Why Hertfordshire Businesses Need Manned Guarding? Costs, Legal Requirements, and Best Practices for Local Businesses

Introduction

Hertfordshire’s location creates a mixed security picture for local businesses. Its proximity to London supports trade and connectivity, but the county also covers a wide range of environments town centres, commuter hubs, business parks, logistics routes, and semi-rural sites. As a result, security risk is uneven. What affects a retail park in Watford may look very different from the risks faced by a warehouse or an office site in a quieter area.

For most organisations, risk is not constant. It shifts with time of day, staffing levels, and site accessibility. A warehouse may appear low-risk during working hours but become exposed overnight. Retail parks can be quiet for long periods, then see sharp increases in activity during holidays or sales events. Office buildings with shared access often face issues after hours, when legitimate movement drops but unauthorised access becomes easier.

According to UK crime data, theft and vehicle-related offences remain among the most common risks affecting commercial premises in counties bordering London, including Hertfordshire.

Manned guarding is not a default solution, and it does not replace alarms or CCTV. It is used when timing, responsibility, and exposure create a level of risk that remote systems alone cannot manage. For Hertfordshire businesses, the decision to deploy guards is usually driven by when incidents are most likely to occur, who is accountable for site safety, and how quickly issues need to be controlled.

Understanding when manned guarding is justified, what it realistically costs, and how it supports legal and insurance obligations helps businesses make proportionate, defensible security decisions. This article examines those considerations through a Hertfordshire-specific lens.

Manned Guarding Basics in Hertfordshire

What Is Manned Guarding and How It Differs from Static Security

Manned guarding is the practice of having licensed security officers physically present at a location to provide supervision, control access, and offer a prompt response. Security personnel unlike fixed or remote, only measures such as CCTV, alarms, or monitoring centres, can evaluate the situation as it unfolds and take the necessary steps to prevent the escalation of the incident.

This distinction means a lot to businesses in Hertfordshire. A lot of sites, for instance, undergo different levels of risk exposure during the day. Although static systems are good at detection and evidence gathering, they depend on incidents taking place first. The operation of manned guarding is at an earlier stage, thus it decreases the chances of occurrence through the visibility and judgement of the guard rather than reacting after loss has already taken place.

How Local Crime Patterns Shape the Need for Manned Guarding

Crime that affects businesses in Hertfordshire is mainly driven by chance and timing rather than by consistent pressure. Usually, industrial estates, logistics hubs, and business parks are safe during the day but get lonely at night or very early in the morning.

As a result of this trend, it is usually more efficient to have targeted protection during certain risk periods than to have continuous remote monitoring without any interruption. The number of unauthorised access and opportunistic incidents can be lowered to a great extent by a physical presence at the time of the most likely high risk periods.

Peak Risk Hours for Hertfordshire Business Sites

Most of the time, an increase in risk exposure can be observed outside the normal operating hours. Such times as overnight, early mornings, and weekends are considered to be more risky, especially for the locations that do not have sufficient staffing or natural surveillance.

In the case of environments that are open to the public, the level of risk can get higher during the last hours of trading or at the times when there is a great number of people. Knowing the exact time when a site is the most vulnerable helps businesses to dispatch guards accordingly instead of just making a risk assumption that it is evenly spread throughout the day.

Warehouse and Logistics Vulnerabilities in Hertfordshire

Warehousing and logistics facilities face risks linked to overnight operations, controlled vehicle movements, and predictable schedules. Sites are often located close to major transport routes but away from residential areas, reducing passive surveillance after hours.

Manned guarding in these environments supports access control, vehicle verification, and rapid response to irregular activity, particularly when goods are moving during low-visibility periods.

Managing Anti-Social Behaviour in Retail Parks and Town Centres

Retail parks and town-centre locations experience fluctuating footfall rather than constant risk. Anti-social behaviour and opportunistic theft are more likely during peak shopping periods, evenings, or when shared public spaces remain accessible after stores close.

In these settings, manned guarding focuses on visibility and early intervention. Guards help deter disruptive behaviour, support staff, and prevent minor issues from escalating into incidents that create legal or reputational exposure.

Daytime vs Night-Time Guarding Risks

Daytime security is typically based on controlling access, being visible, and communicating with employees or the public. In contrast, night time security changes the focus to safeguarding the property, the security of the perimeter, and the detection of unauthorized entry. 

