking people loitering around the building and can force them to leave to ensure no ill-advised activity occurs. Similarly, security guards ensure that doors are locked and visually assess the property to check the safety measures, preventing criminal activities from taking place.

If you want to deter criminal activity in your community or neighborhood, hire a licensed and insured security guard. We offer security patrol services along with off-duty police officers who can protect your business or home and provide you the security you need. We have provided security guards for hire to many clients for over 25 years, whose testimonials you can read here. Contact us at Inquiry@GuardServicesUSA.com and benefit from our security and guarding services today!

As a small business grows, it often goes from a two-room working space to a multi-floor office premises. Many businesses also branch out and set up operations in different locations.

Planning on expanding your business space? Here are a few things to consider.

Decide Your Venue

The first thing you need to decide is where you’ll be setting up your business operations. For instance, will you be using office space next to or near your current location, or do you plan on using office space in a completely different area? Either way, you need to ask yourself the following questions:

·       Size: Is the space large enough for accommodating the number of employees you’ll have coming in and out of the premises on a regular basis? What may work for a team of 20 employees isn’t necessarily going to be a good fit for 50 employees. You don’t want your new business space to be cramped, so make sure it’s large enough to comfortably accommodate the number of employees that’ll be working there.

·       Commute & Parking: Does the venue offer sufficient parking? If not, is it easily accessible via public transport? You don’t want your business to be in a far-off neighborhood that’s difficult to locate or reach. Considering that your employees will be traveling to and from the premises every day, it should ideally be located in an area that doesn’t add three hours of commute to their schedule or makes parking a nuisance for them.

·       Accessibility: Does the venue provide increased accessibility for the employees?  For instance, is it disability-friendly and gender-inclusive?

Obtaining the Permits

Once you have shortlisted a venue, it’s time to get the permits for it. The laws and regulations for business permits vary from area to area. Make sure you have the required permits before you begin renovating or redesigning the space for your business needs. This will depend on the specific laws of your town, city, county, or state.

It’s best to get in touch with the local authorities before finalizing the details. This will help ensure that you’re not breaking any local rules and will inform you of any special requirements needed for conducting business from or making modifications to the available space.

Safety

Many event business owners tend to underestimate the importance of security. You can’t invest in a business space without accounting for the safety and security of your employees. The last thing you want is a security breach that would not only disturb business operations but would also threaten the lives of your team members.

Make sure you’ve addressed all security concerns well in advance. Consult a professional security service for this purpose, and have them arrange unarmed or armed security guards for your business premises. This will help ensure that you have enough security personnel to guard your space during and after work hours. You should also consider installing an alarm system for your premises.

At Guard Services USA, we have over 25 years of experience in providing security staffing solutions to businesses across the United States. You can hire qualified uniformed security guards from our unarmed and armed security guards service for your business premises to maximize safety and security.  Get in touch with us today!

School safety is a growing concern for parents, students, and school staff in the United States. Many Americans believe that schools have become less safe since the horrific Columbine shooting in 1999 and have expressed fear and concern over the state of affairs. In the last decade alone, there have been at least 177 school shootings, indicating an alarming rise in the unfortunate incidents’ frequency.

Today, most schools in the US have security guards to help ensure campus safety. What exactly does the role of a school security officer entail? Let’s take a look.

Monitoring Who Enters & Exits School Premises

You’ve probably seen security guards standing at school entrances. This is so they can monitor who’s coming in or leaving the school building during the day. They keep an eye on everyone entering, exiting, and even lingering around the building premises, and watching out for suspicious activities.

School security guards are also often responsible for granting or barring building access. They may use metal-detectors, ID tap-in access systems, or other tools to control who enters and exits the building. They may also have access to certain areas within the building premises that are off-limits to students or school staff.

Patrolling the School Premises

Entrance and exit points aren’t the only places you’ll see school security guards. You’ll also see them patrolling different areas within the school premises.

The purpose of these periodic patrols is to be on the lookout for any suspicious or unusual activity. Them patrolling school hallways or grounds also helps establish a strong presence, giving students and staff a sense of safety. Patrolling also allows them to provide maximum surveillance to prevent crime or theft on school property and ensure that campus policies are being followed. This promotes and protects the overall welfare of students, visitors, and faculty.

Intervening In Emergency Situations

Even on an average school day, there are so many unpleasant or dangerous situations that may arise out of nowhere. Student fights in between classes, arguments between parents and teachers, unwanted visitors popping up unexpectedly; you’ve got to be prepared for everything.

These are precisely the types of unexpected and emergency situations school security guards are equipped to handle. They’re there to intervene before things get out of hand and respond immediately to such situations.

Managing Traffic

Yet another thing school security guards help out with is managing traffic just outside the school. They can help monitor parking regulations and often even have the authority to issue parking tickets if someone parks their vehicle in a reserved parking spot.

