Manned Guarding vs. CCTV Towers: What’s Right For Your Construction Site?

With a range of different options available for keeping your construction project secure, you must understand what’s right for you and the solutions you need for a package that’s site-specific  for your build.

As part of our ongoing exploration into measures designed for the construction industry, we’re looking at both sides of the coin, comparing manned guarding and CCTV towers and where they could feature on your site. 

What Is Manned Guarding & Where Would I Use It On Site?

Manned guarding is the overarching term given to any professional security presence deployed to protect a premises, site or other project. This can be either manned or static guarding, as well as more specialist solutions like canine handling for sites that are at particular risk (major rural builds or energy infrastructure, for example).

All personnel deployed as part of a manned guarding solution will, at a minimum, be licensed by the Security Industry Authority (SIA). This is the standard for all security officers working in the private security industry – you can’t legally operate as a security professional without that license. 

In a practical sense for construction sites, that means they’re able to recognise threats, address them appropriately, and comply with all the relevant health and safety demands a construction site brings with it.

Our experience and proven track record in the construction sector have historically shown that manned guarding excels in areas where there’s a pressing need for a visible, responsive presence. That includes:

• Gatehouses and entranceways for large-scale projects
• Plant, equipment and machinery storage facilities
• Very high-value projects (such as critical energy infrastructure)
• Civil projects, or those at risk of protest action (like the HS2 project, or the SEALR in Buckinghamshire)
• Site offices with confidential blueprints or information
• Completed but unoccupied areas (such as “phases” of new build estates)
• Sites with their own control centres or CCTV monitoring facilities

These often necessitate a manned presence as they’ll have specific demands from both a compliance perspective (such as greater legislation and a need to comply with the CDM 2015 regulations) and a health and safety angle (like delivering inductions for regular site visitors or safely directing HGVs and delivery transport).

They might also need that manned support as an active member of the team.. The construction of a new supermarket with an attached warehouse and home shopping depot, for example, might require an officer who’s there to both secure the site and direct large loads using specialised Banksman training.

Equally, if you’re operating a small construction site with a limited budget, a multi-skilled security officer can cover emergency first aid requirements (which they’ll have completed as part of their SIA licensing process) and locking and unlocking the site compound each morning and evening.

What Are CCTV Towers & Where Would I Use Them On My Site?

A CCTV tower (also called a mobile CCTV unit) is a self-contained facility that continuously provides a live feed of all activity captured by its cameras. They’ll usually be fitted with either 2 (for 180° coverage) or 4 (for 360° coverage) cameras and be entirely autonomous in their operation, requiring little input once they’re set up and operational.

Most CCTV towers will run on solar power (using an in-built battery that charges through large solar panels), but can be equipped with a “plug-in” power source if your site has substantial infrastructure already in place. In our experience, however, most sites will opt for the solar option as this is exceptionally reliable even in the typically unpredictable British weather.

These towers connect wirelessly via a worldwide SIM card (necessary to avoid any network outages that could impact coverage) to a 24/7 monitoring centre. From there, the cameras are monitored by trained, SIA-licensed operatives who’ve received training to identify and deploy the appropriate response to any signs of danger.

With the advent of AI integration in surveillance and monitoring technology, modern CCTV towers now offer increased responsiveness to all intruders, as well as the capacity to filter out false activations (such as sensors triggered by animals) and identify health and safety breaches (like missing PPE).

Given their autonomy and the additional support that modern AI enhancements offer, we’re seeing a substantial increase in the use cases of CCTV towers on construction sites. That includes:

• Remote projects with limited infrastructure
• City-centre deployments, designed to filter out false flags from passersby
• Around the perimeter of larger-scale builds or projects
• Roadside projects that run an increased risk of unauthorised vehicle traffic
• Around areas where materials or equipment are kept in situ
• In high-risk areas where PPE is absolutely essential

In these scenarios, CCTV towers are both a major deterrent (they’ll also be clearly marked by signage as that extra warning to potential trespassers) and a powerful tool in the fight against construction site theft, given their ability to provide real evidence if tools, equipment or materials are stolen.

Their stature also acts as a great way to reinforce to the general public (and to the company you’re carrying out the works for) that you’re doing all you can to exceed the standards set out by the CDM 2015 regulations. Ultimately, that’s why principal contractors often consider CCTV towers as their first option for professional site security.

Can I Have Both Manned Guarding & CCTV Towers On My Site?

Yes, and the majority of security providers (including the SIA’s #1 provider, ProFM Group) would advise having a blend of the two so all aspects of site security are covered. This minimises gaps in coverage, and the two solutions work in tandem to deliver a package that scales to suit projects of all sizes.

The most fundamental way that can work is where your CCTV towers act as the first line of defence for your on-site officers. Using the built-in, advanced AI technology, the cameras can alert officers at the first sign of danger and prompt a proactive patrol of the area that’s at risk.

For instance, if that’s a trespasser (accidental or otherwise), the officer can then be mobilised immediately to respond and act accordingly, as well as escalate the situation to the emergency services if that’s needed. They’ll also be able to more easily log any incidents as they’re tracked by the cameras.

Equally, a CCTV tower, positioned strategically at high-traffic or public-adjacent spots on your premises, can ultimately offer the reassurance that a manned presence alone can’t. That could be to the general public or to prospective buyers (essential on a new-build estate), demonstrating that, while a manned presence is on site, there are always eyes on every area.

While there are associated costs with this, the benefits quickly outweigh any initial outlay. What we’ve found with many of our clients in the construction sector (like a recent demolition project on the outskirts of Preston) is that they’ll usually begin with the technology before expanding to include manned guarding as part of their solution.

Alternatively, you might opt to start with manned guarding while heavy machinery or plant equipment is on site for a prolonged period, before moving to round-the-clock monitoring as the project progresses to a phase where there’s a lower risk of theft, or where wider infrastructure supports a more expansive solution (such as permanent CCTV installations).

Adaptive, Professional Construction Site Security With ProFM Group 

With 30 years of experience in delivering security solutions built around your site, not a standard template and an ongoing six-year streak as the UK’s leading security provider, as accredited by the SIA, ProFM Group pride ourselves on providing purpose-built, intelligent construction site security.

The construction industry hasn’t stayed stagnant, and in those three decades, neither have we. We’re most known for our manned solutions, having provided both static and mobile security professionals for a range of different projects, from city-centre renovations in urban Manchester to rural energy infrastructure designed to power our countryside.

In that time, we’ve also built a strong reputation for our technology, and our solar-powered CCTV towers lead the way in autonomous, mobile protection. Installed by our trained technicians and monitored around the clock by the SIA-licensed operatives in our National Operations Centre (NOC), we deliver a package that’s designed with the modern construction industry in mind.

It’s a solution we’ve delivered to sites UK-wide and across a range of budgets and project demands. We take the time to understand your pressure points, what makes your site unique, and how we can combine  both manned guarding and CCTV towers (or either of the two in isolation) to exceed the standard requirements set out for your project.

That all starts with an enquiry with our in-house security experts. Get in touch on 03444 779991 to chat with our team and find out how we’re able to deliver a security solution designed specifically for your project and budget.