A single guarding method used throughout the day and night may be less effective for businesses in Hertfordshire. The risk varies with time, and the efficient deployments change guard duties and the number of guards according to those variations.

Seasonal and Event-Driven Security Pressures

Changes in risk can be caused by seasonal trading periods, local events, and a temporary increase in the number of people. Peaks in retail, stages in construction, or public events may be the sources of a temporary risk that is not sufficient to make permanent security changes. Manned guarding is a great solution during such periods as it gives the business the ability to handle the temporary increase in risk without having to make a change in the security setup that is long term.

Transport Links and Access-Related Security Risks

Hertfordshire has a robust transport network that helps in the development of the area but also makes it vulnerable to certain risks. Properties that are situated close to the train stations, bus hubs, or main road networks have great accessibility but at the same time, they might be exposed to a higher number of unauthorized movements especially during the hours that are outside the working ones.

Guards in such places assist in the regulation of the access points, observation of the movements, and the provision of a visible deterrent to the areas where there is an increase in the footfall related to the transport but in an unpredictable way.

Economic Activity and Business Growth Pressures

Business growth all over Hertfordshire has caused the rise of industrial, logistics, and commercial developments. As locations become larger and more complicated, it becomes more difficult to control access and keep an eye on activities.

Manned guarding facilitates this development by being on hand during the expansion stages, changes in operating hours, or periods when internal controls are still at the level of coordination.

Legal and Compliance Requirements for Manned Guarding in Hertfordshire

SIA Licensing: The Non-Negotiable Legal Baseline

In Hertfordshire, similar to the rest of the UK, the majority of manned guarding roles are regulated under the mandatory Security Industry Authority (SIA). Any person performing licensable activities such as guarding, door supervision, or event security must have a valid SIA licence that corresponds to the activities they carry out.

For enterprises, the risk is typically below their radar. The use of an unlicensed guard is a criminal offence, hence, it should not be considered an administrative oversight. The punishments may comprise hefty fines and, in the case of a serious offence, prosecution. Most importantly, responsibility is not only with the guard or security provider; it also lies with the business that permitted the deployment to happen.

Company Licensing and What It Means for Clients

Besides single permits, numerous security companies have been certified under well known approval schemes which manifest their governance standards, compliance record, and operational controls. Though these certifications are not always compulsory by law, they are being more and more demanded by insurers, public sector bodies, and big commercial clients throughout Hertfordshire.

Such a situation means less risk for businesses. Companies that have documented their procedures, audit trails, and show a stable compliance record are less likely to be targeted by the authorities or experience the interruption of their services, which in turn, affects their routine operations.

Vetting Standards: BS 7858 and DBS Expectations

BS 7858 vetting is the established UK standard for the screening of security personnel. It includes confirmation of the person’s identity, checking their employment history, verifying their right to work, and conducting a background check for a number of years.

DBS checks are not a legal requirement for every guarding role. Nevertheless, they are generally anticipated in situations where security personnel work in environments that require a high level of safety and sensitivity, such as schools, medical institutions, places open to the public, or areas where there are vulnerable people. In Hertfordshire, a lot of procurement teams have lately been considering DBS screening as a minimum standard that has to be met rather than an optional safety measure.

Insurance Requirements When Hiring Manned Guards

Companies that hire security personnel must also confirm that the security personnel have the right kind of insurance. Typically, this means that the security company should have public liability insurance, in addition to employers liability for their employees.

However, having just the coverage is not considered sufficient from an insurers point of view. Insurance companies are now taking a closer look at whether the security measures are suitable for the level of risk at the location. Incorrectly detailed or security that is not suitable may result in a reduction of the settlement that follows a theft, an injury, or some kind of incident that involves the public.

Data Protection and CCTV Integration

Where manned guarding works together with CCTV systems, UK data protection law is applicable. The law covers among other things the use of the footage, the access to recordings, and the data handling which has to be clearly defined.

In reality, security personnel should be aware of the boundary of their power when dealing with monitoring systems. This implies for Hertfordshire enterprises that they have to make sure that their agreements specify in detail the distribution of the responsibilities concerning the protection of the data especially in the case when guards are viewing the footage or giving the evidence of the incident.

VAT Treatment of Manned Security Services

Generally, VAT is applicable to manned guarding services in the UK. As a result, this has an impact on budgeting and cost forecasting of businesses in Hertfordshire, particularly in the case of long, term or multi-site deployments.

