Keyholding vs Mobile Patrols: Understanding the Difference
Keyholding and mobile patrols both involve security officers visiting your site, but they do so for very different reasons and provide different outcomes. Knowing which one your site needs — and when combining both makes sense — helps you get the right security coverage.
What mobile patrols do
Mobile patrol officers visit your site at scheduled or random intervals during their patrol route. On each visit, they conduct an external site check, test locks and entry points, check for signs of tampering or damage, and log their visit digitally. Mobile patrols are a proactive deterrent — the visible presence of a patrol vehicle creates a deterrent effect and means that issues are often caught early, before they escalate.
What keyholding does
Keyholding is reactive rather than proactive. A keyholding officer holds your keys and responds when something specific happens — an alarm activation, an emergency access request, or an incident requiring physical response. They are not visiting your site on a schedule; they attend when triggered.
Key differences
- Trigger: Patrols visit on a schedule. Keyholding responds to specific events.
- Purpose: Patrols deter and detect. Keyholding responds and documents.
- Best for: Patrols suit sites needing regular presence. Keyholding suits sites needing event-based response.
When to use both
Many clients use mobile patrols and keyholding together. Patrols check the site at scheduled intervals through the night. Keyholding handles alarm activations and emergency access needs that fall outside the patrol schedule. Together, they provide both proactive and reactive cover without the expense of full-time on-site guarding.
Related reading
Keyholding vs security guards | Keyholding vs alarm monitoring | What is keyholding and alarm response? | Alarm response services
Speak to Evergreen Security
Call 0345 88 88 333 or email info@evergreensecurity.co.uk to discuss the right combination of services for your site.