Other than that, school security guards may help manage traffic patterns and contribute to keeping the streets nearby free of traffic jams.

Guard Services USA has more than 25 years of experience in providing security staffing solutions to schools, businesses, and multi-location companies in the United States. Get in touch with our team today to hire uniformed security guards for your school and maximize safety at your premises.

Whether you run a retail store, manage a restaurant, or are a small business owner, you need to maximize your business’ security. The best way to do this is by hiring an armed security guard from a reliable service.

However, this isn’t a decision to take lightly. Before agreeing to work with a security company, here are a few qualities you should specify that you’d like your security guard to have.

Physical Fitness

Physical fitness is an instrumental part of security personnel training. Contrary to the stereotypes you often see in television shows and films, security guards are screened for physical fitness and hired after checking off that box. Any professional security company would have physically fit and active security guards in their network to encourage optimal performance.

So, why is physical fitness important? For starters, being physically active also promotes mental alertness—another quality you want your security guard to have. Then there’s the fact that the role of security personnel often requires strength and agility. You need someone who’ll be able to outrun a criminal or stop an intruder from breaking in using their physical strength. The job may also require them to be active throughout the day, even while patrolling a certain area.

This is why you should hire a security guard who meets optimal fitness levels. They should be in good shape to perform their duties as they’re meant to be performed and provide maximum security.

Vigilance

Another crucial quality of a good security guard is their constant vigilance and attention to detail. You need someone who’ll be alert when on duty and will be acutely aware of their surroundings. This is important because, in case of a potential threat, they’ll be able to identify and assess the situation and take necessary actions to diffuse the threat.

A security guard should also be focused, observant, and have the ability to think on their feet. If they’re often distracted or tend to overlook minor details that could potentially put your business at risk, they’re not the right fit for you.

Communication Skills

Finally, your security guard should possess strong communication skills, both verbal and written. You need someone you can easily communicate with. This is why their comprehension and articulation skills are quite important.

Moreover, since your security guard will also likely be interacting with customers or clients walking in your business premises, you need to ensure that they’re courteous and approachable. A good security guard should have a friendly attitude while also being able to communicate clearly with their employers, colleagues, your business clients and guests, and passersby.

Consult an Armed Security Guards Service

A trusted security company has a vast network of uniformed security guards qualified for the job.When it comes to hiring security person for your business, you need to ensure that you reach out to a company that values the aforementioned qualities and actively screens for them.

Guard Services USA is the perfect armed security guard service for the job. With over 25 years of experience, we provide safety and security to our clients. Hire security guards from our staffing company today!

A restaurant is more than just a place to dine at. A good restaurant offers customers an immersive experience, allowing them to enjoy the ambiance as they devour a scrumptious meal. This is why when it comes to designing a restaurant, owners need to factor in several different aspects of interior design that would help create an enjoyable dining experience for customers.

One of the most important things to keep in mind is restaurant security. You don’t want your eatery to attract criminals or intruders, and suffer business losses. Here’s how you can improve your restaurant’s security.

Ensure There Is Good Lighting

You’d be surprised to learn how crucial the lighting at your restaurant is in preventing or facilitating theft or other criminal activities. If your restaurant has a dimly lit space, it’ll present opportunities for break-ins, theft, and vandalism.

As aesthetic as dimly lit restaurants may appear to be, if they’re not safe for the diners, their business will soon suffer. This is why it’s recommended to incorporate sufficient lighting in all parts of your restaurant—even the outdoor seating area—to prevent such opportunities. This doesn’t mean you add bright lights at every nook and corner. You can still find tasteful ways to include sufficient lighting in your restaurant without making the place resemble a disco club.

Invest in a Security System

When you think of boosting your premise’s security, the first thing that comes to mind is an alarm or a surveillance system.Having video surveillance cameras installed at multiple locations inside and around your restaurant is a great way to keep an eye on the area. CCTV surveillance systems are effective in preventing burglaries and thefts, and are also useful for investigative purposes in case you find a reason to be suspicious. For instance, if you suspect someone’s been stealing things from your storage or inventory, you can refer to the surveillance footage from that room for a better insight.

Hire Armed Security Guards

A security system alone isn’t enough. You need one, yes, but more importantly, you need a trusted security representative to actively look out for your property after hours and even during the day.

It’s highly recommended that you hire restaurant security guards for maximum security. Having uniformed guards on duty during and after operation hours will not only give you peace of mind, but will also keep intruders away. Their presence will heighten your restaurant’s security and will warn intruders and B&E offenders to stay away.

Guard Services USA has over 25 years of experience in providing security staffing solutions to small businesses and multi-location companies across the United States. We have the most reliable and qualified guards ready for service, and can help you increase your restaurant’s security.

Hire restaurant security guards from our staffing company today!