The vigils were the soldiers assigned to guard the city of Rome, and are often credited as the origin of both security guards and police, although their principal duty was as a fire brigade. There have been night watchmen since the middle Ages in Europe. A special chair appeared in Europe sometime in the late middle Ages, called the watchman’s chair; which had a forward slanting seat to prevent the watchman from dozing off during his watch.
Walk into a shopping mall, a cinema hall, or an airport, you’ll spot them right away. Armed security guards are standing at the main gate and keeping a close vigilance at all happenings. Security guards are everywhere and with keeping in view today have increased security concerns, their numbers are growing.
A security guard is a privately employed person who is paid to protect the property of the concern, assets, or people. Often, security guard are uniformed and used to protect property by keeping a high vigilance to detect illegal and inappropriate actions either directly, through patrols, or with the help of alarm systems or video cameras for signs of crime, fire or disorder and then take action by reporting emergency services or as appropriate.
Most of the security departments practice the “detect, deter, observe and report” methodology. Security guards need not make arrests but they act as an agent of law enforcement at the request of a police officer.
It has been noticed that the presence of security personnel in combination with effective security procedures, tends to diminish theft, employee misconduct and safety rule violations or property damage. Most of the casinos hire security guards to protect money when transferring it from the casino to the casino’s bank.
Armed security officers are frequently required to assist in law enforcement until the situation is under control or the public authorities arrive on the scene. Apart from taking it as a carrier, some security guards, young people in particular, use the job as practical experience to use in applying to law enforcement agencies.
