Practice vigilance

Practice vigilance during patrol or other surveillance activities in order to ensure safety and security, to look out for suspicious behaviour or other alarming changes in patterns or activities, and to respond quickly to these changes.

enforce vigilance
carry out surveillance
undertake surveillance
carry out vigilance
enforce surveillance
undertake vigilance

skill/competence

cross-sector

Practice vigilance is an essential skill of the following occupations:

Life guard: Life guards monitor and ensure safety in the aquatic facility by preventing and responding to any emergencies. They identify potential risks, advise individuals on proper behaviour and dangerous zones, conduct life-saving techniques such as first aid and supervise activities of the general public.
Security guard: Security guards observe, detect irregularities and protect people, buildings and assets. They maintain security at all times by patrolling designated property areas, controlling access at entrances, watching alarm and video recording systems, asking suspicious individuals for identification and reporting infractions and law breaching activities.
Security guard supervisor: Security guard supervisors monitor and oversee the activities of guards who protect properties from vandalism acts and theft. They assign areas to be patrolled by guards on a regular basis, transfer the individual caught trespassing to police custody and develop safety plans and drills for the buildings and employees under their supervision.
Prison instructor: Prison instructors educate legal offenders, including prisoners, on social rehabilitation and correctional behaviour. They assist prisoners in gaining skills which could facilitate their reintegration into society and increase their chances at finding employment after release. Prison instructors analyse the students’ individual learning needs, plan and prepare teaching materials and sessions and update their learning records. They also ensure the working area and materials are safe from danger and accounted for, and supervise the students at all times.
Store detective: Store detectives monitor the activities in the store in order to prevent and detect shoplifting. Once the individual is caught red-handed, they take all the legal measures, including announcing the police.
Private detective: Private detectives research and analyse information to uncover facts for personal, corporate or legal reasons, depending on their clients. They conduct surveillance activities, which includes taking photos, doing background checks and interviewing individuals. Private detectives may help in criminal and civil cases, child custody, financial fraud, on-line harassment and may search for missing people. They compile all the information into a file and hand it to their clients for further action.

Door supervisor: Door supervisors ensure that the people entering public places such as bars, restaurants and concert venues are suitable and that they do not represent potential problems. They enforce legal regulations by checking individuals’ legal age to enter a bar, manage crowds and emergencies, monitor dress codes and handle aggressive and abusive behaviours.
Gate guard: Gate guards control the access and exit to buildings, warehouses or other type of property to prevent unauthorized presence and unwanted incidents. They prevent and identify theft of corporate property, investigate suspicious activities and write reports. Gate guards may assist employees or visitors with requests or indications. They use handheld radio stations to communicate and operate alarm systems and computers.
Armoured car driver: Armoured car drivers drive the armoured car to transfer valuable items, such as money, to different locations. They never leave the car. They work in cooperation with the armoured car guards who deliver the valuables to their final recipients. Armoured car drivers ensure vehicle security at all times by following company policies.
Crowd controller: Crowd controllers keep constant watch of the crowd during a specific event such as public speeches, sporting events or concerts, in order to prevent and react quickly to incidents. They control the entry to the venue, monitor the behaviour of the crowd, handle aggressive behaviour and conduct emergency evacuations.
Hand luggage inspector: Hand luggage inspectors check individuals’ luggage to detect potential threatening objects. They comply with public safety regulations and company’s procedure.

Bodyguard: Bodyguards offer protection to their clients against injury, attacks and harassment. They accompany individuals such as politicians and actors to various events and gatherings. Bodyguards observe the surrounding environment, anticipate threats and respond to security emergencies. They may carry and use guns.
Armoured car guard: Armoured car guards ensure the safe transportation of valuable items such as money between locations like stores and banks. They load and unload the vehicle, handle the documentation of the transfer, deliver the items to the correct location and respond quickly to robberies, according to the security protocol in place. They may also handle guns and drive the armoured car.

Practice vigilance is optional for these occupations. This means knowing this skill may be an asset for career advancement if you are in one of these occupations.

