Static Guarding vs. Mobile Patrols: Which is Right for Your Business?

Updated: 12 Nov 2025 · Category: Mobile Patrols / General Security

For any business owner or site manager in the West Midlands, security is a balancing act. On one side, you have the tangible risk of theft, vandalism, and arson—threats that can cost your business thousands in losses and insurance hikes. On the other side, you have the reality of the budget.

You know you need protection. You cannot leave your warehouse, construction site, or office block vulnerable overnight. But when you start looking at quotes, you are often faced with a choice between two very different services: Static Manned Guarding and Mobile Patrols.

One offers total, continuous protection but comes with a higher price tag. The other offers flexible, random deterrence at a fraction of the cost.

So, which one is right for your specific site? Does a warehouse in Tyseley need a 24/7 guard? Can a construction site in Solihull stay safe with just three patrol visits a night?

At Eagle Security Protection, we believe in being transparent about what each service actually delivers. Here is our ultimate guide to choosing between Static Guarding and Mobile Patrols.

1. Static Manned Guarding: The "Gold Standard"

Static Guarding is exactly what it sounds like: a dedicated Security Officer (or team of officers) is stationed on your site for a fixed period—usually overnight (e.g., 6 PM to 6 AM) or 24/7.

How It Works:

The officer does not just sit in a hut. They follow a strict set of Assignment Instructions.

Access Control: They physically lock the gates and control who enters and exits.
Continuous Patrols: They walk the site regularly, checking fence lines, windows, and high-risk assets.
Immediate Response: If an intruder cuts the fence, the guard is already there to intervene and call the police.

The Pros:

Zero Reaction Time: There is no travel time. The response to a threat is instant.
Visual Deterrence: A uniformed officer on site is the single biggest deterrent to criminals. Most thieves will simply move on to an easier target.
Added Value: Guards can perform other duties, such as managing keys, checking temperatures in server rooms, or answering out-of-hours phone calls.

The Cons:

The Cost: You are paying for a person's time by the hour. This makes it the most expensive form of security.

Best For:

Active construction sites with high-value plant machinery.
Warehouses containing high-value stock (electronics, copper, alcohol).
Sites with open perimeters that are easy to breach.
Insurance policies that require a physical presence to validate coverage.

2. Mobile Patrol Services: The "Smart Alternative"

Mobile Patrols are a shared security service. Instead of paying for a guard to be on your site for 12 hours, you pay for a uniformed officer in a marked security vehicle to visit your site at random intervals throughout the night.

How It Works:

The Visit: The officer arrives, unlocks the gate (if required), and conducts a thorough foot patrol of the perimeter and key external areas.
The Check: They check that all windows are shut, fire exits are secure, and there are no signs of attempted forced entry.
The Random Factor: We never visit at the same time. One night we might arrive at 11:00 PM and 3:00 AM; the next night at 9:00 PM and 4:00 AM. This prevents criminals from predicting our routine.

The Pros:

Massive Cost Savings: Because the cost of the officer is shared across multiple clients on the "run," you pay a significantly lower rate.
High Visibility: The sight of a marked Eagle Security Protection vehicle patrolling an industrial estate is a strong deterrent.
Flexibility: You can scale up from 2 patrols to 5 patrols a night depending on your risk level (e.g., over a Bank Holiday).

The Cons:

Gaps in Coverage: The site is unattended between visits. If a break-in happens 10 minutes after we leave, we won't know until the next patrol (or until an alarm triggers).

Best For:

Industrial units in secure business parks.
Vacant properties that just need a "health check."
Offices where the main risk is vandalism or rough sleeping rather than organised theft.
Sites with good physical security (fences/alarms) that just need a human double-check.

3. The Financial Breakdown: Doing the Math

Let’s look at the real numbers. This is where the decision is often made.

(Note: These are standard guide prices. Exact quotes depend on site specifics.)

Scenario A: Static Guarding (12-Hour Night Shift)

Rate: £15.00 per hour
Shift: 19:00 – 07:00 (12 hours)
Cost Per Night: £180.00
Weekly Cost (7 Days): £1,260.00

Scenario B: Mobile Patrols (3 Visits Per Night)

Rate: £25.00 per visit
Frequency: 3 random visits
Cost Per Night: £75.00
Weekly Cost (7 Days): £525.00

The Result: Choosing Mobile Patrols over Static Guarding saves you £735.00 per week (over £38,000 per year).

The Operational Question:

You must ask yourself: Is the risk on my site high enough to justify the extra £38k?

If you have £500,000 of copper cabling on site, the answer is YES—the static guard is an investment.
If you have an empty office building with nothing to steal, the answer is NO—Mobile Patrols are sufficient.

4. The Hybrid Model: "Lock and Patrol"

Many of our clients in Birmingham and Coventry choose a middle ground. They use our Key Holding & Alarm Response service alongside Mobile Patrols.

Routine: We conduct 2 Mobile Patrols per night to check the perimeter.
Emergency: If your alarm system triggers in between patrols, our Response Team (who hold your keys) are dispatched immediately.

This gives you the cost benefits of Mobile Patrols with the peace of mind that if a break-in does happen, a physical response unit is on its way.

📋 Manager’s Checklist: How to Decide?

Use this simple 5-point check to choose the right service for your site:

Asset Value: Do you have portable, high-value items (tools, fuel, stock) that can be stolen in under 10 minutes?
Yes: Static Guarding. | No: Mobile Patrols.
Perimeter Strength: Is your fencing secure, or is it just a bit of orange netting?
Weak Fence: Static Guarding. | Strong Fence: Mobile Patrols.
Insurance Requirements: Check your policy wording. Does it specify "Continuous Attendance"?
Yes: Static Guarding.
History of Crime: Have you been targeted before?
Yes: Static Guarding. | No: Mobile Patrols.
Location: Are you in a busy area or a secluded dead-end?
Secluded: Static Guarding is safer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I change from Static to Mobile later?
A: Yes. Many construction clients start with Static Guarding during the high-risk "fit-out" phase and switch to Mobile Patrols once the building is secure and locked up.

Q: Do Mobile Patrol officers enter the building?
A: Only if you want us to. If you provide keys (via our Key Holding service), we can enter to check internal rooms, boiler rooms, or server rooms. Otherwise, we patrol the external perimeter.

Q: How do I know the Mobile Patrol actually happened?
A: We provide patrol logs and occurrence reports. You can see exactly when our officer attended your site.

Q: Is there a minimum contract for Static Guarding?
A: We generally require a minimum shift length (e.g., 6 hours) to make it viable for the officer, but we don't tie you into long-term yearly contracts if your project is short-term.

Q: What happens on Bank Holidays?
A: Crime spikes on Bank Holidays because sites are empty for longer. We operate 365 days a year. Rates for Bank Holidays are typically higher (double time), but coverage is critical.

Conclusion

There is no "bad" choice between Static Guarding and Mobile Patrols—only the "wrong" choice for your specific risk profile. If you need total control and immediate response, pay for the Static Guard. If you need a cost-effective deterrent that keeps honest people honest, choose Mobile Patrols.