Your Guide To Patrol Guard Tour System

Posted by ewcmalaysia on January 23rd, 2020

If you are the private patrol company looking to advance to a patrol guard tour system, you may find ample of options available in the marketplace. But, to choose the best immediate guard tour system, you require knowing the types and how each one works.

Here we have compiled the two main types of patrol guard tour systems to assist you in narrowing down your search:

1. Watchman's Clock System

A watchman's clock is a mechanical based patrol guard tour system used by private security companies. It is one of the oldest types of guard tour system that has been in use since the 19th Century. It needs a key to yourself to punch a number in a strip of paper with the time preprinted on it.

During the patrol, the security officer is supposed to stop at each key station to print the key number on the paper dial located within the watchman's clock. This paper dial can be later used by a security manager to examine & determine if the patrols were completed on time. The paper dials could be filed away for future records.

Advantages of Watchman's Clock System:

Easy to use.

The most inexpensive type of system.

Disadvantages of Watchman's Clock System:

Only 30 or fewer key stations can be used.

No real-time reporting of officer's activity.

This security patrol device is large and bulky to carry.

Automatic reports cannot be created.

After every 24 hours, the paper dial must be changed.

There are no incident codes to indicate unwanted conditions.

 Electronic Guard Tour System: 

The electronic guard tour system is similar to the previous patrol guard tour system except that it uses electronic components rather than mechanical. An electronic data gathering security patrol device called a "wand" is used instead, which is carried by a security officer on patrol. But, sometimes, a card may also be used.

The checkpoint stations used on-site contain a type of device that can be read electronically. On patrol, the security officer scans the wand at each checkpoint station to record the location & the current time. Most of these electronic systems also allow the security officer to record any abnormal conditions found at or near the checkpoint stations but in a complicated way.

At the end of the tour or shift, the security officer places the wand into a docking station to download details from the wand. This database can be showed on the computer screen and printed for further use.

Advantages of Electronic Guard Tour Systems:

Missed stops and unwanted patrol activities can be simply identified.

As compared to the watchman's clock, the wand is smaller in size and easy to carry.

The system can store many years' worth of activities on a computer effortlessly.

You can enter incident codes to record abnormal conditions on the patrol tour.

Disadvantages of Electronic Guard Tour Systems:

More complicated to use.

It does not provide real-time reporting of the officer's activities.

More expensive than the watchman's clock system.