Court Security in the UK | Benchmark Your Own Operation

As many of our readers know, Shergroup’s heritage links back to its strong connections to the UK legal system and as the oldest operating Sheriff Office in England. We can date our start date back to 1780 – just 5 years after the American War of Independence! Unlike our American cousins, our role in the English legal system has evolved in a Sheriff Department where we are responsible for civil law enforcement – not criminal court enforcement.

Even today we are attending the High Court in London on a daily basis to issue new Writs to enforce on behalf of the prestigious Office held by our CEO as an appointed and authorized High Court Enforcement Officer. In fact, Claire Sandbrook has been involved in this oldest Sheriffs Office since 1980 and has been managing and building the Shergroup brand since 2003.

As some of you may know, we made the jump from being purely an enforcement business into new lines of work which as the Americans say, “are in our wheelhouse”. In 2007, we created security services as a new addition to complement our role as Sheriffs and High Court Enforcement Officers.

It was in this vein, that we blogged about “Tampongate” where an insensitive approach to the contents of a female lawyer’s bag was highlighted by Claire. The story originated in The Law Society Gazette, which is the weekly journal of The Law Society of England and Wales, so it was a good reliable source for the story. Having been through the same sort of security check herself and had her bag checked by the court security officer, Court security officer (England and Wales) working in the role of court security guards, Claire was a little surprised at the crass approach. To have any item of a personal nature tipped out on a bench for the world to see is not pleasant and this is what happened to the poor person in this reported story.

However, as the story was out there, we looked to see what any follow up might be. Clearly, it raised eyebrows and had to be put in the context of a proper risk assessment, surveillance as part of ongoing security checks. The following came from Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) who procure the guarding service at the High Court. This large government agency which supplies staff to all the courts in the UK has started a regular bulletin about all things happening in the UK courtroom security. Perhaps they read Claire’s “Tampongate” blog and decided to take some positive action.

In this blog piece, HMCTS, shared some insight from a courtroom security officer, court support officer who was explaining the role of security in her workplace and how it keeps and her environment safe from threats. It’s a simple and relatable read for many of our readers. She explains, “People who unknowingly carry pocket knives or work tools are responsible for most confiscated items. Furthermore, individuals also take seemingly harmless everyday items such as perfumes, umbrellas, and bottles of makeup. Handling objects with extra care within a criminal court becomes necessary due to their potential to be offensive weapons in public areas. In such a setting, someone else could potentially misuse them to cause harm or create disturbances.”

You can read the short blog in full here and it got us thinking.

Is your organization proactively assessing potential weapons like pocket knives, acid-containing perfume bottles, and umbrellas? Are you conducting visitor bag searches and comprehensive risk assessments to ensure the safety of people and property? Whether you run a court, hotel, theme park, or public-facing law office, everyday items can turn into weapons when someone holds a grudge. It’s time to benchmark your security operation, raise security standards, and protect against injury or even death. In today’s world, complaints can escalate to dangerous levels. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Stay informed, stay secure. Visit us at www.shergroup.com to enhance your security measures and stay ahead of potential threats.

A risk assessment should give you a workable plan, and assess the risk of something nasty happening in an objective way. Maybe you don’t have anything to worry about or maybe you need to make tweaks to processing your visitors so they leave potential items at the front desk to prevent an escalating situation.

If you need support on how to do this book a call with Claire and her team to discuss how to go about tackling workplace safety so you anticipate risks and get a plan on how to deal with them. And well done to HMCTS for sharing this insight. Good to know ????

Frequently Asked Questions – Court Security & Workplace Safety

Q1: What is Shergroup’s heritage and connection to the UK legal system?

A: Shergroup’s heritage links back to its strong connections to the UK legal system as the oldest operating Sheriff Office in England. The company can date its start date back to 1780, just 5 years after the American War of Independence. Unlike American sheriffs who handle criminal law enforcement, Shergroup’s role in the English legal system has evolved in a Sheriff Department responsible for civil law enforcement. CEO Claire Sandbrook has been involved in this oldest Sheriff’s Office since 1980 and has been managing and building the Shergroup brand since 2003. Even today, they attend the High Court in London daily to issue new Writs to enforce on behalf of the prestigious Office held by their CEO as an appointed and authorized High Court Enforcement Officer.

Q2: What services does Shergroup provide beyond enforcement?

