Question 1

What does a manned guarding service include?

Accepted Answer

Manned guarding provides SIA-licensed security officers stationed at your premises during operating hours or 24/7. Officers conduct access control, visitor management, CCTV monitoring, regular patrols of the site perimeter and interior, incident response, and detailed shift reports. All our officers are directly employed by Vigil, DBS-checked, and trained in conflict management, first aid, and fire safety. You receive the same assigned officers on a consistent rota, ensuring they know your site, your staff, and your security protocols intimately.

Question 2

Are all your security officers SIA-licensed?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every officer deployed to your site holds a current SIA licence in the appropriate category — either Security Guarding or Door Supervision. The SIA (Security Industry Authority) is the regulatory body for private security in the UK. All licences are checked at recruitment and renewed every three years. We do not use agency staff or sub-contracted officers. Every guard on a Vigil contract is a directly employed member of our team, ensuring accountability, consistency, and adherence to our service standards.

Question 3

What is the difference between manned guarding and mobile patrols?

Accepted Answer

Manned guarding places a dedicated officer on your premises for the duration of the shift — typically 8, 10, or 12 hours, or 24/7 depending on your requirements. The officer remains on-site, providing continuous visible deterrence and immediate response to any incident. Mobile patrols involve periodic visits to your site at agreed intervals (e.g., 2–4 times per shift), with officers spending 15–30 minutes per visit conducting external and internal checks. Manned guarding is suited to higher-risk sites, premises with high footfall, or where access control and visitor management are required. Mobile patrols are cost-effective for lower-risk sites that benefit from regular checks but do not require constant presence.

Question 4

Can we have the same officers on a regular rota?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Consistency is central to our service model. We assign dedicated officers to your site and maintain a stable rota. You will typically have 2–3 assigned officers who rotate shifts, ensuring you always see familiar faces. Officers learn your premises layout, your operational procedures, your staff, and any site-specific risks. This continuity improves security effectiveness and builds trust with your team. If an assigned officer is unavailable due to leave or sickness, we provide a trained relief officer who is briefed on your site before deployment.

Question 5

What areas of London do you cover?

Accepted Answer

Vigil Security operates across Greater London, from the City of London and Canary Wharf to outer boroughs including Barnet, Bromley, and Hillingdon. We deploy officers to commercial offices, retail premises, construction sites, healthcare facilities, educational institutions, and residential developments. All officers are familiar with London geography and transport links. If your organisation operates multiple sites across London, we can provide manned guarding under a single contract with consolidated reporting and one account manager.

Question 6

How quickly can you mobilise manned guarding for our site?

Accepted Answer

For standard deployments, we can typically mobilise within 48–72 hours of contract signature. This includes conducting a site risk assessment, assigning officers, completing site-specific training, and issuing uniforms and equipment. For emergency deployments — for example, following a security incident or sudden staff absence — we maintain a pool of trained relief officers and can often deploy within 24 hours. For complex sites requiring detailed risk assessments or specialist vetting, mobilisation may take 5–7 working days. We will confirm timelines during the initial consultation.

Manned Guarding London

Our services

How it works

Contact Vigil

Site risk assessment

Officers deployed

Why London businesses choose Vigil

SIA-licensed officers

BS7858 vetted

15-minute response

Digital shift reports

Frequently asked questions

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