Question 1

What is a mobile patrol security service?

Accepted Answer

Mobile patrol security involves SIA-licensed officers conducting scheduled visits to your premises at agreed intervals throughout the day or night. Officers arrive in a marked Vigil vehicle, complete external and internal checks of your site, test door locks and window security, check alarm systems, inspect perimeters and car parks, and produce a timestamped patrol report. Visits typically last 15-30 minutes and occur 2-4 times per shift. Mobile patrols provide visible deterrence at a lower cost than static manned guarding, making them ideal for sites that do not require continuous on-site presence but benefit from regular security checks.

Question 2

How often will you visit our premises?

Accepted Answer

Visit frequency is tailored to your risk profile and budget. Standard configurations include 2 visits per night (e.g., 22:00 and 03:00), 3 visits per night (e.g., 21:00, 00:00, 04:00), 4 visits per shift for higher-risk sites, or daytime-only visits for retail or office premises requiring perimeter checks during trading hours. We can also provide ad-hoc patrols for weekends, bank holidays, or during your closure periods. Visit times are randomised within agreed windows to prevent predictability.

Question 3

What areas do mobile patrols cover during each visit?

Accepted Answer

Officers follow a site-specific patrol route covering all agreed checkpoints. Typical checks include testing all external doors and gates for security, inspecting windows for damage or forced entry, walking the site perimeter and boundary fencing, checking car parks and loading bays for unauthorised vehicles or persons, inspecting external lighting and CCTV cameras, confirming alarm systems are set correctly, and noting any maintenance issues or hazards. Officers use our digital patrol system to scan NFC checkpoints at each location, providing auditable proof that all areas were inspected. If any issues are identified — such as a door left insecure or suspicious activity — we escalate immediately via phone and include detailed notes and photographs in the patrol report.

Question 4

Can mobile patrols respond to our alarm activations?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Mobile patrol officers can respond to intruder alarms, fire alarms, or panic alarms at your site. If your monitoring station or alarm company detects an activation, they contact our 24/7 control room. We dispatch the nearest available officer to your premises promptly in line with your agreed service level. The officer attends, investigates the cause, secures the premises if necessary, liaises with police or fire services if required, and produces a detailed incident report. Many clients combine mobile patrols with our dedicated key holding and alarm response service for faster callouts and keyholder access. See our Key Holding & Alarm Response page for full details.

Question 5

Are mobile patrols suitable for construction sites?

Accepted Answer

Mobile patrols are widely used for construction sites, particularly during non-working hours. Officers check site boundaries and hoarding, inspect gates and padlocks, confirm plant machinery and tools are secured, check welfare units and site offices for forced entry, and report any signs of trespass or theft. For high-value sites or those with significant theft risk, we often recommend combining mobile patrols with static manned guarding during high-risk periods. All officers assigned to construction sites are briefed on CDM 2015 site safety requirements and wear appropriate PPE during patrols.

Question 6

How do we receive patrol reports?

Accepted Answer

Every patrol visit generates an automated report uploaded to our client portal within 30 minutes of completion. Reports include visit date and time, officer name and SIA licence number, all checkpoints scanned with GPS timestamps, observations and issues identified, photographs of any defects or concerns, and confirmation that the site was left secure. You can log into the portal at any time to review historical reports or set up email alerts for new reports. If an urgent issue is identified during a patrol — such as a door left insecure or suspicious activity — the officer will also call you directly before leaving site.

Mobile Patrol Security 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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