Being a security guard isn’t always easy.

Thinking on your feet and dealing with scary situations is all part of the job, not to mention being confronted by some pretty unsavoury characters.

In recent months security guards have faced even more testing times – and we reckon they deserve a whole heap of praise.

Often, security guards have been at the frontline of protecting the public and keeping businesses safe in a period of great uncertainty.

That takes bravery and sensitivity.

The Covid-19 pandemic has had major ramifications for the protection industry, with security guards adapting to new roles.

Back in March, security guards were recognised as key workers with the following Home Office wording:

Roles essential to supporting law and order, with the potential to reduce demand on policing, also meet the critical worker definition. This would include, amongst other areas, the guarding of empty or closed commercial, retail or office premises; the monitoring of similar through CCTV or other remote means; and the provision of alarm response centres including mobile units.

InKent, Swale council deployed security guards to parts of its shoreline to help protect beachgoers and answer questions.

More used to surveillance work or catching thieves, four officers monitored Minster Leas and Sheerness beaches in place of lifeguards to make sure families were enjoying the sea safely.

Lyme Regis Town Council was just one of the local authorities nationwide which employed security guards to patrol after reports of anti social behaviour.

As most of this was said to involve individuals, often young people, getting together and listening to music, they had to handle situations gently to stop things escalating.

At the same time, many have been recruited by businesses to maintain a presence as customers adapted to social distancing guidelines.

Guards have helped reduce the number of customers entering premises at any given time or provided a reassuring presence when people have been scared or anxious.

Before the pandemic guards were mainly focused on preventing stealing or vandalism.

But new responsibilities have included more communication skills for tricky situations.

As social distancing has become the ‘norm’, some people have chosen not to follow guidelines and it has been down to security guards to encourage them to do so.

They may also have been involved in crucial CCTV monitoring.

As we emerge out of lockdown, security services may be needed to keep watch at areas where people are now meeting. There are still areas under local lockdown and security guards have been called upon to prevent a violation of the rules.

For us, lockdown has underlined just how brilliant security guards are as they stepped up into new responsibilities and showed how wise and adaptable they can be.

We definitely feel lot of thanks and recognition is deserved.