Patrolling, Observation and Reporting
Purpose of patrolling
Patrolling deters crime, detects hazards, and reassures occupants. It should be planned but unpredictable in timing and route so that patterns cannot be exploited.
Key concepts
- Types: foot, vehicle, and static posts; internal and perimeter patrols.
- Patrol technique: vary routes and times, check vulnerable points (doors, windows, fences, lighting, fire equipment, and storage), and use all senses.
- Observation: notice baseline conditions so you recognise change. Record facts, not opinions.
- Notebook discipline: time, date, place, what you saw, what you did, who was involved, and who you informed. Write contemporaneously and never alter records later without noting the change.
- Reporting: verbal reports for immediate action; written reports for the record. Be clear, factual, and objective.
Traps in questions
Questions test the difference between fact and opinion ("the man looked nervous" is opinion; "the man was sweating and repeatedly looked at the gate" is observation). Another trap: guards who leave their post to investigate alone, or who confront suspects without backup. Also watch for reports that omit time or location.
Rule of thumb
Observe, record, report - do not speculate. If in doubt, report it; a false alarm is cheaper than an unreported incident.
Worked example
During a night patrol you notice a padlock on a storeroom is broken. Correct response: do not enter alone; secure the area, note the time and exact location, inform the control room, and complete an incident report describing what you observed without guessing who caused it.