10 ways to secure your business premises against crime

Crime is a major threat to businesses of all sizes in the UK, with crime against businesses accounting for as much as 20% of all criminal incidents recorded. Many businesses are unaware of this fact and also don’t realise that an overwhelming majority of burglaries are unplanned. This underlines the importance of highlighting any weaknesses in perimeter security with a risk assessment, implementing it and dealing with any vulnerabilities. Here are 10 ways that you can ramp up your security efforts in and stop crime in its tracks.

1 - Barriers
Barriers can be used in a number of ways to prevent unwanted access to car parks, warehouses, construction sites, garages and other areas where vehicular access needs to be restricted. Automatic barriers are a high-tech option and are controlled by push-buttons, tokens, proximity cards, CCTV or by on site security guards while manual barriers are a cost-effective solution, especially for areas where power supply is limited. Height restrictive barriers are used to prevent large transit vehicles from entering a site illegally.

2 - Gates
While CCTV and alarm systems can record a crime they do not always stop it from happening. A strong security gate is one of the most effective ways of ensuring a business is protected by providing a physical barrier which prevents criminals from getting in or making a quick escape. At Gateway we offer a range of swing gates, sliding gates and bi-folding gates.

3 - Turnstiles
Manned guarding is a good way to monitor who is coming and going, but a more cost effective solution can be to install full-height or waist-height turnstiles which only allow access to those who are permitted entry, either through use of a keypad, proximity card, token or through intercom access.

4 - Access control equipment
In addition to these methods of improving security, there is also high quality, low cost access control equipment available to help you stay on top of the visitors to your site, limit access to certain areas and provide protection to your members of staff. These can include intercom systems, proximity devices, traffic lights, keypads, biometric fingerprint readers and more.

5 - Security posts
A simple yet effective way of restricting vehicular access, security posts work in a similar way to static bollards but can be folded down into a lowered position for when you want to allow access to approved vehicles.

6 - Speed ramps
Speed ramps are used to successfully restrict the speed of vehicles on your business site and can be altered to deliver more or less speed reduction according to your needs.

7 - Flow control plates
Another effective way to control traffic is through flow control plates, which encourage a one-way flow of vehicles. Typically they are used in car parks, goods-loading yards, bus lanes and also in some residential areas to reduce non-residential traffic.

8 - Automatic rising kerbs
Tough, reliable and un-compromising – automatic rising kerbs act as a barrier against unwanted vehicle access in vehicle parking areas, completely blocking access to unwanted visitors and utilising the latest hydraulic technologies.

9 - Crash tested road blockers
If your site requires a higher level of security, such as to provide protection against a potential terrorist threat, then you should consider crash tested road blockers. A formidable 1050mm high when fully raised, Gateway’s own GA10000 received a 100% pass rate and “0” penetration when tested at the Motor Industry Research Associaton.

10 - Anti-Terrorism Bollards
Another potential solution to guarding against terrorist threats is anti-terrorism bollards. Frequently employed in sensitive sites such as airports, embassies, storage facilities and government offices they provide a strong barrier against terrorist threats.

Whether your business runs from small retail premises or a large industrial site, we can provide you with a free, no-obligation quotation and feasibility survey to assess your perimeter security requirements. For more information on any of the security options above, or for further advice on how to protect your business premises from criminals, please contact us here.