What is manned guarding?
Manned guarding deploys trained security officers to your premises for continuous on-site protection and access control.
Manned guarding is the deployment of SIA-licensed security officers to a fixed location — your office, retail premises, warehouse, or construction site — for the duration of the contracted shift. Officers provide visible deterrence, control entry and exit points, monitor CCTV systems, conduct regular internal and perimeter patrols, respond to alarms and incidents, manage visitors and deliveries, and produce detailed shift reports.
Unlike mobile patrols, which visit your site periodically, manned guarding offers continuous presence. This is essential for premises with high footfall, valuable assets, regulatory requirements for on-site security, or where immediate response to incidents is critical. Manned guarding is widely used across corporate offices in the City and Canary Wharf, retail stores in central London, construction sites under CDM 2015 obligations, healthcare facilities with CQC compliance requirements, and residential developments requiring concierge and security functions.
All Vigil officers are directly employed — never agency staff or sub-contractors. This means consistent assignment, accountability to our management team, adherence to our training standards, and alignment with your site-specific security protocols. Officers hold current SIA licences, have undergone enhanced DBS checks, and complete induction training covering conflict management, first aid, fire safety, and your operational procedures before deployment.
Why businesses choose Vigil for manned guarding
Directly employed officers, consistent assignment, and Greater London coverage under a single contract.
Most security companies sub-contract their officers through agencies, rotating staff across multiple client sites with no continuity. Vigil operates differently. Every officer on your contract is directly employed by us. They are assigned to your site on a stable rota — typically the same 2–3 officers covering your shifts on a consistent basis. This continuity means officers learn your premises layout, recognise your staff and regular visitors, understand your operational routines, and can identify anomalies quickly.
We cover all 32 Greater London boroughs from a single operating base. If you manage multiple sites across London — office buildings, retail stores, or residential developments — you can consolidate all security services under one Vigil contract. One account manager, one invoice, one set of SLAs, and unified reporting across your entire portfolio. This simplifies procurement, reduces administrative overhead, and ensures consistent service standards regardless of borough.
Our officers receive sector-specific training. Those deployed to construction sites understand CDM 2015 site welfare and access control obligations. Officers assigned to healthcare facilities are briefed on patient confidentiality, infection control, and CQC compliance. Retail-focused officers are trained in conflict de-escalation, shoplifting deterrence, and crowd management during peak trading periods. This sector knowledge ensures our officers integrate seamlessly into your operation rather than simply occupying a post.
Manned guarding services we provide
Access control, CCTV monitoring, patrols, visitor management, incident response, and shift reporting.
Access control and gatehouse duties: Officers stationed at entry points verify identification, check visitors against appointment lists, issue passes, log all entries and exits, and refuse unauthorised access. Essential for corporate offices, construction sites, and facilities with security-cleared areas.
CCTV monitoring: Officers monitor live camera feeds from your on-site control room or reception desk, identify suspicious activity, and respond to alerts. Particularly important for retail premises, car parks, and sites with valuable equipment or stock.
Internal and perimeter patrols: Officers conduct scheduled walks of the premises interior, perimeter fencing, loading bays, and car parks, checking for security breaches, safety hazards, or maintenance issues. Patrols are logged via our digital patrol system, providing an auditable record of coverage.
Visitor and delivery management: Officers greet visitors, sign in contractors, supervise deliveries, and escort visitors to meeting areas. This ensures no unauthorised persons roam your premises unsupervised.
Incident response: Officers respond immediately to alarms, disturbances, medical emergencies, or fire evacuations. They secure the scene, contact emergency services if required, and produce a detailed incident report with witness statements and CCTV footage.
Shift reporting: Every shift concludes with a written report detailing all activities, visitors, incidents, and observations. Reports are uploaded to our client portal within 2 hours of shift completion, providing full visibility of security operations.
Sectors we serve with manned guarding
Corporate offices, retail, construction, healthcare, education, and residential developments.
Corporate offices: Access control, visitor management, and after-hours security for office buildings in the City, Canary Wharf, Victoria, and across central London. Officers manage receptions, control lifts and turnstiles, and conduct evening lock-up procedures.
Retail premises: Front-of-house security for department stores, shopping centres, supermarkets, and standalone retail outlets. Officers provide visible deterrence, monitor for shoplifting, manage aggressive customers, and respond to incidents.
Construction sites: Site security officers under CDM 2015 obligations for main contractors across London. Officers control site access, enforce PPE requirements, conduct tool audits, and prevent theft of materials and plant. See our dedicated construction site security page for full details.
Healthcare facilities: Manned guarding for hospitals, GP surgeries, clinics, and care homes. Officers manage visitor access, de-escalate conflicts in A&E or mental health wards, protect staff from aggressive patients, and assist with safeguarding procedures. All officers assigned to healthcare settings undergo additional training on patient confidentiality and infection control.