Knowing if VAT is a chargeable, recoverable item, or if it is already included in the quoted rates, allows the finance departments to make a more accurate assessment of the actual expenditure without depending on the headline figures.

Construction Sites and Local Authority Expectations

Construction sites all over Hertfordshire are subjected to more rigorous examinations as a result of the dangers that arise from the public having access to temporary boundaries, and the theft of plant and materials. Although laws apply throughout the country, local authorities can also set extra conditions by means of planning permissions or requirements for the management of the site.

Manned guarding helps to uphold the regulations by the means of control over access, stopping of unauthorised entry, and minimising of the incidents which could lead to the intervention of the enforcement or delays.

Event Licensing and the Growing Impact of Martyn’s Law

Manned guarding is a significant factor that helps in fulfilling the licensing requirements for events and venues that are open to the public. Most of the time, local authorities demand that a security presence that is visible to the public should be put in place as part of the management of the crowd and the plan for the prevention of incidents.

In the future, Martyns Law is anticipated to outline security requirements more clearly for locations that are accessible to the public. Although it is still in the process of development, the law’s intention is quite obvious: it is going to put more focus on being prepared, having proportionate guarding, and planning that is documented. For venues in Hertfordshire, this could mean that the guarding arrangements that are structured and well defined will become more important.

Police Coordination and Local Intelligence Use

Private manned guarding is not a substitute for policing, however, if those deployments are carried out efficiently in accordance with local crime patterns and police instructions, they can be very effective. In Hertfordshire, the interaction is mainly through incident reporting routines, escalation steps, and working together during bigger events or times of increased risk.

Details given by the police of local areas like frequently occurring incidents or hours of increased risk are very often the main factors that decide the timing of the guards and the place where their presence will be most useful.

Business Crime Reduction Partnerships (BCRP)

Partnerships operating across Hertfordshire for Business Crime Reduction have been instrumental in specifying the security that is most expected, especially in retail and hospitality sectors. These programs rely on the exchange of information, the implementation of exclusion policies, and the coordination of responses to those who commit offenses repeatedly.

On the other hand, business involvement in these partnerships raises the performance of the security service on the spot, as it allows for understanding the incidents within the broader local context instead of seeing them as separate cases.

Labour Law, Overtime, and Post-Brexit Considerations

Employment law, among other things, affects the cost of security guarding indirectly by imposing regulations on working hours, rest periods, and overtime. Although these duties mainly belong to the security provider, the non compliance of staffing models is usually revealed as a decrease in the level of the service or as the lack of the coverage.

The rules for checking the right to work that have been introduced after Brexit are still of importance. Businesses in Hertfordshire are well advised to make sure that their providers have strong measures in place for checks because, as a result of the failures, the continuity of the service can be disrupted, and there can be compliance risk.

Costs, Contracts, and Deployment of Manned Guarding in Hertfordshire

What Drives the Cost of Manned Guarding in Hertfordshire

Manned guard costs in Hertfordshire are not heavily affected by a simple hourly rate but are rather influenced by factors such as the location, hours of operation, and the level of exposure of the site. For example, places that are close to major transport corridors, commercial hubs, and town centres usually have higher costs because of the higher number of people, mixed use access, and more interaction with the public.

On the other hand, business parks, logistics hubs, and semi, rural industrial areas in Hertfordshire are, in general, able to maintain a more consistent price level. In such places, the focus of the guarding is typically on access control, perimeter protection, and overnight coverage as opposed to engagement with the public, which is continuous.

Town Centre vs Business Park Guarding Costs

Guards in the town centre areas of Hertfordshire usually have to be able to handle a mixture of problems that may include theft, unauthorised access, anti, social behaviour, and customer safety, sometimes within their single shift. The intricacy of that situation doubles the guards’ responsibility and the cost as well.

Business parks and locations that are out of town have different types of risks. The number of people is less, but the risk is higher during the evenings, weekends, and at night. Security in these places is usually more stable and is mainly focused on patrols and controlled access which is a way of keeping the costs at a certain level for a long period of time.

How Quickly Guards Can Be Deployed in Hertfordshire

The time for deployment varies with the level of urgency and the readiness of the site. In the case of scheduled necessities, security companies in Hertfordshire usually experience the arrival of the team within one to three weeks. This time is necessary for site induction, compliance checks, and getting in line with the expectations of the insurer.

