Provide covert security in retail environments LEGACY

URN: SFSSLP16L
Business Sectors (Suites): Security and Loss Prevention
Developed by: Skills for Security
Approved on: 01 Nov 2014

Overview

​This NOS is aimed at security and loss prevention service providers and sets out the skills, knowledge and understanding for you to provide undercover retail security.
This NOS covers the following activities:
1. Maintain covert security presence 
2. Respond to security alarms


Performance criteria

You must be able to:

Maintain covert security presence
1. maintain the health, safety and welfare of yourself and others whilst providing covert security
2. carry out covert security observations in line with your organisation’s policies and procedures
3. comply with the relevant legal requirements and codes of practice when working covertly
4. behave at all times in ways that preserve your covert security role
5. dress appropriately for the retail environments in which you are working
6. communicate with colleagues and the relevant authorities in ways that preserve your covert security role
7. be alert in line with your organisation’s policies and procedures to potential threats to security
8. liaise with relevant authorities
9. record and maintain all observations and reports as potential evidence in the event of subsequent prosecution
10. complete the required records accurately, legibly and within required timescales
Respond to security alarms
11. recognise correctly the types and locations of security alarm systems to which you should respond
12. decide when and how you should respond to security alarms, in line with your organisation’s policies and procedures
13. take appropriate action in response to security alarms, that does not compromise your covert security role
14. recognise and report to the appropriate person defective or ineffective security alarm systems
15. complete the required records accurately, legibly and within required timescales


Knowledge and Understanding

You need to know and understand:

Legal and organisational requirements
1. current relevant legislation (in particular Data Protection Act), regulations, codes of practice and guidelines relating to:
1.1 covert security activities, including responding to security alarms
1.2 arresting and apprehending people
2. your organisation’s policies and procedures for providing covert security and alarm response in retail environments 
Maintain covert security presence
3. how to dress, behave and communicate with others to preserve your covert role
4. the layout of the premises and local retail environment in which you work
5. how to recognise suspicious behaviour
6. how and why it is important to record and maintain all observations and reports
Respond to security alarms
7. how to recognise alarm signals
8. how to preserve your covert role while responding to security alarms
9. how to report defective or ineffective security alarm systems
10. types and use of typical security alarm systems


Scope/range


Scope Performance

​1. retail environments: *
1.1 locality
1.2 type of retail business
2. *
communicate: *
2.1 radio
2.2 telephone
2.3 face-to-face
3. *
relevant authorities:

3.1 police
3.2 shopwatch, and equivalent schemes
3.3 store management
3.4 line management
4. *security alarm systems: *
4.1 access control
4.2 surveillance
4.3 stock protection;(EAS systems, loop –alarms)
4.4 perimeter protection; panic buttons; fire alarms; smoke alarms


Scope Knowledge


Values


Behaviours


Skills


Glossary


Links To Other NOS


External Links


Version Number

2

Indicative Review Date

31 Mar 2018

Validity

Legacy

Status

Original

Originating Organisation

Skills for Security

Original URN

SFSSLP16

Relevant Occupations

Elementary Occupations, Elementary Security Occupations

SOC Code

9231

Keywords

Security; loss; prevention