Why Unarmed Security Guards Are Your Best Option
If you own a business, you will know how vital it is to protect your assets and property from theft and other criminal activity. When it comes to protecting your business, hiring security guards is the most effective way to ensure the safety of your property, employees, and clients. But the real question is whether you should invest in armed or unarmed security guards.
It is easy to assume that armed security guards are the most successful deterrent to crime. However, there are important benefits to unarmed security guards that are worth considering:
Affordability
If you decide to hire armed security personnel, they need to be licensed and trained to carry firearms. Because their skills are more specialized, it will cost more per hour to hire armed guards than unarmed personnel. In addition, having firearms on your premises carries the risk of someone getting injured or killed in the event of a shooting. In addition to the hiring fee, you would need to pay insurance if you decide to hire armed security guards. Ultimately, it makes more financial sense to invest in unarmed security services, especially if your business is relatively small.
Effective protection
If your business is at risk of being a target of armed robbers, armed guards may be vital. However, if your business does not operate in a high-risk environment, unarmed personnel will be equally successful in preventing theft and vandalism. Unarmed guards’ training is rigorous and must be completed at a state-approved facility. In addition, an unarmed guard also has the power to make a citizen’s arrest. Moreover, if a threat arises that unarmed guards are not equipped to handle, the police or armed guards will be able to assist. Even though they don’t carry weapons, unarmed personnel have the necessary skills and expertise to resolve conflict and keep your business safe.
Sense of safety
As a business owner, you would want to ensure that your employees and customers always feel at ease. However, hiring armed security guards may have the opposite effect. If guards carry visible firearms, it might send the message that your premises are especially dangerous. In the end, people might feel threatened and nervous even though the risk of criminal activity is low. This might have a negative effect on your company’s image. By contrast, hiring unarmed security guards is a great way of creating a relaxed, comfortable environment as well as fostering a real sense of security.
Lower risk
Even if armed security guards are trained, the risk that someone might be shot always exists. There is also the danger that a perpetrator might get hold of the guard’s weapon and open fire on your employees or clients. In the unfortunate event that someone gets hurt or dies as result of a shooting, you will be held liable as business owner. On the other hand, unarmed personnel can offer the same protection for your business without the risk of violence.
In the end you need to achieve a balance between making everyone feel safe and preventing violent conflict. Armed security guards may be necessary in some cases. However, unarmed guards can offer the same protection in most cases as well as other benefits. If you hire unarmed personnel from a trustworthy security company, such as Inter State Security Corp, you can rest assured that they will be able to with deal with conflict without the use of firearms.
