More blog items

Property Security Begins at the Perimeter

A sad, unfortunate fact of life today is the cost and impact of vandalism and property damage. While crime statistics for the UK show only a small increase in recorded incidents of criminal damage the impact of these crimes on businesses, organisations and individuals can be enormous.

Vandalism and Criminal Damage

The crime of criminal damage is often referred to as vandalism and is defined as intentional or reckless destruction or damage caused to property belonging to other people. Typical acts of criminal damage include graffiti, vehicle damage, arson and breaking windows.

Criminal damage can be committed deliberately or recklessly. An example of deliberate criminal damage would be breaking an item of furniture belonging to your parents during an argument. An example of reckless criminal damage would be breaking a window as a result of kicking a ball against the wall and inadvertently hitting the window.

The Crime Statistics for England and Wales, for the year ending March 2019, tell us that there was no increase in overall criminal damage and arson, estimated by the CSEW. Police recorded crime shows a 7% decrease in criminal damage to a vehicle, but this type of offence is known to be poorly reported. The CSEW have estimated that criminal damage to a vehicle crime has increased by around 17%.

This type of crime has a high level of repeat victimisation with around a third of victims and properties being re-targeted again within a year. The morale of staff who work at businesses which have been victims of criminal damage can be adversely affected and customers can be deterred. Properties that are typically targeted include schools, college campuses, youth centres, business premises and public buildings. This type of crime is known to undermine the pride that people take in their communities.

Concentric Circles of Protection

A key principle of good security refers to what are called Concentric Circles of Protection. This simple, representative concept uses multiple security layers, represented as rings, like the skin of an onion.

Each layer represents a physical boundary that exists on a site or around a property.

Perimeter

• The perimeter of a property with fencing, walls, hedges, gateways, adjacent posts, neighbouring properties.
• When devising perimeter security precautions it’s important to identify all areas of vulnerability.

Buildings

• Buildings with windows and doors, sheds, garages, outhouses, storage units etc.
• All potential entrance points to buildings must be identified.

Internal Rooms

• Internal rooms of a building which may have lockable doors and might contain valuable equipment, tools or computers.
• Ensuring that internal rooms are routinely locked, for example in schools and colleges, helps ensure that valuable equipment is not accessible.

Safe, locker, cabinet

• Secure asset storage such as key-safes, cash-boxes, jewellery safes, gun cabinets and lockable cupboards.
• It’s important to identify valuable assets such as keys, tools, cash and jewellery and use appropriate secure storage.

A key benefit provided by this concept is that no single layer is 100% responsible for all security. Overcoming the perimeter security would not be enough to gain access to valuable assets which are securely locked away in a safe cabinet.

Another important benefit of this layered security model is that each layer can compensate for security failings in other layers. For example, if somebody forgetfully fails to securely lock away important keys in a key-safe at the end of a busy day, as long as the room is locked, the building is secure and the perimeter is thoroughly protected then this security breakdown stands less chance of becoming a disaster.

Advantages of Layered Security

Here are the primary advantages of layered security.

• Multi-layered security significantly reduces the risk of intruders gaining access to valuable assets.
• Multi-layered security is far more effective than single layered as it’s unfeasible to attain 100% security using just one layer.
• Multi-layered security compensates for weaknesses at the various security levels.

Deter, Detect, Delay and Respond

The multi-layered approach to security is highly effective and strongly recommended. But a problem that exists on many sites is that opportunist vandals penetrate the first layer of security (the perimeter), gaining access to the site where they cause havoc and damage. The challenge in these situations is making the perimeter security as effective as it can possibly be. This is where applying the principles of deter, detect, delay, respond can be highly effective.

Deter Would-be Intruders

Discouraging any would-be intruders from even attempting to gain access to a site or property is a vital and highly effective perimeter security precaution. So how can this be effectively achieved? Here are some suggestions to consider:

• Tell people how thoroughly protected the site is via the business, school or organisation website.
• Make it widely known in the local community that vandalism and criminal damage will be dealt with severely.
• Use signage to tell people that there are no valuables kept on site.
• Prominently present highly visible security measures that make attack and gaining access very difficult.

Appropriate signage, warning people that CCTV is in operation, can be a highly effective deterrent. Prominent fence, gate and wall spikes send a very clear signal that perimeter security is taken seriously and they present another difficult hurdle which will deter most intruders. Identifying areas of vulnerability around a site perimeter, such as adjacent lamp posts or street signs that can be climbed to gain site access, and then taking appropriate protection measures in these areas is another highly effective deterrent.

Detect Intrusion

Deterrence is great, but it’s often not enough. The next aspect of perimeter security that needs consideration is detection.

Rigorous detection would involve looking out for any suspicious activity around a property perimeter as serious criminals will often visit a site to assess security precautions and plan their attack. Monitoring perimeter security cameras for suspicious activity can potentially detect criminals who are making plans to gain access.

A highly effective detection technique that’s widely used around homes, commercial premises, public buildings and parks is the use of motion-triggered lighting and cameras. Brightly illuminating a site perimeter and gateways, in response to detected movement, is enough to frighten off many opportunist intruders. Combining motion-triggered perimeter lighting with CCTV recording and warning signage goes a long way toward ensuring a secure perimeter.

Delay the Attack

Criminals embarking on a planned attack to gain access in order to steal valuables will generally aim to be as quick as possible. And opportunistic vandals who want to gain access to a site in order to apply graffiti or simply cause damage will be deterred if their progress is delayed. Extending the time it takes for an intruder to gain access raises the chances of them being caught in the act and will discourage many.

Tall perimeter security fencing is an example of an effective precaution that will delay incursion. Add some spiked fence toppers and intrusion will be further delayed and possibly deterred. Boundary walls can be painted with anti-climb or anti-vandal paint which will further inhibit progress and the associated signage acts as an effective deterrent.

Respond Appropriately

Motion detecting sensors and CCTV enable immediate response to unwanted intrusion. Attacks at many sites will generally occur outside of normal working or school hours as intruders take advantage of the dark and absence of staff. But motion detection, possibly along with CCTV, can be used to trigger SMS alert messages, prompting nearby security personnel to examine camera images and possibly attend the site or call the police. Motion detection can also be used to trigger an alarm response, which would be enough to scare off many intruders and alert people nearby to the crime that’s taking place.

If people are caught committing criminal damage or illegally gaining access to a site or property then widely publicising the fact that they were caught is an aspect of response that can deter others. If a business, school, college or local authority clearly demonstrates that they respond severely to any and all criminal incursions then this can be enough to prevent future attacks.

Pay Attention to Every Layer of Protection

Paying rigorous attention to security is good for communities, good for business and saves money. People are happier and more productive when they live and work in secure environments so it makes sense to take time to focus on security, carefully consider vulnerabilities and take adequate precautions that will keep people and property safe.

If you have any questions or concerns about your perimeter security we are here to help. Give us a call on 01273 475500 and we’ll give you some free, expert advice.

This message was added on Thursday 10th October 2019