When a business decides it needs security at night, the choice usually comes down to two options: an officer who stays on site, or a patrol officer who visits. They are not the same service at different prices. Each suits a different kind of risk.
What each one is
A static guard is a licensed officer who is on your site for the whole shift. They control access, patrol on foot, watch the cameras and are there the moment something happens.
A mobile patrol is a licensed officer in a marked vehicle who visits your site several times during the night, at times that are deliberately varied. On each visit they get out, walk the site, check doors, gates and fences, and record what they find.
How they compare
| Static guard | Mobile patrol | |
|---|---|---|
| Presence | On site all shift | Several visits a night |
| Response to an incident | Immediate | At the next visit, or when an alarm activates |
| Access control | Yes: gate, visitors, deliveries | No |
| Deterrent | Strong and constant | Good, because visits are unpredictable |
| Cost | Hourly, for every hour covered | Per visit: much lower |
| Best for | High-value or open sites | Locked, lower-risk premises |
When you need a static guard
- People or vehicles need to be checked in and out, for example at a gatehouse or a reception desk.
- The site cannot be locked, as on a building site before the structure is closed in.
- There is plant, stock or equipment that could be removed in the time between two patrol visits.
- The site has already been hit more than once.
- There are people on site at night who need support, such as hotel night staff.
- A waking watch is required for fire safety.
When patrols are enough
- The premises can be locked and has a working alarm.
- The main risks are opportunist: somebody trying doors, climbing a fence or dumping waste.
- You want a visible deterrent and a regular check that everything is as it should be.
- The budget does not stretch to an officer for every hour of the night.
The middle ground
Many sites are best served by a combination:
- Patrols plus alarm response. The alarm covers the gaps between visits. If it activates, the same officers who patrol your site attend with your keys. See alarm response and key holding.
- Patrols plus monitored CCTV. Cameras watch continuously; an operator sends the patrol when somebody is seen on site.
- A guard at high-risk times only. For example, a guard at weekends and during shutdowns, with patrols on ordinary weeknights.
Five questions to help you decide
- What is the most valuable thing on site, and how long would it take to remove?
- Can the site be fully locked at night?
- Is there an alarm, and is it monitored?
- Has there been a theft or break-in before, and how did it happen?
- Does your insurer set any conditions about security?
If the honest answers point to a low risk, start with patrols and review after a few months. If they point to something that could be gone in ten minutes, you need somebody there.
We provide both services, so we have no reason to sell you the more expensive one. Tell us about your site and we will recommend what we would do in your position. For the numbers behind guard pricing, see what a security guard costs in Ireland.
