Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Security Company in Melbourne

private security services Melbourne choosing a security company is about more than comparing an hourly rate. The provider you hire may be responsible for access control, patrols, after-hours monitoring, visitor management and responding to security incidents, so the quality of the service can have a direct impact on your property’s security arrangements.

For Melbourne businesses, there is also a regulatory question to consider. Victoria’s private security framework changed significantly from 19 June 2025, and private security activities are now licensed activities. Victoria Police maintains a public register where businesses can check relevant individual and business licence information.

Before signing a contract, ask prospective providers specific questions about their licensing, experience, guards, procedures, insurance, reporting and response arrangements. The answers can help you determine whether the proposed service actually fits your property rather than simply choosing the cheapest quote.

1. Is Your Security Business Properly Licensed?

This should be one of the first questions you ask.

Victoria Police provides separate private security individual and business licences. A private security business may employ others to carry out specified activities, including security guard activities and relevant sub-activities.

Ask the provider for enough information to verify its current business licence.

You can then check the Victoria Police Register of Licence, Registration and Permit Holders. The register includes the holder’s name, licence type, licence number, authorised activities and expiry date.

Do not rely only on a company’s website or a licence document supplied by email. Verify the current information through the official register.

2. Are the Guards Assigned to My Site Properly Licensed?

Checking the company is only part of the process.

Ask whether the individual guards who will actually work at your property hold the appropriate Victorian private security licence for the activities they will perform.

Victoria Police states that a person intending to perform security guard activities requires an individual private security licence, and applicants specify the activities and sub-categories for which they are applying.

This matters because having a security licence does not necessarily mean that a person is authorised for every type of private security activity.

Ask:

• Who will be assigned to the site?
• What security activities are they licensed for?
• Can their licence status be verified?
• What happens if the regular guard is unavailable?

For an ongoing contract, the provider should have a process for ensuring replacement personnel meet the same requirements.

3. What Experience Do You Have With Properties Like Mine?

Security requirements vary considerably between a retail shop, office building, warehouse, construction site and industrial property.

Ask the company about its experience with properties similar to yours.

For example, a warehouse may require perimeter patrols, loading-area monitoring and after-hours checks. An office building may place more emphasis on access control, visitor management and opening and closing procedures.

The useful question is not simply “How many years have you been in business?” It is:

“What experience do you have managing security risks similar to ours?”

Ask the provider to explain how that experience affects the proposed security plan.

4. What Exactly Will the Security Guard Do?

Avoid vague descriptions such as “general security”.

The contract should clearly explain the guard’s responsibilities.

Depending on your property, duties might include:

• Monitoring entrances
• Checking visitors
• Controlling access
• Conducting scheduled patrols
• Monitoring CCTV
• Checking gates and doors
• Recording incidents
• Managing opening and closing procedures
• Responding to alarms
• Escalating incidents according to agreed procedures

WorkSafe Victoria identifies measures such as security staff checking entrances and visitors in vulnerable areas as one possible control for security risks in workplaces.

Ask the provider to explain what is included and, equally importantly, what is not included.

5. How Will You Assess My Property’s Security Risks?

A professional security proposal should be based on the property rather than simply selling a standard package.

Ask whether the company will conduct a site assessment before providing its final recommendation.

The assessment should consider factors such as:

• Site layout
• Entry and exit points
• Perimeter fencing
• Lighting
• CCTV coverage
• Alarm systems
• Valuable assets
• Staff numbers
• Operating hours
• Previous incidents
• High-risk areas
• After-hours activity

This can help determine whether you need static guarding, mobile patrols, access control, overnight coverage or a combination of measures.

6. How Many Guards Do You Recommend and Why?

More guards are not automatically the right answer.

Ask the provider to explain why it recommends a particular number of personnel and how they will be deployed.

For example, a large property may require patrol coverage rather than simply placing several guards at the main entrance.

Ask:

• Where will guards be positioned?
• How often will patrols occur?
• Will patrol routes change?
• Are there periods requiring additional coverage?
• How will breaks and shift changes be managed?
• Who supervises the guards?

The recommendation should connect directly to the risks identified during the site assessment.

7. What Happens When There Is an Incident?

This is one of the most important questions to ask before signing a contract.

Ask the security company to walk you through a realistic scenario.

For example:

“What happens if a guard discovers someone attempting to enter the property after hours?”

The provider should be able to explain its escalation process, including who is contacted, what the guard is expected to do, how the incident is documented and when emergency services are contacted.

The objective is not to encourage unnecessary confrontation. Security personnel should operate within their lawful authority, training and assignment procedures.

Your business should also have its own emergency response arrangements.

8. How Do You Handle Alarms and CCTV?

If your property already has cameras, alarms or access-control systems, ask how the security service will interact with them.

A guard might:

• Monitor CCTV where this forms part of the service
• Respond to an alarm according to agreed procedures
• Check an area identified through surveillance
• Report equipment faults
• Record relevant incidents

However, the responsibilities need to be clearly defined.

Ask whether alarm monitoring is included in the security contract or provided by another company.

This avoids a situation where everyone assumes someone else is responsible for responding to an alert.

9. Do You Use Subcontractors?

Ask this before signing the agreement.

Find out whether the company uses employees, contractors or subcontracted security personnel to fulfil shifts.

Victoria’s current private security framework includes specific requirements affecting subcontractors and independent contractors. Victoria Police also states that an independent contractor carrying on a security activity with an ABN related to that activity must hold both a Private Security Individual Operator licence and a Private Security Business licence.

