We wanted this blog to take a slightly different tone... more of sharing a personal experience than writing why CSS Ltd security guards are the right choice for your business (which, of course, they are!).

So, last week, my partner and I were walking through the now face-masked high street of the sleepy midlands town we call home. It's not a particularly poor area, and neither is it affluent. It's simply an ordinary town, much like those up and down the UK.

Shortly after all shops re-opened after peak lockdown, there was a queuing system for all retailers, but the introduction face masks saw many shops remove the need for queuing, instead, putting one way systems in place, popping up screens in front of tills and focussing on encouraging the public to stay socially distanced when inside the store.

Now, there are three major issues with this model when it comes to security.

• Firstly, the one-way system, especially where there are separate entry and exit points
• Secondly, the use of screens at the tills and/or the use of visors by the staff
• Thirdly, all members of the public wearing facemasks.

Now, let me take you back to that high street a few days ago. We needed to get a few basic household items and headed for a popular discount store on the high street. To respect the social distancing guidelines of the store, I went in to gather what we needed, and my partner remained outside. It was a Saturday and busier than normal, and the shop had an entrance on one side, and a separate exit by the tills. It was a one-way system throughout the store. The queue took me a little while to get through and when I finally came out, my partner told me what he had witnessed.

Two youths, both in facemasks, casually walked into the entrance of the store. There was not a member of staff on the entrance. These youths took what they pleased from the first aisle, and walked straight back out of the store -- through the entrance -- with goods in their arms. No one noticed them, no one stopped them, and had my partner not notified the staff, no one would have never known.

The use of facemasks meant these youths can't be identified with CCTV.

The use of screens and face visors reduced the vision of the staff, who were focussed on serving the customers

The one-way system meant no one was watching anyone walking out of the entrance -- and there were no security detectors on the entrance that would trigger an alarm for theft.

The moral of the story: don't become so pre-occupied by COVID-19 precautions that you forget to handle the basic security needs of your business.

As necessary as these measures are for keeping your staff and customers safe, it's important to keep your assets safe too -- and that means door supervisors, or even undercover security guards at your business.

For more information on how we can work with you to provide a quality security service at your business during these unusual times, please don't hesitate to get in touch a member of our team.

Alternatively, if you're looking to further your career within the security industry, please check the careers section on our website or email us an up to date copy of your C.V. We never subcontract our staff, we invest in their training and we work hard to support our staff. We look forward to meeting you.

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