A short notice or a cover for an emergency can be put in place faster, even within a few days, but it is usually more expensive. Also, a quick deployment without a well defined site can lead to the risk of coverage gaps or the wrong direction of the protection priorities.

Typical Contract Lengths for Manned Guarding

Most manned guarding contracts in Hertfordshire fall within a 12 to 36-month range. Shorter contracts offer flexibility but often come with higher hourly rates. Longer agreements tend to stabilise pricing and allow guarding arrangements to adapt properly to the site, reducing disruption and repeat incidents.

For sites with changing risk levels such as construction projects, refurbishments, or seasonal operations, rolling or phased contracts are commonly used to adjust coverage as exposure changes.

Notice Periods and Contract Exit Terms

Standard notice periods are most of the time between one and three months. These clauses are mainly intended to keep the service running smoothly, however, they also offer protection to the client. Having clear exit terms at hand lowers the risk of a sudden loss of cover, which can cause changes in the conditions of insurance as well as in the internal risk management plans.

Inadequate defining of notice agreements may result in businesses being unprotected while changing providers, especially in case of sites that are still operational or accessible to the public.

Wage Pressures and Cost Changes in 2025

Rising wage costs across the security sector have influenced manned guarding pricing in 2025. For Hertfordshire businesses, the critical issue is not the increase itself, but how clearly and fairly it is reflected in contracts.

Guarding that is priced unrealistically low often results in inconsistent cover, reduced supervision, or frequent personnel changes all of which increase operational risk rather than reduce it. Transparent pricing tends to deliver more reliable service over time.

Inflation and Long-Term Contract Pricing

Inflation affects guarding costs through fuel, equipment, compliance, and supervisory overheads. Many Hertfordshire contracts now include review mechanisms that allow for periodic adjustments rather than full renegotiation.

For finance and procurement teams, this approach offers predictability and avoids sudden cost shocks after the first contract term.

How Manned Guarding Can Support Insurance Outcomes

Insurers increasingly assess how effectively risks are managed, not simply whether security is present. Well-planned manned guarding can reduce incident frequency by preventing escalation rather than just recording events after they occur.

For Hertfordshire businesses, especially those with high-value assets, public access, or prior claims history, this can support more favourable insurance terms over time.

Public Sector Contracts and the Procurement Act 2023

For public sector organisations across Hertfordshire, the Procurement Act 2023 has reshaped how guarding services are specified and evaluated. Greater emphasis is now placed on value, compliance history, and proportionality rather than lowest cost alone.

Guarding arrangements must be clearly justified, aligned with site risk, and able to withstand audit scrutiny. Poorly defined security provision is no longer just inefficient, it represents a governance and procurement risk.

Performance, Risks, and Operational Challenges in Hertfordshire Manned Guarding

Measuring Performance: What KPIs Actually Matter to Businesses

For Hertfordshire businesses, measuring manned guarding performance is less about how busy guards appear and more about whether risk is being reduced in practice. Useful KPIs tend to focus on outcomes rather than activity alone.

Common measures include incident frequency, response times, accuracy of reporting, patrol compliance, and how consistently issues are escalated. From a management perspective, the value lies in trends. A steady reduction in repeat incidents or unauthorised access is often a stronger indicator of effective guarding than high patrol counts on paper.

How Weather Conditions Affect Guarding Effectiveness

Hertfordshire’s weather has a direct impact on outdoor manned guarding, particularly at construction sites, logistics hubs, car parks, and perimeter-heavy locations. Poor visibility, heavy rain, frost, or extreme heat can all affect patrol coverage and response times.

From a business risk perspective, adverse weather increases reliance on good planning rather than reactive cover. Sites with exposed boundaries or long perimeters are more vulnerable during poor conditions, especially overnight, when natural surveillance is limited.

Documenting Weather-Related Risk on Patrols

Weather conditions are not just operational challenges; they are part of the site risk record. Guards are typically expected to note conditions that affect visibility, access routes, lighting performance, or boundary integrity.

For Hertfordshire businesses, this documentation matters when incidents occur. Clear records help demonstrate that risks were identified and managed, which can be important for insurance reviews, internal audits, or post-incident investigations.

