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With the world economy struggling to maintain a steady balance, the rate of crime across the world has increased. In countries like the UK, there are several ways to deter this increasing rate of threats.
Apart from following security best practices and installing a comprehensive security solution, there is another excellent security measure that is on the rise: keyholding.
Keyholding is a security service provided by professional security companies like Calder Security, where an authorised person or team of professionals have a set of your property’s keys. The team is available for rapid response 24/7, and in the event of an incident, it can check out the premises and take necessary action.
As a property owner, there are immense benefits to opting for keyholding. Not only can you protect your property when away, but you can also avoid staff or employees from investigating suspicious activity on the property alone.
Read on to find out all about keyholding and legal responsibilities, how keyholding services protect against legal complications, and why you should choose Calder Security for professional keyholding services:
ALARM KEYHOLDING SERVICE
A keyholder is a trained individual who is responsible for keeping the keys to your property safe, responding to alarm activations, and acting as an emergency contact for all kinds of safety and security incidents.
Business alarm response in Yorkshire has become incredibly important due to the steady increase in theft and intruders. However, through an SIA guard response (Security Industry Authority), property owners can rest easy knowing that their alarm keyholding service will keep everything in check, even if they are away for some time.
Keyholding offers great benefits to business owners since it adds much-needed convenience and peace of mind. It is an important part of security, which, when integrated with other security systems such as burglar alarms and CCTV cameras, can be a highly useful tool for enhancing security and safety, both for the property and the people in it.
Your keyholder will automatically take the required steps for access control and security and respond to any confirmed threats with an appropriate response. This could be either visiting the property with enforcement personnel or establishing a connection with emergency responders if needed.
The main responsibilities of a professional keyholder include:
- Keeping the keys for the property safe from theft, loss, or damage,
- Knowing the security codes for the security alarms installed on the property and safeguarding them from falling into the wrong hands,
- Conducting security checks to ensure the property is safe from all kinds of safety and security threats,
- Keeping a check on the property when the owners are away and ensuring everything is alright,
- Opening commercial properties such as offices, warehouses, and retail stores at the start of the day and locking up when it’s time to close,
- Inspecting the property, switching on/off the lights, and checking the security systems,
- Acting as an emergency contact and responding to any alarm activations or security/safety breaches at the property,
- Resetting the alarm system and troubleshooting any issues in case of a false alarm to prevent such incidents in the future.
- Visiting the property whenever the need arises, taking the necessary steps to mitigate the risk, and making sure the property is safe before they leave,
- Calling the police and emergency services if needed, and providing them instant access to the property.
Keyholders must store the keys securely and take the necessary measures to prevent unauthorised individuals from misusing them. Professional keyholders are also privy to the security codes for the keyless entry systems and alarm systems on the property, which requires them to also comply with laws and regulations with respect to data protection.
As per the law, keyholders must be 18 years of age, have the right to work in the UK, and be given a keyholding licence for which they must pass identity and criminal background checks carried out by the Security Industry Authority (SIA).
EMERGENCY KEY-HOLDING AND RAPID RESPONSE
In the event of a break-in or suspicious activity detected by the alarm system, the SIA guard response will be triggered immediately.
Once the keyholder arrives at the premises, they will begin the process of the physical response, which includes investigating, patrolling, securing the premises, liaising with police/ambulance/fire services, conducting lockdowns, and checking the perimeter for threats.
This is an excellent service for property owners who are away for a while or for businesses that need security after business hours. Not only does keyholding prevent threats, but it also allows property owners to have the option to have the inside of the premises checked in the case of a break-in.
Business alarm response times in Yorkshire are generally great, especially when a professional security company is attached. So, you can rest assured that you will get the quickest and most effective response if needed.
WHY KEYHOLDING MATTERS FOR BUSINESS ALARMS
Here are five reasons why keyholding services are important for businesses and business alarm systems:
Minimising Risk
The whole idea of keyholding is to maintain the security of the premises even after work hours or when the property owner is away. For example, if the alarm goes off at 3 in the morning, a security professional can respond immediately instead of the business manager or owner having to risk their lives to check the premises.
Entrusting the safety of the property to staff or any other employee is unsafe, stressful, and can also potentially be a liability. This is why keyholders are so important for businesses.
Not only do they work with the business security system, but they can also provide immediate action if the system suspects or confirms a threat.
Faster Mobilisation
SIA guard responses are designed to be effective, convenient, and very quick. With trained guards and mobile patrols ready at a moment’s notice, you can be sure to get a reliable and very fast response to any type of threat.
Keyholders can respond to regular security issues like burglary or vandalism, or even emergencies such as fires and floods. This not only reduces the risk of injury but can also significantly lessen the risk of damage to the property as well.
Full Compliance
Keyholding services are fully compliant with insurance policies as well. Insurance companies expect your business alarm system to have a quick response rate. Having a professional keyholder not only ensures this but also helps keep insurance premiums in check by providing comprehensive security.
This service is also crucial for complying with laws related to employee care. Using a keyholder, you do not have to expect the staff to respond to possible dangerous threats.
Keyholders can also provide detailed reporting of their patrols or visits. Reporting is an important tool that can help you keep up with documentation, which can be used for insurance, audit, or compliance purposes.