A: While Shergroup started purely as an enforcement business, they have expanded into new lines of work that complement their role as Sheriffs and High Court Enforcement Officers. In 2007, Shergroup created security services as a new addition to their offerings. These security services leverage their deep understanding of court security, risk assessment, and threat management developed through their long history in civil law enforcement. The security services include workplace security assessments, visitor screening procedures, risk management consulting, and comprehensive security solutions for various organizations including courts, hotels, theme parks, public-facing law offices, and other businesses requiring professional security measures.

Q3: What was the “Tampongate” incident at the High Court?

A: The “Tampongate” incident, as blogged about by Shergroup CEO Claire Sandbrook, involved an insensitive approach to the contents of a female lawyer’s bag during security screening at the High Court. The story originated in The Law Society Gazette, the weekly journal of The Law Society of England and Wales. During a security check, a court security officer tipped out personal items from the lawyer’s bag onto a bench for the world to see, which was not pleasant for the person involved. Claire herself had experienced similar security checks and was surprised at the crass approach, particularly when personal and intimate items were exposed publicly. The incident highlighted the need for more sensitive and professional security screening procedures while still maintaining necessary security standards.

Q4: Who provides security services at UK courts?

A: Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) procures the guarding service at the High Court and other courts throughout the UK. HMCTS is a large government agency that supplies staff to all the courts in the UK. Following incidents like “Tampongate,” HMCTS started a regular bulletin about all things happening in UK courtroom security. They employ court security officers and court support officers who are responsible for screening visitors, checking bags, confiscating prohibited items, and maintaining a safe environment within court premises. These security personnel undergo training on how to conduct searches professionally while respecting the dignity of court visitors.

Q5: What everyday items can become potential weapons in court settings?

A: According to insights from HMCTS court security officers, many seemingly harmless everyday items can become potential weapons in court settings. These include pocket knives and work tools (which are responsible for most confiscated items from people who unknowingly carry them), perfumes and cosmetics that may contain acids or flammable substances, umbrellas which can be used as striking weapons, bottles of makeup, and other personal items. In a criminal court setting especially, these objects require extra care in handling because someone could potentially misuse them to cause harm or create disturbances. When someone holds a grudge or becomes emotional during proceedings, everyday items can turn into weapons, making thorough security screening essential.

Q6: Why is workplace security important beyond court settings?

A: Workplace security is crucial for any organization that deals with the public or handles potentially contentious situations. Whether you run a court, hotel, theme park, public-facing law office, or any business where people might hold grudges, everyday items can become weapons. In today’s world, complaints and disagreements can escalate to dangerous levels very quickly. Organizations need to proactively assess potential weapons, conduct visitor bag searches, and perform comprehensive risk assessments to ensure the safety of people and property. Without proper security measures, organizations risk injury or even death of staff and visitors. Benchmarking your security operation and raising security standards is essential to protect against these threats and stay ahead of potential dangers.

Q7: What should a proper security risk assessment include?

A: A proper security risk assessment should give you a workable plan and assess the risk of something dangerous happening in an objective way. The assessment should evaluate what everyday items visitors might bring that could become weapons, identify areas where security screening is needed, determine whether bag searches are necessary, analyze the types of clients or visitors you serve and potential threat levels, assess physical security of the premises including entry and exit points, consider how to handle confiscated items professionally and sensitively, develop protocols for escalating situations, and create staff training programs on security procedures. The assessment helps you determine whether you need to make tweaks to processing your visitors, such as having them leave potential items at the front desk to prevent an escalating situation, or whether your current security measures are adequate.

Q8: What types of organizations need workplace security assessments?

A: Many types of organizations benefit from professional workplace security assessments including courts and legal facilities where emotions run high and conflicts are inherent, law offices and legal practices that deal with contentious cases, hotels and hospitality venues with public access, theme parks and entertainment venues with large crowds, government offices that serve the public, healthcare facilities including hospitals and clinics, educational institutions, corporate offices that handle customer complaints, retail establishments, financial institutions, and any organization that deals with the public or handles situations where people might hold grudges or become emotional. Essentially, any workplace where there’s potential for conflict, public access, or handling of sensitive matters should conduct regular security risk assessments.

Q9: How should security officers conduct bag searches sensitively?