If subcontracting is permitted under your contract, ask:

• Who will actually provide the guards?
• Who verifies their licences?
• Who supervises them?
• Who is responsible for insurance?
• Who receives incident reports?
• Who is accountable for service quality?

The objective is to know exactly who is responsible for the security service you are purchasing.

10. What Insurance Do You Carry?

Ask for current evidence of appropriate insurance rather than simply accepting a verbal assurance.

Victoria Police requires private security business licence applicants to provide evidence of public liability insurance covering the activities and sub-activities applied for.

For your own procurement process, ask the provider for a current certificate of currency and check that the coverage is appropriate to the proposed arrangement.

Depending on the contract and business circumstances, you may also want to discuss other relevant insurance requirements with your broker or legal adviser.

11. How Are Guards Trained and Supervised?

Licensing and training should be considered separately from general experience.

Victoria Police states that most private security activities require approved training relevant to the activity being licensed.

Ask the provider:

• What training do guards receive?
• How is competency verified?
• Who supervises guards?
• Is refresher training provided?
• How are site-specific procedures taught?
• How are poor performance or incidents handled?

For certain equipment or duties, additional requirements may apply. For example, Victoria Police has specific training and employer-approval requirements for security personnel using handcuffs.

You should therefore avoid assuming that every licensed guard is automatically trained or authorised for every specialised task.

12. How Will You Report Incidents and Patrols?

Ask to see an example of the reporting process before signing.

Depending on the service, reports might document:

• Patrol times
• Access issues
• Unusual activity
• Alarm activations
• Damage
• Security breaches
• Visitor issues
• Actions taken
• Escalations

Ask who receives the reports and how quickly serious incidents are communicated.

A useful reporting system should give management enough information to identify recurring security problems rather than simply creating paperwork.

13. What Does the Contract Actually Include?

Read the contract carefully before agreeing to the service.

Check:

• Hourly rates
• Minimum shift periods
• Weekend and public-holiday rates
• Cancellation terms
• Notice periods
• Replacement guard arrangements
• Supervision
• Equipment
• Patrol frequency
• Reporting
• Emergency response
• Subcontracting
• Insurance
• Contract duration
• Price-review provisions

Do not compare quotes based solely on the headline hourly rate.

A cheaper quote may include fewer patrols, less supervision, limited reporting or additional charges that appear later.

14. How Do You Handle Staff Absences?

Ask what happens if the scheduled guard calls in sick or cannot attend.

A professional provider should have a documented process for covering absences without leaving the property unexpectedly unprotected.

Ask:

“Who contacts us if a replacement guard is required?”

“How quickly will replacement arrangements be made?”

“Will the replacement guard have the same required licensing and site-specific training?”

This becomes especially important for overnight or continuous security arrangements.

15. How Will the Service Be Reviewed?

Security risks can change.

A new tenant, construction project, stock increase, change in operating hours or previous incident can alter the property’s requirements.

Ask whether the security company conducts periodic reviews and how changes to the security plan are handled.

You should also establish who your main account contact is and how operational problems are escalated.

A good contract should allow the security arrangement to be reviewed rather than assuming the original plan will remain appropriate indefinitely.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Choosing the cheapest quote

Price matters, but it should be compared alongside licensing, coverage, supervision, reporting and inclusions.

Not checking the public register

Victoria Police provides a public register specifically allowing businesses and individuals to check licence and registration information.

Asking only about the company

The licensing and competency of the actual guards assigned to your property also matter.

Accepting vague duties

“Monitor the premises” is less useful than clearly defining patrols, access control, reporting and escalation responsibilities.

Ignoring subcontracting

Find out who will actually supply and supervise the guards.

Failing to discuss incident response

A business should know what happens before an incident occurs, not try to establish procedures during one.

Signing a long contract without a review process

Your security requirements may change as your business changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I ask a security company before hiring them?

Start with licensing, insurance, relevant experience, proposed guard duties, site assessment, supervision, incident response, reporting, subcontracting and contract terms.

How do I check whether a Melbourne security company is licensed?

Use the Victoria Police Register of Licence, Registration and Permit Holders. It provides information including the holder’s name, licence type, number, authorised activities and expiry date.

Does the security guard need their own licence?

Yes, private security activities are licensed activities in Victoria, and security guard work is covered by the private security individual operator licensing framework.

Should a security company visit my property before providing a quote?

For many commercial properties, an onsite assessment is useful because the appropriate service depends on the property’s layout, access points, operating hours, assets and existing security controls.

Should I hire static guards or mobile patrols?

That depends on the property’s risks and operating requirements. Static guarding provides a continuous onsite presence during the contracted period, while mobile patrols can provide scheduled checks across a property or multiple locations.

How often should a business review its security service?

There is no universal review interval. Review the arrangement whenever there is a significant change to the property, operating model, incidents or security risks, and consider periodic formal reviews as part of the contract.

Final Thoughts

The right security company should be able to explain exactly what it will provide, who will provide it and how the service will operate when something goes wrong.

For Melbourne businesses, licensing should be one of the first checks. From there, look at the provider’s site assessment, guard deployment, training, supervision, insurance, incident procedures, reporting and contract terms.

Before comparing prices, prepare a list of questions and ask every shortlisted provider the same core questions. This makes it much easier to compare proposals on a genuine like-for-like basis.

If your business is reviewing its current security arrangements or hiring guards for the first time, an onsite security assessment can help establish what level of coverage and what combination of security measures are appropriate for the property.