This is your ultimate guide to securing your business premises against theft, arson and vandalism.
Almost all businesses with a public-facing premises are at risk of crimes like theft and vandalism and these incidents affect your bottom line. Having suitable security in place will reduce the potential damage caused by criminal activity.
Businesses of all sizes are worried about security, especially as so many businesses have found themselves closed by COVID-19 restrictions this year, leaving their stores, restaurants, workplaces and offices sat empty in desolation.
This guide contains helpful steps that you can take to protect your business against crimes such as theft and vandalism. At CTR Secure Services, we operate a security hub that has grown to become one of the leading monitoring and command centres in the UK and Europe. We’re highly experienced in providing advice and consultancy to businesses just like yours.
Before putting security measures in place, you need to take stock of all the risks in your business.
You should gather local data from other business owners and be active within your local business community. Be alert to local incidents of vandalism, graffiti and thefts in the same area. Consider meeting your local Police Community Support Officers and introduce yourself, make sure that you keep in contact with your local police service in the event of any local crimes if you feel that you’re at risk.
As well as looking at outside risks, look at the risks within your own business too!
Here are some things to consider when undertaking your risk assessment:
To start with, there are some simple and highly cost effective precautions you can put in place to improve security in your business premises.
Training all your staff on security will ensure that it’s always at the front of everyone’s mind. Also, individuals should all know exactly what their responsibilities are.
Keep a record via a singing in/out system for staff and visitors, ensure that staff wear ID badges and visitors wear visitor badges. This makes it very quick to identify genuine visitors from intruders during business hours.
Encourage all your staff to ask this question to anyone they don’t recognise in the building/on the premises, ask all visitors to state their name and give their reason for visiting.
Windows and doors are an obvious vulnerable point in your business premises. Here is some advice on securing your doors and windows:
Perimeter fences are useful for businesses that have car parks, yards, or other outside spaces. Valuable materials and vehicles may need to be left in these outdoor areas so it’s important that they’re not overlooked in your security arrangements.
Members of staff may have security as part of their daily job responsibilities, or you may have dedicated security guards and other security personnel.
Premises storing valuable goods that have been targeted by thieves in the past often have security guards patrolling the premises throughout the day and night to deter criminals.
Ensure that security guards have a valid SIA license issued by the UK Government, it’s illegal for a security guard to work without one!
Electronic systems allow for an additional level of security, beyond physical barriers and patrols.
CCTV not only acts as a deterrent, it’s also used as evidence in court to convict criminals.
In almost all cases, CCTV requires expert installation by an approved installer. We design, build and deploy various types of CCTV cameras, including covert CCTV, rapid deployment CCTV and full building installations for all types of businesses.
Here’s what you need to consider before installing a new CCTV system:
There are some additional benefits to having high quality CCTV system in your premises:
Having CCTV installed in a public premises is a no-brainer and can save you a lot of money in the long-term!
When considering an alarm system for your business premises, you need to think strategically about its features:
Fire safety regulations also contribute to the security of your premises. Arson attacks on businesses are frequent, so reliable fire safety systems can help reduce the damage and risk to people’s safety.
Here are some measure you should have in place:
Fire safety is vital to all premises and should never be underestimated as a risk to any business.
It’s vital that you communicate all changes to your security systems to your insurance companies, as your policies may be invalid if you don’t! You should discuss the different measures mentioned in this article with your insurance provider to see whether you can save any money on your premiums by installing additional security.
In order to mitigate the risk posed by criminals as much as possible, you’ll also need:
If your business has been the victim of a criminal attack or theft, you need to act immediately for the best results of catching the culprits and recovering any damage.
Here’s what to do if your business is affected by a security incident:
Are you worried about your business premises? It’s common for business owners and staff to feel anxious, especially during a nationwide-lockdown or over the Christmas Break. Our security consultants work with businesses of all sizes to provide critical advice and guidance to ensure that your assets, buildings and facilities are as secure as they should be.
Whether you need advice on the best way to protect yourself or guidance on how to increase security within your organisation, our advisory services can assist.