A: Security officers should conduct bag searches in a way that respects visitors’ dignity while maintaining necessary security standards. This means avoiding dumping out personal items onto public benches where everyone can see, handling personal and intimate items discreetly, conducting searches in designated areas with privacy where possible, using professional and respectful language when requesting to search bags, explaining the reasons for security measures, being trained on sensitivity regarding personal items, having female officers available to search female visitors when appropriate, and returning items carefully and respectfully. The “Tampongate” incident highlighted that while security is essential, it must be balanced with human dignity and professional conduct. Organizations should train their security personnel on both effective screening and respectful treatment of visitors.

Q10: What is the role of court security officers in England and Wales?

A: Court security officers in England and Wales play a crucial role in maintaining safety within court premises. Their responsibilities include screening all visitors entering court buildings, conducting bag searches and security checks, confiscating prohibited items including potential weapons, operating security equipment such as metal detectors and x-ray machines, monitoring courtrooms and public areas for disturbances, responding to security incidents and emergencies, managing access control to restricted areas, assisting with the removal of disruptive individuals, protecting judges, lawyers, court staff and members of the public, and maintaining a professional demeanor while balancing security needs with respect for court visitors. As explained by HMCTS security officers, they handle everyday items with extra care because of their potential to become offensive weapons in the charged atmosphere of legal proceedings.

Q11: What items are most commonly confiscated at court security checkpoints?

A: According to insights from HMCTS court security officers, people who unknowingly carry pocket knives or work tools are responsible for most confiscated items at court security checkpoints. Many people forget they have small penknives on keychains, multi-tools in bags, or work-related cutting implements in their pockets. Other commonly confiscated items include sharp objects like scissors or nail files, perfumes and aerosols that could contain harmful substances, glass bottles that could be used as weapons, umbrellas with pointed ends, large cosmetic bottles, lighters and matches, and any items deemed potential weapons in the court environment. Most people carrying these items have no malicious intent—they simply didn’t think to empty their pockets or bags before attending court.

Q12: How has Shergroup’s role evolved from 1780 to today?

A: Shergroup’s role has evolved significantly since 1780 while maintaining its core connection to the English legal system. Originally operating as a traditional Sheriff Office focused purely on civil law enforcement, the company has adapted to modern needs while preserving its prestigious heritage. Under Claire Sandbrook’s leadership since 2003 (and her involvement since 1980), the company has expanded from pure enforcement work into complementary services. The addition of security services in 2007 represented a strategic expansion that leverages their deep understanding of legal systems, court operations, and security requirements. Today, Shergroup continues to attend the High Court in London daily as appointed and authorized High Court Enforcement Officers while also providing comprehensive security consulting and services to various organizations. This evolution demonstrates how traditional institutions can modernize while honoring their heritage.

Q13: What is the difference between civil and criminal law enforcement in the UK?

A: In the UK legal system, civil law enforcement and criminal law enforcement serve different purposes. Civil law enforcement, which is Shergroup’s specialty as Sheriffs and High Court Enforcement Officers, deals with enforcing court judgments in disputes between individuals, businesses, or organizations—typically involving money owed, property possession, or contract breaches. This includes serving writs, recovering debts, enforcing possession orders, and seizing goods to satisfy judgments. Criminal law enforcement, by contrast (similar to American sheriffs), deals with investigating crimes, arresting suspects, and enforcing criminal court orders. In England, the role of Sheriff has evolved differently than in America, with modern English Sheriffs focusing primarily on civil matters while police handle criminal matters. This distinction is important because it defines the scope and nature of enforcement actions.

Q14: Why did HMCTS start publishing regular security bulletins?

A: HMCTS (Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service) started publishing regular bulletins about UK courtroom security to share insights, improve practices, and educate court users about security measures. This initiative may have been prompted by incidents like “Tampongate” which highlighted both the necessity of security screening and the need for more professional, sensitive approaches. The bulletins feature perspectives from court security officers explaining their roles, the rationale behind security procedures, and the types of threats they encounter. By sharing these insights, HMCTS aims to help people understand why security measures exist, encourage cooperation with screening procedures, improve the professionalism of security operations, and demonstrate their commitment to both safety and respectful treatment of court visitors. This transparency helps build public confidence in court security operations.

Q15: What can organizations learn from court security practices?

