How to choose a security company

Choosing a security company can seem like a guessing game. These six checks can help to make it simpler.

1. Are they an SIA Approved Contractor?

The SIA’s Approved Contractor Scheme checks security companies, not just individual guards. The SIA assesses them against 78 areas, including staff training, financial management and health and safety, and calls it a “recognised hallmark of quality.” You can check any company on the SIA’s online Register of Approved Contractors.

2. Do their staff hold valid licences?

Anyone doing licensed security work must hold an SIA licence. Ask how the company checks this and how often.

3. Who actually turns up?

Ask whether the staff are employed by the company or are agency workers and how they’re trained. Companies that train and employ their own people tend to be more consistent.

4. Will you get the same people?

Familiar faces know your site and your procedures. Ask how the company keeps the same team on your site.

5. What happens when something goes wrong?

Is there a 24/7 control room? Who do you call at 2am? How fast can they send support?

6. Can they show you what they’ve done?

Ask for case studies and references from clients like you. At Crowdsafe, nearly everyone we work with books us again year after year.

Why choose Crowdsafe UK?

We wrote this list because we think a good security company should be able to answer every question on it. Here’s how we do.

• SIA Approved Contractor. We’re independently assessed against the SIA’s standards, and you can find us on the SIA’s register

• Licensed, trained and vetted. Our officers hold current SIA licences, and we train many of our own people at Crowdsafe Academy, our SIA training centre in Peterborough. Our Academy manager, Joe Daly, has been in the industry for 29 years and has been an SIA trainer since 2010.

• A team of 300+. Whether you need two people for a night or a full team for a three-day event, we have the people to cover it

• The same faces. We keep the same people on your site wherever we can, so they get to know your premises, your procedures and your team.

• A control room that never closes. Our 24/7 control room checks officers on and off duty, answers your calls and sends support when it’s needed, day or night

• Clients who come back. We work with varied list of active clients and nearly all of them book us again. That’s the part we’re proudest of and it’s down to our team.

Not sure what to ask for?

Tell us what you need to protect and we’ll talk you through it. Give us a call on 01733 661149 or fill out out form.