Security guards in Kingston upon Thames

Which parts of Kingston do we cover?

The whole Royal Borough, from Kingston town centre on the Thames to the industrial estates of Chessington in the south.

Kingston town centre is a Metropolitan centre in the London Plan, the tier the plan describes as serving catchments that stretch over several boroughs. At its centre is the Ancient Market Place, which the council calls the historic heart of the town, with a market first recorded in 1242 (Kingston Council). The London Plan links the town centre’s commercial growth to Kingston University and Kingston College, and Kingston First has run initiatives for the town centre’s businesses since 2005 (Kingston First).

Surbiton, New Malden and Tolworth are the District centres, and the plan asks for the small office space in all three to be protected. The London Plan’s Kingston Opportunity Area has capacity for 9,000 homes and 5,000 jobs, and it names four places for significant change:

• Kingston town centre
• Norbiton, London Road and the Cambridge Road Estate
• New Malden
• Tolworth

Chessington holds both of the borough’s Strategic Industrial Locations: Chessington Industrial Estate, and Barwell Business Park on Leatherhead Road (London Plan).

What needs guarding in Kingston upon Thames?

Shops. The London Plan says a Metropolitan centre typically holds at least 100,000 square metres of shops, leisure and services, with a high share of comparison goods such as clothes and electricals. A uniformed retail security officer deters theft by being seen, backs up your staff when something happens and stays polite to customers. If you only need someone at your busiest times, tell us the hours.

Evenings. The London Plan rates Kingston’s night-time economy as regionally significant. In 2024 Kingston First’s community fund paid towards training new Street Pastors and putting extra volunteers out every Saturday night (Kingston First). For a licensed venue or a one-off event in the town, see event security.

The Cambridge Road Estate. Kingston Council is rebuilding the estate in Norbiton in phases, and the scheme will deliver 2,170 new homes. Households already live in new council homes there while building goes on around them (Kingston Council). On a rebuild that runs phase by phase, construction site security covers the gate during the working day and guards or patrols each plot at night, and traffic marshals can see deliveries in past residents’ homes.

Small offices after hours. The London Plan says office demand in Surbiton, New Malden and Tolworth is generally for smaller units. If yours stands empty at night and the alarm goes off, our keyholding and alarm response service sends an SIA-licensed officer to check it and lock up, rather than calling your staff out.

Chessington’s estates. At a unit in Chessington Industrial Estate or Barwell Business Park, an officer can run the gatehouse, check drivers and loads in and out, and patrol the yard and perimeter once you close. See warehouse and industrial security, or mobile patrols if the estate only needs checking at set times.

What should you plan for in Kingston?

• One operator for the market. Since April 2025 a single operator, appointed by the council, has run the Ancient Market’s street market and the Market House (Kingston Council). If you trade on or beside the Market Place, ask the operator about market and event days before you plan deliveries or cover.
• The town centre BID. Kingston First is a not-for-profit organisation funded by and representing the town centre’s businesses (Kingston First). In June 2024 those businesses voted to renew it for a fifth five-year term, which runs to 2029 (declaration of result). Ask Kingston First what it already provides before you book cover.
• Licences for door work. Door supervision at licensed premises needs an SIA door supervisor licence, not just a security guarding licence (SIA).