How should a security guard report incidents?

Reporting incidents in a formal written format is essential for several reasons. Written reports serve as an official record of the event, providing a detailed and accurate account that can be referred to later. This documentation is crucial not just for immediate follow-up but also for legal considerations, as it creates a permanent record that can be used in investigations or court cases if necessary.

A written report allows for consistency in how incidents are recorded, ensuring that all relevant information is captured, such as date, time, location, people involved, and a detailed description of what occurred. This careful approach reduces the chances of miscommunication or misunderstanding that can happen with verbal reports.

In contrast, while verbal communications can be useful for immediate or urgent situations, they fall short of providing a documented history of events. Text messages to colleagues can lack formality and may be lost or deleted, further complicating the retrieval of important details later on. Reporting incidents only when prompted by others may lead to crucial information being overlooked or not reported at all, which can be detrimental to safety and security operations.