Duties and differences between security guards and support staff

Security guards and support staff address different needs in businesses and buildings. Appropriate hiring starts with defining the role’s purpose and separating premises protection from reception and support.

Security guard duties

The duties of security guards are governed by Spanish private security legislation, particularly Article 32 of Law 5/2014. In general terms, they include:

• Guarding and protecting property, premises and people within the authorised service scope.

• Security checks within the law’s limits, distinct from administrative visitor registration and without retaining personal identification documents.

• Prevention of and response to offences relating to the protected property, within legally defined duties.
• Cooperation with police where appropriate, respecting legal limits and without undertaking interrogation duties.

• Protection and transport of money or valuables are regulated activities requiring specific conditions; they are not assumed included in routine guarding.

• Alarm response is also a specific service that must be defined with the appropriate resources and conditions.

Support staff duties

Support staff perform reception, information and operational assistance tasks, distinct from private security guarding. They may be employed in-house or provided through specialist services , with agreed duties and hours.

Typical duties that may be defined include:

• Information and administrative entrance assistance, notices and building concierge tasks.

• Reporting visible faults and routine operational notices, without assuming technical maintenance or guaranteeing physical site security.

• Guiding people and vehicles along authorised site routes, according to the manager’s instructions and within the support scope.

• Visitor reception, information and directions to the relevant department or contact.

Differences between security guarding and support services

• The main difference lies in the role’s purpose and duties. Support staff help reception and daily operations; they do not replace reserved guarding and protection duties.

• Security guarding requires appropriately authorised personnel and providers under the applicable rules. Support staff have a different scope. Check service terms and required accreditation before hiring, rather than relying on the job title alone.

• Support staff must not undertake reserved security duties or wear items or uniforms that could cause confusion with private security personnel.

Need to assess these services in Barcelona? Describe the building type, tasks and hours. ALFHAM can direct your enquiry towards cleaning, security or support services, each with a defined scope.