A: Organizations can learn valuable lessons from court security practices that can be applied to their own workplaces. Courts deal with high-emotion situations where conflicts are inherent, making them excellent case studies in security management. Key lessons include the importance of proactive risk assessment rather than reactive responses, balancing security needs with respect for people’s dignity, recognizing that seemingly harmless items can become weapons, implementing systematic screening procedures for all visitors, training security personnel in both effectiveness and sensitivity, documenting and learning from security incidents, maintaining professional standards even under pressure, and adapting security measures based on actual threats rather than assumptions. Organizations like hotels, theme parks, law offices, and any public-facing business can apply these principles to create safer environments while maintaining welcoming atmospheres.

Q16: How can organizations benchmark their security operations?

A: Organizations can benchmark their security operations by comparing their practices against industry standards and best practices. This process involves reviewing current security policies and procedures, assessing whether they conduct risk assessments regularly, evaluating the training and professionalism of security personnel, examining how they handle visitor screening and bag searches, comparing their measures against similar organizations in their industry, seeking external security audits from professionals like Shergroup, reviewing incident reports and learning from security breaches, staying informed about emerging threats and security technologies, implementing feedback systems for security-related complaints, and regularly updating security measures based on changing threat landscapes. Benchmarking helps identify gaps in security coverage and opportunities for improvement. Organizations should aim to raise security standards continuously rather than maintaining static measures.

Q17: What should visitors expect during court security screening?

A: Visitors attending court should expect professional security screening similar to airport security. Upon arrival, expect to pass through metal detectors, have bags and personal items x-rayed or hand-searched, be asked to remove metal objects from pockets, possibly have electronic devices examined, surrender any prohibited items (which may be returned after proceedings or confiscated), be treated respectfully by security officers, experience brief delays during busy periods, and answer questions about items in your possession. To expedite the process, leave unnecessary items at home, empty pockets of knives or tools beforehand, arrive early to allow time for screening, cooperate with security personnel, and understand that these measures protect everyone’s safety. While incidents like “Tampongate” show that screening isn’t always conducted as sensitively as it should be, security officers are generally professional and understand the process can be uncomfortable.

Q18: How does Shergroup help organizations improve workplace security?

A: Shergroup helps organizations improve workplace security by leveraging their extensive experience in court security and civil law enforcement dating back to 1780. Their services include conducting comprehensive risk assessments to identify vulnerabilities, developing customized security protocols based on specific organizational needs, providing security services and trained personnel, training staff on security awareness and threat recognition, implementing visitor screening procedures that balance safety with dignity, advising on physical security measures and access control, creating emergency response plans, reviewing and updating security policies, offering ongoing security consulting and support, and helping organizations benchmark against industry standards. Organizations can book consultations with CEO Claire Sandbrook and her team to discuss how to tackle workplace safety proactively, anticipate risks, and develop practical plans to address them. Visit www.shergroup.com to enhance security measures and stay ahead of potential threats.

Q19: What are the legal requirements for workplace security in the UK?

A: In the UK, employers have legal duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 to ensure the safety of employees, visitors, and others affected by their operations. This includes conducting risk assessments to identify potential security threats, implementing reasonable security measures to protect people and property, providing adequate training to staff on security procedures, maintaining secure premises appropriate to the nature of the business, having procedures for handling violent or threatening behavior, protecting employees from foreseeable risks including violence from the public, reporting serious security incidents to appropriate authorities, and regularly reviewing and updating security measures. Organizations dealing with courts, legal matters, contentious situations, or the public face enhanced expectations. Failure to provide adequate security when risks are foreseeable can result in legal liability if someone is injured. Professional security assessments help ensure compliance with these legal obligations.

Q20: How can organizations prevent everyday items from becoming weapons?

A: Organizations can prevent everyday items from becoming weapons through several proactive measures. Implement visitor screening to identify potentially dangerous items before entry, create clear policies on prohibited items and communicate them to visitors in advance, establish secure storage where visitors can leave items like umbrellas or tools at reception, conduct risk assessments to identify which everyday items pose threats in your specific environment, train staff to recognize escalating situations where someone might grab an item as a weapon, design workspaces to minimize access to potential weapons during confrontations, install panic buttons and security systems for quick response to threats, maintain good sightlines and surveillance in public areas, ensure adequate security personnel presence during high-risk interactions, and develop de-escalation procedures to prevent situations from reaching the point where someone might use an item as a weapon. As court security officers note, items like perfumes, umbrellas, and bottles become dangerous when someone holds a grudge—so addressing the underlying conflict is as important as controlling physical items.