The Impact of Long Shifts on Guard Performance

Extended shifts can affect concentration, reaction time, and decision-making. While staffing models are the responsibility of the provider, the consequences surface on site.

For clients, the risk is indirect but real. Fatigue-related errors can lead to missed patrols, delayed responses, or poor incident handling. This is particularly relevant for overnight guarding at warehouses, rural sites, or locations with limited supervision.

Mental Fatigue and Night-Shift Exposure

Night shifts present a different risk profile. Reduced activity levels, isolation, and disrupted sleep patterns can all affect performance over time.

From a business standpoint, the concern is not internal workforce welfare management, but consistency of coverage. Sites that rely heavily on night-time guarding benefit most when alertness, reporting quality, and escalation procedures remain consistent throughout the shift.

Environmental and Safety Regulations Affecting Outdoor Guarding

Outdoor manned guarding in Hertfordshire must operate within health, safety, and environmental regulations. This includes safe working practices in low temperatures, during heatwaves, or in adverse weather.

For businesses, compliance failures in this area can translate into service disruption. Guards who cannot safely patrol exposed areas leave gaps in coverage, increasing vulnerability during precisely the periods when risk is highest.

Operational Risks When Guarding Is Under-Specified

One of the most common challenges is not guard performance itself, but poorly defined guarding requirements. When site risks, patrol expectations, or escalation thresholds are unclear, performance becomes harder to measure and manage.

In Hertfordshire, this often affects mixed-use sites, business parks, or locations that change risk profile over time. Clear scope definition reduces ambiguity, improves reporting quality, and lowers the chance of incidents being mishandled.

Staffing Stability as a Client Risk, Not an HR Issue

While workforce management sits with the security provider, staffing stability affects service continuity. Frequent changes on site can weaken situational awareness and reduce the effectiveness of guarding routines.

For businesses, the risk is operational rather than administrative. Stable coverage supports better site familiarity, faster issue recognition, and more reliable incident prevention, all of which contribute to lower overall risk exposure.

Technology and Future Trends in Hertfordshire Manned Guarding

How Technology Has Changed Manned Guarding in Hertfordshire

Manned guarding in Hertfordshire has evolved quietly but significantly over the last decade. The role of on-site security is no longer limited to physical presence alone. Instead, guards increasingly operate as the decision-making layer within a wider security system.

For businesses, this shift matters because technology now reduces blind spots rather than replacing guards. Sites with large perimeters, multiple access points, or mixed-use activity benefit most when guards are supported by systems that extend visibility and improve response accuracy.

CCTV Integration as a Practical Force Multiplier

CCTV remains the most widely used technology alongside manned guarding in Hertfordshire. Its value lies less in recording incidents and more in supporting real-time judgement.

When guards have access to live camera feeds, they can verify alarms, monitor remote areas, and prioritise responses. This is particularly relevant for business parks, logistics hubs, and public-facing sites where covering every area physically would be impractical.

For insurers and auditors, this integration also strengthens incident evidence and accountability.

The Role of AI Analytics in Supporting On-Site Guards

AI-based surveillance tools are increasingly used to flag unusual behaviour such as loitering, out-of-hours movement, or repeated access attempts. In Hertfordshire, these systems are most effective on larger or lower-activity sites, where patterns matter more than constant footfall.

Importantly, AI does not replace judgement. It highlights anomalies, but guards still decide how and when to intervene. From a risk perspective, this reduces false alarms while ensuring genuine issues receive faster attention.

Remote Monitoring and Central Oversight

Remote monitoring centres now commonly support manned guarding, especially during nights, weekends, or low-occupancy periods. For Hertfordshire businesses, this layered approach reduces reliance on a single point of observation.

Remote oversight provides escalation support, secondary verification, and continuity during incidents. This is particularly valuable for semi-rural locations or sites operating outside standard business hours, where immediate back-up improves resilience.

Limited but Growing Use of Drones

Drone use in Hertfordshire remains selective rather than widespread. It is most relevant for large construction sites, infrastructure projects, or open land where physical patrols are time-consuming or weather-dependent.

Used correctly, drones provide rapid situational awareness rather than routine patrols. They help guards assess alerts quickly and safely, especially in poor visibility or difficult terrain.

Predictive Analytics and Smarter Risk Planning

Some organisations are beginning to use predictive tools to assess when guarding is most needed. By analysing incident history, access patterns, operating hours, and seasonal changes, businesses can adjust guarding levels more precisely.

