Security guards in Richmond upon Thames

Which towns and villages do we cover?

All of them, on both banks of the Thames: Richmond, Kew, Barnes, Mortlake and East Sheen on one side; Twickenham, Teddington, Whitton and Hampton on the other. The council plans the borough village by village, and has adopted village plans from Kew, Barnes and Mortlake to St Margarets, Strawberry Hill and Hampton Wick (Richmond Council).

Town centres. Richmond is the borough’s Major centre, and Twickenham, Teddington, East Sheen and Whitton are District centres (London Plan). Richmond and Twickenham each have a Business Improvement District, Be Richmond and Discover Twickenham (Richmond Council).

No industrial zones. Unlike Hounslow, Kingston and Wandsworth next door, Richmond upon Thames has no Strategic Industrial Location (London Plan). It has no Opportunity Area either, and the plan expects only incremental housing growth in its town centres. Security needs here centre on shops, offices, venues and individual building projects.

Landmarks. The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew are a World Heritage Site (London Plan). Hampton Court Palace, Richmond Park and Bushy Park are in the borough too, and St Mary’s University has its main campus at Strawberry Hill in Twickenham (St Mary’s). Twickenham Stadium is the home of England Rugby and also stages concerts (England Rugby).

What needs guarding in Richmond upon Thames?

Shops and restaurants. In Richmond and Twickenham especially, a uniformed retail security officer gives your shop floor a visible presence and backs up your staff, while staying friendly to customers. If you’re inside the Be Richmond or Discover Twickenham area, ask the BID what it already funds first.

Offices. The London Plan rates Richmond’s commercial growth potential as high and marks it for both speculative and mixed-use office development. In a Richmond office, our office security officers can work front of house by day, signing visitors in and controlling who gets past reception, and lock up after hours.

Event days. When very large crowds are expected at Twickenham Stadium (for example 25,000 or more), the council runs the Twickenham Event Zone, a controlled parking zone that operates from 11am to 11pm. Rugby Road, Whitton Road and London Road may close for about 1.5 to 2 hours before and after the event, and businesses inside the zone can apply for free one-year permits for themselves and their visitors (Richmond Council). For a match-day function or event of your own, see event security.

Riverside building work. The council’s Twickenham Riverside scheme is building 45 homes, half of them affordable, with shops, public spaces and a new river defence wall (Richmond Council). A site on a busy waterfront needs its gate controlled and its plant and materials guarded at night: see construction site security.

Premises that close at night. The London Plan asks for small office space to be protected in East Sheen and Teddington. If your premises stand empty overnight, a keyholder means a night-time alarm brings our officer, not your manager: see keyholding and alarm response, or mobile patrols for regular checks.

What shapes security planning in Richmond upon Thames?

• Hammersmith Bridge. It has been closed to motor traffic since April 2019 (GOV.UK), though pedestrians and cyclists can cross (H&F Council). For premises in Barnes, vehicles come and go by other bridges, so allow for that when you plan deliveries or patrol visits.
• Race day on the river. The Boat Race finishes at Mortlake, just before Chiswick Bridge (The Boat Race). Riverside premises in Mortlake and Barnes should plan around it.
• Late licences. The London Plan rates Richmond’s night-time economy as regionally significant, and Twickenham’s and Teddington’s as more than local. A bar or club’s door staff must hold SIA door supervisor licences (SIA).