Special forces officer: Special forces officers operate in specialised missions such as counter terrorism missions. They perform combat and intelligence missions in order to impede with enemy equipment and installations, and to gather information on enemy strategy and movement.
Prison officer: Prison officers supervise inmates in a correctional facility and ensure the security and peace-keeping in the facility. They perform checks and searches to ensure compliance to regulations, monitor visitations and the activities of inmates as well as participate in programs of rehabilitation, and ensure records maintenance.
Police detective: Police detectives gather and compile evidence which assists them in the solution of crimes. They use investigative techniques to gather evidence, and interview all parties connected to their line of enquiry, and cooperate with other police department divisions to gather the evidence.
Army corporal: Army corporals supervise sections of soldiers and perform instruction duties. They also command equipment such as heavy machinery and weaponry.
Street warden: Street wardens patrol designated areas to ensure a sense of security with the public, and provide general support. They monitor suspicious behaviour and cooperate with the police and other local institutions to maintain the community’s safety and well-being, and enforce law and issue penalties when necessary.
Police officer: Police officers use investigation methods to prevent crime, to pursue and apprehend criminals, and protect the public from violent and criminal activities. They perform surveillance and patrol activities to prevent crimes and apprehend offenders. They provide support to victimised parties and the public at large, and fulfil administrative duties.
Lifeguard instructor: Lifeguard instructors teach future (professional) lifeguards the necessary programmes and methods needed to become a licensed lifeguard. They provide training on safety supervision of all swimmers, assessment of potentially hazardous situations, rescue-specific swimming and diving techniques, first aid treatment for swimming-related injuries, and they inform students on preventative lifeguard responsibilities. They ensure students are aware of the importance of checking safe water quality, heeding risk management and being aware of the necessary protocols and regulations regarding lifeguarding and rescuing. They monitor the students’ progress, evaluate them through theoretical and practical tests and award the lifeguard licenses when obtained.
Court bailiff: Court bailiffs maintain order and security in courtrooms. They transport offenders to and from the courtroom, ensure necessary supplies are present in the courtroom, and investigate the premises and examine individuals to ensure there are no threats. They also open and close court, and call witnesses.
Juvenile correctional officer: Juvenile correctional officers monitor and provide security to juvenile offenders. They ensure the safety of the facility compliant with rules and regulations, compile reports on the daily activities as well as in the case of incidents, and report unusual activity. They also supervise rehabilitation procedures of the offenders.
Artillery officer: Artillery officers offer support in battle in the fields of target acquisition, coordination of information, surveillance and weaponry. They are in charge of tactics, and deployment of weaponry on the field. They also lead soldiers.
Usher: Ushers assist visitors by showing their way in a big building such as a theatre, stadium or concert hall. They check visitors’ tickets for authorized access, give directions to their seats and answer questions. Ushers may take on security monitoring tasks and alert security personnel when required.
Warfare specialist: Warfare specialists perform strategic duties, such as making tactical decisions, detecting and identifying potential threats, and locating targets and objectives. They communicate with the other teams to ensure the efficiency of the operation, and also oversee the safety of the team.

Court enforcement officer: Court enforcement officers enforce orders of court judgements such as managing the recovery of money owed, seizing of goods, and selling goods in public auctions to obtain the money owed. They also send summons and arrest warrants to ensure attendance in court or other judicial procedures.
Civil enforcement officer: Civil enforcement officers patrol the streets to enforce parking restrictions, ensure a free flow of traffic is maintained, ensure the safety of pedestrians, and ensure traffic and parking laws are complied with. They aid with the combating of crime and crime reduction by providing assistance during incidents and providing patrol services.
Infantry soldier: Infantry soldiers fight in combat missions or provide aid in peacekeeping missions and other humanitarian services. They handle weapons and provide defence services where they are required, and attempt to complete missions while causing minimal harm.
Police inspector: Police inspectors coordinate and supervise a division in a police department. They ensure the division’s compliance with rules and regulations, and monitor the performance of personnel as well as assigning tasks to them. They perform administrative duties to ensure the maintenance of records and reports, and may also develop regulatory guidelines.

References

1. Practice vigilance – ESCO