Educational institutions: Campus security for universities, colleges, and independent schools. Officers patrol grounds, monitor CCTV, control vehicular access, and respond to incidents involving students or trespassers.
Residential developments: Concierge and security officers for high-end residential buildings, BTR schemes, and gated communities. Officers provide 24/7 reception services, parcel management, visitor screening, and resident liaison. See our concierge security page for residential-specific services.
SIA licensing and vetting standards
Every officer holds a current SIA licence and enhanced DBS check — no exceptions.
The Security Industry Authority (SIA) is the regulatory body for private security under the Private Security Industry Act 2001. All security officers deployed to guarding roles in the UK must hold a valid SIA licence in the Security Guarding or Door Supervision category. To obtain an SIA licence, applicants must complete accredited training, pass a criminal records check, and meet identity verification requirements. Licences are valid for three years and must be renewed with updated checks.
Vigil verifies every officer's SIA licence at recruitment and monitors expiry dates to ensure renewals are completed before deployment. We do not deploy unlicensed officers under any circumstances. Clients can request sight of any officer's SIA badge at any time.
All officers undergo enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks before deployment. Enhanced checks reveal spent and unspent convictions, cautions, and any information held by police that is relevant to the role. For officers assigned to schools, healthcare facilities, or residential care settings, we conduct additional safeguarding checks.
Officers receive refresher training every 12 months covering conflict management, first aid, fire safety, and equality and diversity. We also provide site-specific induction training before first deployment, ensuring officers understand your premises layout, emergency procedures, and operational protocols.
Shift patterns and contract terms
Flexible shift lengths from 8 hours to 24/7 coverage, with monthly or annual contract terms.
We offer flexible shift patterns tailored to your operational hours. Typical configurations include 8-hour shifts (e.g., 08:00–16:00, 16:00–00:00, 00:00–08:00), 10-hour shifts (e.g., 07:00–17:00, 17:00–03:00), 12-hour shifts (e.g., 07:00–19:00, 19:00–07:00), or 24-hour continuous coverage using rotating teams. You can also specify weekend-only, overnight-only, or event-based deployments.
Contracts are typically structured as rolling monthly agreements with 30 days' notice for termination, or fixed-term contracts for 6 or 12 months. We do not impose long tie-ins or exit penalties. If your requirements change — for example, extending hours during a refurbishment or adding a second officer during peak trading — we can amend the contract with 48 hours' notice.
Pricing is transparent and fixed at contract signature. You pay an hourly rate per officer, multiplied by the number of hours per week. There are no hidden fees for uniform, equipment, supervision, or reporting. If you require cover on a bank holiday, we apply a standard uplift as specified in the contract terms. All invoicing is monthly in arrears, with detailed timesheets attached.
How we mobilise manned guarding for your site
Site assessment, officer assignment, training, and deployment within 48–72 hours of contract signature.
Step 1 — Initial consultation and site visit: We conduct a free site visit to assess your premises, understand your security risks, discuss shift requirements, and identify any site-specific training needs. This visit informs our quotation and deployment plan.
Step 2 — Quotation and contract agreement: We provide a detailed written quotation specifying hourly rates, shift patterns, contract term, and any additional services (e.g., CCTV monitoring, alarm response). Once you accept the quote, we issue a contract for signature.
Step 3 — Officer assignment and induction: We assign dedicated officers from our London-based team. Officers complete site-specific induction training covering your premises layout, CCTV locations, emergency exits, alarm procedures, key personnel, and operational protocols. We also provide officers with site-specific post orders documenting their duties and reporting requirements.
Step 4 — Uniform and equipment issue: Officers are issued with branded uniform, two-way radios, torches, body-worn cameras (if specified), and site-specific access cards or keys. Uniforms are professionally laundered and maintained by Vigil.
Step 5 — Deployment and ongoing supervision: Officers commence shifts on the agreed start date. A Vigil supervisor conducts site visits during the first week to ensure officers are performing to standard and to address any teething issues. Thereafter, supervisors visit monthly, review shift reports weekly, and remain on call 24/7 for operational support.
Reporting and accountability
Daily shift reports, incident logs, and monthly KPI summaries via our client portal.
Transparency and accountability are core to our service. Every shift produces a written report documenting all activities, visitors, deliveries, patrols completed, incidents, and observations. Reports are uploaded to our client portal within 2 hours of shift completion. You can log in at any time to review historical reports, incident logs, and CCTV footage (if body-worn cameras are deployed).
Incidents — whether security breaches, medical emergencies, or aggressive behaviour — trigger an immediate escalation process. The on-site officer secures the scene and contacts our control room. We notify you by phone within 30 minutes and provide a detailed incident report within 24 hours, including witness statements, CCTV evidence, and any police or ambulance reference numbers.
At the end of each month, we provide a KPI summary showing total hours worked, patrol completion rates, incident response times, and any contractor or visitor breaches. This summary is reviewed during quarterly business reviews with your account manager, where we discuss performance, address any concerns, and identify opportunities for service improvement.