World Class Security Services

Quality, Quality, Quality

The Fields Group Security Guarantees:

• Reliability - Are the requested service delivered consistently? Yes
• Responsiveness - Does management respond quickly and effectively? Yes
• Assurance - Do employees at all levels convey trust and confidence? Yes
• Empathy - Is there evidence of considerate, individualised attention? Yes
• Value - Is the ration of performance to cost appropriate? Yes
• Service - Is customer service a true priority? Yes
• Integrity - Do both parties display mutual trust? Yes
• Respect - Are services delivered in a respectful manner? Yes

7 Secrets to Selecting a Contract Security Provider

If you thought selecting the right integrator was important, vetting contract security providers is no less crucial. A well-trained and well-paid squad of security officers can do wonders for the security profile of an institution. Ill-equipped and inexperienced guards, on the other hand, can sometimes do more harm than good.

Here are some points you should consider so you'll select the right contract security provider for your organisation.

1. A provider should have specialised experience. Just like integrators, a contract security company being considered by a company should have experience in the industry it is serving. "Each industry has its unique issues, regulatory environment and how security interacts or doesn't interact with the public,
2. Determine if the prospect has local infrastructure and can deliver services in the region. A contract security company must be able to do what it says it is going to do at a particular location. That means it should be able to recruit and manage in or near the area where the company is located.
3. Does the contractor have access to best practices used around the nation and in other industries? Depending on the complexity of a security situation, this point can be very important. One benefit of using a national provider is that it usually has access to this information. Most likely, it has learned from the experience of peer institutions in other parts of the country.?
4. The type of training contract security officers receive must be appropriate for your institution. Some security officer responsibilities are relatively straightforward. Other duties, however, are complex and require a significant amount of specialised training.?If the prospective provider gives the type of specialised training to its officers that will meet your company requirements the chances of it being a successful partner will be increased. If that training is not provided, than the service will be below par
5. Consider hiring contract security for special events and construction. Even if contract security isn't appropriate for your company's daily activities, it might be the best choice for handling construction and special events (e.g. graduations, parking, parties, and concerts, sporting events).?
6. Cost is important but shouldn't be the only consideration when selecting a provider. During an economic recession in particular, it is tempting to just accept the lowest bidder without taking into account other factors. Unfortunately, when it comes to contract security, this approach will most likely affect the calibre of officers a company is assigned.?
7. Be certain the "honeymoon" phenomenon doesn't affect officer performance. When a company has a long-term agreement with a contract security provider, there may be a tendency for the performance to initially be excellent but then deteriorate several months into the contract.

Campuses should be clear with their service providers that the quality of performance will remain high for the duration of the agreement.

Appropriate Blending of Police and Contract Security Is a Must

These pointers will help your department integrate police and security officers so they work together as a cohesive unit:

• Clarify each type of officer's responsibilities: Police do police work and security officers have their specific duties (e.g. monitoring CCTV, manning posts, checking IDs)
• Do roll calls simultaneously so both types of officers understand what is occurring on site and what the others are doing
• Clearly indicate beforehand if security officers will be armed or unarmed
• Have prospective security officers interview not only with public safety but with other departments that might be impacted (e.g. residential life, company administration)
• Have them train together when appropriate (e.g. sexual harassment, diversity)