In Hertfordshire, this is particularly useful for sites with fluctuating activity, such as logistics centres, retail parks, or developments undergoing phased construction. The result is better alignment between cost and actual exposure.

Post-COVID Changes to Guarding Practices

Post-COVID, guarding protocols place greater emphasis on access control, lone-working awareness, and incident documentation. While health screening is no longer central, the focus on structured procedures and clearer escalation remains.

For businesses, this has improved consistency. Guards are now more integrated into operational risk management rather than operating as a separate function.

Green and Sustainable Security Practices

Environmental considerations are increasingly influencing guarding operations. In Hertfordshire, this includes reduced vehicle patrols through smarter scheduling, energy-efficient lighting, and integration with solar-powered monitoring systems.

These practices lower environmental impact without reducing coverage and are particularly relevant for sites with ESG commitments or long-term security contracts.

Martyn’s Law and Future Compliance Expectations

Martyn’s Law (Protect Duty) is expected to increase scrutiny on security planning for publicly accessible venues. While it does not mandate guards in every case, it emphasises preparedness, visible mitigation, and documented procedures.

For Hertfordshire venues such as retail centres, hospitality sites, and event locations, manned guarding is likely to play a more defined role in meeting these expectations, supported by technology that improves monitoring and record-keeping.

Conclusion: Why Hertfordshire Businesses Need Manned Guarding

For Hertfordshire businesses, manned guarding is rarely about responding to constant threat. More often, it is about managing when risk appears, how quickly it can escalate, and whether there is someone on site who can intervene before disruption becomes loss.

The county’s mix of commuter towns, business parks, logistics corridors, retail centres, and semi-rural locations creates uneven exposure. Some sites are busy during the day and quiet at night. Others sit largely unattended but hold valuable assets. In these environments, alarms and cameras play an important role, but they do not make decisions, manage people, or adapt to changing conditions on the ground.

What effective manned guarding offers Hertfordshire organisations is proportionate control. When deployed with clear purpose, compliant staffing, and realistic expectations, it supports insurance confidence, operational continuity, and accountability rather than acting as a blunt or reactive measure.

The decision is not whether manned guarding is always necessary. It is whether the risk profile of a site justifies on-site presence at specific times, and whether that presence is structured in a way that stands up to legal, operational, and financial scrutiny. Businesses that approach guarding with that mindset tend to see it not as a cost to justify repeatedly, but as part of long-term risk management.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do all Hertfordshire businesses need manned guarding?

No. Manned guarding is most appropriate where there is public access, valuable assets, overnight inactivity, or limited natural surveillance. Many Hertfordshire businesses use guarding selectively, such as overnight, during peak periods, or for specific operational risks.

2. Is manned guarding necessary if CCTV and alarms are already in place?

CCTV and alarms help detect incidents, but they do not intervene. In locations where response times vary or sites are spread out, manned guarding fills the gap between detection and control, particularly outside normal working hours.

3. Which Hertfordshire sites benefit most from manned guarding?

Business parks, warehouses, construction sites, retail centres, hospitality venues, and mixed-use developments tend to benefit most. Semi-rural and out-of-town sites are often higher risk than they appear, especially overnight.

4. How does manned guarding affect insurance assessments?

Insurers focus on how risk is managed, not just whether security exists. Consistent guarding, clear procedures, and reliable incident reporting can strengthen claims defensibility and reduce disputes after losses or liability events.

5. Are businesses responsible if a security guard is not properly licensed?

Yes. While the provider carries direct responsibility, businesses can still face consequences if unlicensed or improperly vetted guards are used. This can affect insurance cover and increase liability following an incident.

6. Is manned guarding only useful at night?

Not necessarily. Night-time guarding is common, but daytime guarding is often justified in retail environments, public venues, and busy sites where access control, anti-social behaviour, or staff safety are concerns. The need depends on when risk occurs.

7. How flexible are manned guarding contracts in Hertfordshire?

Most contracts allow for adjustments as risk changes, such as scaling coverage during peak trading periods or reducing hours during quieter phases. Flexibility should be clearly defined to avoid being locked into unsuitable coverage.

8. How should Hertfordshire businesses decide the right level of guarding?

The most effective approach is a site-specific risk assessment. Location, operating hours, public access, asset value, and incident history matter more than applying the same guarding model everywhere.