If you are searching for an incident response procedure for security in Perth, you are likely trying to solve a real problem. Incidents are happening, responses are inconsistent, staff are unsure what to do under pressure, or management wants clearer governance and accountability.
Many organisations invest in security technology but still struggle when something goes wrong. The reason is simple: technology does not replace procedure. In high-stress situations, people fall back on what is clear, rehearsed and supported.
A well-built incident response procedure gives your organisation a consistent way to respond to security incidents, protect people, reduce harm, and document decisions in a way that is defensible.
Smartsec Security Solutions supports Perth and Western Australia organisations with practical, fit-for-purpose security procedures and incident response uplift.
What is a security incident response procedure?
A security incident response procedure is a clear set of steps that guides staff through:
- what to do first
- who to notify
- how to contain and manage the situation
- how to protect people and preserve evidence
- how to escalate appropriately
- what to document and what follow-up is required
It is not a policy statement. It is an operational playbook designed to work during real events, including after-hours.
A good incident response procedure reduces confusion and ensures response does not rely on a single individual’s judgement or experience.
Why incident response procedures fail in practice
Most procedures fail for predictable reasons. They are too long, too generic, or disconnected from how the site actually operates.
Common failure points include:
- unclear roles and responsibilities across teams and shifts
- no defined escalation pathway if the first contact does not answer
- procedures written like a compliance document instead of a response tool
- too many incident categories with no simple decision support
- reliance on “call security” without defining what security does next
- no guidance on evidence preservation (CCTV, access logs, statements)
- no post-incident review process to fix recurring issues
A strong procedure is short enough to use, specific enough to work, and supported by training and rehearsals.
Who needs an incident response procedure in Perth?
Any Perth or WA organisation with people on site will benefit, but it becomes essential when you have:
- public-facing operations
- after-hours activity
- high-value assets or sensitive areas
- multiple entry points and complex access control
- contractor access and changing site conditions
- a dispersed workforce or multiple sites
Common environments include commercial sites, retail, education, health settings, council facilities, and mixed-use properties.
What incidents should be covered
Your procedure should cover the incidents most likely to occur in your environment, not an endless list.
Common security incident categories include:
- aggression, threats and disruptive behaviour
- suspicious persons, trespass and unauthorised access
- theft, attempted theft, and property damage
- after-hours break-in or alarm activation
- unsafe gatherings or antisocial behaviour in external areas
- staff duress activations (if you have duress systems)
- critical incidents requiring emergency services escalation
- lost property and found property (where this creates operational load)
You can keep the procedure concise by grouping incidents into “response types” rather than writing separate manuals for each scenario.
The core structure of a strong incident response procedure
If you want a procedure that staff can follow under pressure, structure matters. The simplest structure is a consistent response cycle with clear decision points.
A practical security incident response procedure usually includes:
Immediate actions: safety first
- assess immediate threat to people
- move staff and others to safety where possible
- do not escalate risk through unnecessary confrontation
- call emergency services if there is imminent danger or serious harm risk
- request support early if staff safety is at risk
The procedure should make it easy to choose safety over property protection.
Containment and control
- restrict access to the area if safe to do so
- separate involved parties where practical
- secure entry points and prevent further access if appropriate
- protect critical assets or sensitive areas (without creating additional risk)
Containment is about stopping escalation and preventing the incident from spreading.
Communication and escalation
This is where most procedures fall apart. People do not know who to call, or escalation relies on one person answering the phone.
Your procedure should define:
- primary contact (security, manager, duty officer)
- secondary and tertiary escalation if there is no response
- when to notify leadership
- when to notify police or emergency services
- what information must be passed on during escalation
If your organisation uses a monitoring centre, include expectations around response time, call pathways, and confirmation steps.
Evidence preservation and documentation
Even for “minor” incidents, documentation matters. It supports accountability, identifies patterns, and helps you justify improvements later.
Your procedure should include:
- immediate incident notes (time, location, people involved, actions taken)
- capturing names and contact details where appropriate
- preserving CCTV footage and access control logs
- photographs of damage where safe and appropriate
- guidance on staff statements if required
It should also define where records are stored and who owns follow-up.
Handover and recovery
Incidents do not end when the immediate issue is contained. Recovery actions prevent repeat events and help operations stabilise.
Include:
- securing the site (repairs, temporary controls, lock-up verification)
- welfare checks for staff involved
- communication to relevant teams if access routes or controls change
- follow-up actions with contractors or vendors where required
Post-incident review: stopping recurrence
If your organisation keeps having the same incident types, it is often because no one is systematically closing the loop.
A simple review process should cover:
- what happened and why
- what controls failed or were missing
- what worked well and should be repeated
- what changes are required (people, process, environment, technology)
- who owns each action and when it will be completed
This is where you turn incidents into improvements, rather than recurring cost and disruption.
A practical checklist for Perth organisations
If you want to sanity-check your current incident response procedure, use this checklist:
- is the procedure short enough to use during a real incident?
- are roles and responsibilities clear for each shift?
- is there a secondary and tertiary escalation path?
- are emergency services thresholds clearly defined?
- are evidence preservation steps clear and realistic?
- does the procedure cover after-hours scenarios?
- do staff know where to find it quickly?
- have you trained and exercised the procedure?
- do you have a post-incident review process that drives action?
If you answer “no” to several of these, you likely have a governance and consistency gap that can be fixed with a focused uplift.
How Smartsec supports incident response procedure uplift in Perth
Smartsec Security Solutions supports Perth and WA organisations with practical security procedure development and improvement. This includes:
- reviewing current procedures and identifying gaps
- tailoring procedures to your site operations and incident profile
- building escalation pathways that work in real conditions
- aligning procedures with your security systems and responsibilities
- supporting short training sessions or tabletop exercises where needed
Smartsec is led by Khabeer Rockley (SRMCP), with 18+ years’ experience across security risk management, incident response and resilience planning.
Next step: a confidential conversation
If you need an incident response procedure for security in Perth, or you want to improve how your team responds to real incidents, Smartsec Security Solutions can help you build a procedure that is clear, practical and defensible.
For a confidential conversation, please contact us via our Contact page.
