Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Vigilant CQ Security is registered with the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority, and every officer we deploy must hold current PSIRA registration. Our guide to PSIRA grades explains how you can verify a company or officer yourself.

Unarmed officers handle access control, visitor management, patrols and observation, and suit most residential, office and retail posts. Armed officers are deployed where the threat of violent crime is higher, such as cash handling or isolated high-value sites. We recommend the right option after assessing the risk.

Day shifts, night shifts, weekend cover and around-the-clock guarding can all be arranged, depending on your site and budget. Shift patterns, handover times and relief arrangements are set out in your proposal and confirmed in the service agreement.

It depends on the number of posts, whether equipment must be installed and whether officers need site-specific preparation. Small guarding requirements can often start soon after signing. We give you a realistic start date in writing rather than an optimistic promise.

Before placement we verify PSIRA registration, identity and references and assess suitability for the type of post. Officers are briefed on your site instructions before their first shift and receive ongoing conduct and procedure training.

Supervisors visit posts to check attendance, appearance, alertness and record keeping. You also have a named manager for day-to-day matters. The level of supervision is agreed in your proposal and can be increased for higher-risk sites.

Officers record activity and incidents in an occurrence book, and incidents are reported to you according to the escalation procedure in your site instructions. The format and frequency of reports to management are agreed per contract.

Officers follow the agreed procedure: protect people first, raise the alarm, contact the control point and police where necessary, and preserve the scene. You are notified as agreed, and a written incident report follows. Serious incidents are reviewed with you to prevent a repeat.

Security officers have the same powers of arrest as any private person under South African law, which are limited. Their role is to deter, detect, observe, report and protect, and to hand suspects over to the police where an arrest has lawfully been made.

Ask us for details. Insurance arrangements and the limits of liability that apply to your service are set out in your proposal and service agreement, so you can review them before signing.

We offer once-off services, such as events and escorts, as well as ongoing guarding, response and monitoring contracts. Duration, notice periods and renewal terms are set out in your agreement and discussed openly before you sign.

Payment terms, invoicing frequency and methods are as stated in your contract. Once-off services may require payment before the event or escort, while ongoing services are usually invoiced on a regular cycle agreed at the outset.

Yes. We plan the handover with you so the site is never left uncovered, align our start date with your existing notice period, and update site instructions with anything your current provider has learned about the site.

Often, yes. We check the condition and compatibility of existing equipment during the site assessment and either build around it or recommend repairs or upgrades where it is not reliable.