Unarmed Security Officers

Unarmed officers are the right choice for the majority of everyday posts: the gatehouse of a townhouse complex, the reception of an office building, the entrance of a clinic or school, the floor of a retail store, or the night watch at a small business. In these settings, a calm and courteous presence does more good than a visible weapon. Officers deter opportunistic crime, control access, and are often the first point of contact for staff, residents and visitors. For premises facing a credible threat of armed robbery, see armed guards instead.

• Access control: checking residents, staff and visitors against lists or access systems, issuing visitor passes and logging vehicles.
• Visitor and contractor management: confirming appointments, escorting where required and ensuring contractors sign in and out.
• Observation and patrols: walking the premises at intervals, checking doors, gates, lights and fences.
• Deliveries: checking paperwork and directing vehicles to the right area.
• First response: raising the alarm, activating panic buttons, calling armed response or emergency services, and protecting people until help arrives.
• Record keeping: accurate occurrence book entries for every shift.

An unarmed officer should never be left to face an armed threat alone. We design posts so officers can call for help quickly, using radios or phones, panic buttons linked to monitoring and dispatch, and armed response where available at the address. CCTV coverage of the gate and perimeter adds another set of eyes and a record of events. This layered approach keeps costs well below full armed guarding while still providing real protection.

Unarmed officers often spend more time dealing with people than with crime, so presentation and manner matter. We place PSIRA-registered officers whose grade suits the post, and who can be firm without being rude. Officers are briefed on your site instructions, including how to handle difficult visitors, and supervisors check that standards are kept. If an officer is not a good fit for your environment, tell us and we will address it.

Unarmed officers can cover day, night or weekend shifts, or around-the-clock posts with reliefs. Most clients appoint them on ongoing contracts, but short-term cover is available for events, building handovers or periods of disruption. Shift patterns, supervision and reporting are confirmed in writing after the site assessment. See also our broader security guarding services.