Avoiding Disruptions and False Triggers
Keyholder services are great for verifying threats. For example, if the alarm systems falsely trigger, the SIA guard attending the property can reset the system, and you can avoid an unnecessary police response.
However, if the threat is real, the response guard will quickly secure the site, liaise with the relevant emergency and enforcement services, and in some cases, even arrange for temporary repairs to locks and doors.
This not only reduces downtime and the chances of theft but can also reduce the damage to your property.
Saving Money
You might think that having an additional security service is just an added cost; however, keyholding and guard response services are crucial for managing losses and avoiding damage to your property.
When intruders enter a premises, they are usually sloppy and leave quite a mess. This includes damaging gates, locks, security systems, infrastructure, and more. If you add all of these costs and compare them with keyholding services, then it’s a no-brainer!
Additional services like keyholders can help you mitigate business losses and even help you curb insurance premiums over time.
SELECTING THE BEST KEYHOLDING SERVICE PROVIDER
Here are a few important tips to keep in mind when picking the right service provider for keyholding services:
Response Time
The first thing that you need to check is the company’s advertised response time. Alarm keyholding services need to have a response time that is ideally within minutes instead of more than half an hour.
In most cases, you will find companies with an advertised response time of within 20 to 30 minutes. Business alarm response in Yorkshire can vary depending on several factors, such as the location of the property, how long it takes to access the property, and how big the property is.
In most cases, you can expect a response within 20 minutes, which is the gold standard for most companies.
Accreditation
Security companies, like Calder Security, are properly licensed and possess all the necessary accreditations that enable them to be fully compliant for their clients.
Having an SIA-approved contractor status is important because it shows that the company not only provides professionals but also follows all of the industry best practices to secure the property in the event of a threat.
Key Storage
Storing keys with a third party is a massive responsibility, which is why security companies take keyholding extremely seriously. Most companies have the keys securely stored with a professional who may use added measures to keep the set of keys safe.
Comprehensive companies like Calder Security also perform transparent audits of their keyholding service, which includes maintaining a proper log of all the security events for the property.
This is not only crucial to maintain compliance but can also help you keep your insurance premiums down in the long run.
Escalation Protocol
Keyholders and guard responses are trained to follow strict incident management procedures, which include liaising with the police and calling in emergency services if needed.
Make sure that you go with a company that offers comprehensive keyholding services, which include policies such as staying on-site until the property is fully secure. Under this policy, keyholders and guards will remain on site until the premises are secure and the security system is re-armed.
Integration with Alarm Systems
Keyholding services need to be integrated with your existing security system, which includes a comprehensive alarm system.
These systems are your first line of defence against intruders, so they must be properly installed and well-maintained. In most cases, when you go with professional installation services, the security company will provide you with the option to go with keyholding services as well.
This not only ensures that the professionals fully understand the security measures of the property but also that the alarm system is fully integrated with their monitoring station, which is responsible for triggering the guard response.
HOW KEYHOLDING SERVICES PROTECT AGAINST LEGAL COMPLICATIONS
Most reputable keyholders are licensed by the SIA and are trained to deal with safety and security threats, all while staying within the bounds of the law. This means that they follow all the best practices and are fully compliant when conducting their jobs.
These professionals are trained to follow a strict procedure that is in line with all the relevant laws for accessing and securing the property. If you compare this service to designating unprofessional people like friends or family as keyholders, you will have a completely different story.
Untrained people should never be responsible for the security of a premises. This can lead to stress and, at times, even loss of life. For example, if an untrained keyholder investigates an issue and engages with armed criminals, there is a high likelihood of them getting hurt or being used as human shields, which can result in an unnecessary escalation. In such instances, the property owners may be held liable for any injuries or fatalities, and they may face legal complications as a result.
Professional keyholders will perform their duties according to the strictest standards. They will always follow a protocol and inform enforcement personnel, especially if they suspect armed robbers.
These professionals will also provide you with proper record-keeping, where every little detail of the event will be logged and shared with the owner. Reporting can not only help with addressing vulnerabilities in the current security system, but it can also help with maintaining transparency.
Transparency is crucial since it plays an extremely important role in cases of a police case or when pursuing any claims or disputes.
CALDER SECURITY’S COMPLIANCE WITH LEGAL STANDARDS
Calder Security has been working in the security industry since 1976 and offers complete security alarm system services from installation and maintenance of the alarm to repair, monitoring, keyholding, and police response.
If your alarm gets triggered at night or when you are away from your property, it may be a false alarm, a fault in the system, or a genuine break-in. With our professional keyholding services, in the event of an alarm activation, SIA-approved guards are dispatched to your premises to check it out, where they conduct a thorough survey of the site, both inside and outside. They are also trained to deal with securing the site following an intrusion, including basic building repairs, changing locks, and resetting the alarm.
All aspects of our service conform to the relevant regulations and standards set by the professional bodies of the industry, including the SSAIB, SIA, and the police service. We only use a reliable SIA guard service with whom we have a long-standing relationship, and we oversee all monitoring and guard response services.
Contact us here or call us at 0800 612 9799 for more information on emergency keyholding and rapid response, and why it matters for business alarms.
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