Beyond the Uniform: Redefining Security for the Modern Development

Among those who passed through were Tony Blair, Mikhail Gorbachev, Ariel Sharon, Hillary Clinton and George W Bush. What struck me most wasn’t the power or the spectacle – it was the discipline and grace of the protection teams that surrounded them. No aggression, no visible panic. They were calm, coordinated and quietly in command of every detail.

Working in that environment taught me that real security is invisible until it needs to be seen. It’s about precision, awareness and professionalism – not intimidation. You knew you were safe, not because someone told you, but because everyone around you knew exactly what to do and how to behave.

That experience shaped how I view security to this day. Whether it’s a residential development, a commercial building or a mixed-use estate, the same principles apply: security isn’t about muscle or fear. It’s about presence, trust, and communication. It’s about winning hearts and minds – of residents, visitors, contractors, managing agents, and even local law enforcement.

Security that serves the community

A development feels safe not because it’s patrolled by “scary-looking guards,” but because residents recognise and trust the people responsible for keeping them secure. A good security officer greets by name, helps with directions, offers reassurance and understands who belongs – and who doesn’t.

Familiarity builds confidence, and confidence prevents panic when something unexpected happens. The best officers don’t just guard doors; they guard relationships.
Knowing the building inside out

Effective security starts with knowledge. Personnel must understand every nook and cranny of their site – basements, car parks, roof spaces and plant rooms. This knowledge is critical during incidents: an intruder, a leak, a fire alarm or a lift entrapment. It also supports building and fire safety compliance, ensuring that evacuation routes remain clear and that any obstructions are reported immediately.

Security personnel should know what’s stored in the Premises Information Box (PIB), who the vulnerable residents are, and even the multiple postcodes that large developments often have. That familiarity allows them to assist emergency services quickly and effectively.

Prepared for the 1%

Most of the time, things run smoothly. But it’s the 1% of scenarios – the rare emergencies – that define whether a team is truly prepared. At Cledor, we use scenario-based training drawn from real-world incidents: bomb threats, fires, deaths on site and severe weather events. Officers practise calm communication, resident reassurance, and cooperation with emergency responders.

On one of our developments, a member of our team even helped deliver first aid using a defibrillator kept on site. Training like this saves lives.

Lawful, literate and linked-In

Modern security officers must understand the law, know how to act proportionately, and use technology confidently. They should be fluent in CCTV operation and retention rules, and know how to provide footage to the police within GDPR guidelines.

They must also be computer-literate, comfortable using platforms like Dwellant, Fixflo or building safety software and resident engagement platforms like RiskBase – logging incidents, maintenance issues and resident interactions digitally.

And where possible, security personnel should be part of the building’s digital community: exchanging information with managing agents, caretakers and concierges via secure platforms rather than scraps of paper.

From car parks to concierge desks

Car parks are often the least loved and least lit parts of a development. Good security practice means checking lighting, monitoring cameras and offering to escort residents to and from their vehicles at night if they feel uneasy. Recording vehicle registrations (ANPR ideally) and flagging unusual activity are essential deterrents.

But the line between security and service is intentionally blurred. The 21st-century security officer is a concierge/security hybrid – courteous yet vigilant, combining the professionalism of hospitality with the authority of enforcement.

Engagement over confrontation

Many officers assume their role is to move “undesirable people” along. But rudeness or intimidation usually shifts the problem elsewhere, only for it to return later.

I prefer engagement. A calm conversation with a rough sleeper – checking they’re safe, explaining private property boundaries – often resolves issues without residents ever realising there was one. Respect defuses tension faster than aggression.
Security health checks

Even the most established developments benefit from a fresh pair of eyes. We encourage periodic “security health checks,” walking the site to spot the obvious – broken lighting, faulty locks, poor sightlines – that everyone else has stopped seeing.

These reviews also cover fob access, which should be refreshed regularly to prevent misuse, and ensure contractor permits and visitor ID protocols are robust.

Adding value, not fear

One of the biggest misconceptions I encounter is that security is a cost burden. In reality, it’s an asset – both reputationally and financially.

Resident engagement is a legal requirement under the Building Safety Act (and others Regulations), but it’s also good business. A guard who engages with residents and understands the community becomes a trusted extension of the management team. That trust builds loyalty, reduces complaints and enhances property value.

Security done well doesn’t make a place feel like a fortress. It makes it feel like home.

Security is most effective when it’s seen, known and respected. It combines vigilance, empathy, communication and training – not intimidation. Whether the challenge is a suspicious vehicle, a missing fob, or a genuine emergency, success depends on the people who quietly keep watch, protecting both buildings and the lives within them.

Nick Regnier, Founder and Managing Director, Cledor
E: nick@cledor.co.uk