Perimeter security for beginners

Perhaps your business has recently become a victim of physical crime, or maybe you are concerned that it may happen in the near future?

Whatever your motivation for wanting to improve security at your premises, there are lots of ways that you can do so. Here we will look at some of the most effective forms of perimeter security on the market today.

What is perimeter security?

For businesses in the UK, security should play a critical role in their activities. Whilst it’s easy to take a laid-back approach to your security protocol and think that it will never happen to you, in reality crime rates are on the rise with many businesses targeted with arson, trespass, criminal damage and burglary every year. So, it pays to be cautious.

Perimeter security is defined as a wide variety of tools, systems and approaches that come together to prevent unauthorised and unlawful access to your business premises. Let’s look at some of the most effective forms of perimeter security that we recommend here at Gateway Automation.

Risk Assessments

The number one place to start with perimeter security is to have a full risk assessment carried out. This way you can work out which parts of your site are potentially vulnerable and need to be protected and monitored. Many companies skip this part and end up wasting money on ineffective security systems.

Heavy duty gates

One common security tool that we advise businesses start with is a pair of heavy duty gates. Gates not only provide a practical tool in controlling or preventing pedestrian and vehicular access, but they also send out a strong signal to opportunistic criminals that your site is well fortified and not worth the time and effort it would take to break in and out again. We provide a wide range of Automatic, Bi-Folding, Cantilever and Manual swing gates.

Turnstile Security

Security doesn’t just mean locking the doors when you leave. A large amount of crime against businesses actually happens during daylight hours too. If you want to protect your building internally then you need to have good systems built-in to control access to purely authorised visitors only. Turnstiles provide a robust and secure method of controlling the entry and exit of employees and visitors to your site without the need for employing costly security or reception personnel.

Access Control Equipment

Another form of internal security that businesses should not overlook is that of access control equipment. Access control equipment can be added to doors with proximity devices, intercoms, keypads and even specialist fingerprint readers that limit access to whoever you decide. It can be tailored to lock down an entire site or simply specific areas that you want to keep safe.

Managing vehicular access

A key role that perimeter security plays beyond managing pedestrian traffic is that of preventing unwanted vehicles from entering your premises. Tools like security posts can be used which can be raised or lowered from the ground at specific times of the day, speed ramps can be used to reduce the speed of vehicles, flow control plates can guide traffic in specific directions and automatic rising kerbs can provide a heavy-duty ‘door stop’ to shut off access to car parks, loading bays and other restricted areas upon demand.

Barriers are also a commonly used tool to protect commercial sites and come in a range of styles from automatic barriers that can be controlled by security guards, CCTV, proximity cards, push buttons and tokens, to height restrictor barriers used to prevent large vehicles from illegally entering warehouses, garages and buildings to manual barriers which can be physically fixed in place upon demand.

Get in touch

Arranging effective perimeter security is not something that you should go at alone. No matter the size or nature of your businesses, we can provide you with a free, no-obligation quotation and feasibility survey to assess the security requirements of your organisation. 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 or call us on 01522 682 255.

How access control can benefit student accommodation

Whilst at university a great many students opt to stay in student accommodation. While many students will stay in flats owned by their universities, a great many will choose the often far greater amenities and luxury of privately let accommodation. However, it is important that students in these accommodations feel safe and secure in their accommodation both in terms of their personal safety and that of their possessions. Here we will look at how access control equipment can help.

What is access control equipment?

Access control equipment is a means to allow people to enter and exit a room, building or site and simultaneously prevent unwanted visitors from gaining access. Residents are given access credentials such as codes, keys, fobs, or cards which can be used to permit access.

The benefits of access control equipment in student accommodation

Within the student accommodation environment access control equipment protects students from unauthorized visitors who may risk their personal safety or that of their belongings.

While in the past physical keys were staple for most accommodations, the risk of key duplication means that they are often seen as an outdated form of technology. Access control equipment such as fobs and key cards are much more difficult to duplicate and therefore provide better protection to residents.

For criminals, students often represent somewhat of a cash cow as they tend to own products such as mobile phones, laptops and electrical goods with high re-sell values, so it is important that property owners can limit any potential risk with strong security solutions not only for the students themselves but also for their parents who often have deep-set worries regarding the safety of their children, many of whom are leaving home for the first time. When choosing accommodation for their children, parents factor security very high in their list of priorities.

Another factor that plays into many student accommodation facility managers choosing access control equipment to secure their sites is the control of anti-social behaviour.

Student facilities are often host to late-night parties and other types of social events arranged by residents. While this is to be expected, it can be the cause of alarm and unrest for other residents in the building disturbing their studies and quality of life. Party goers could also cause reckless damage to your property. By restricting access to a building to residents and approved guests, you provide some protection against such behaviour.

Here at Gateway Automation we provide free feasibility surveys to assess your requirements and also provide non-obligation quotes. Click here to arrange a callback or click here to download our free brochure and take a look at our impressive range of access control equipment to help secure student accommodation.

What does the law say about squatting in commercial property?

In the news we often see stories of owners of both residential and commercial properties coming home to find that their properties have been taken over by squatters or unwanted visitors. However, rather than there being a simple solution once squatting begins, there is often quite a lot of difficulty involved in removing squatters and the law is sometimes unclear.

Squatting defined

In England and Wales, squatters are defined as a person or persons who is not the owner of a property or piece of land but has entered that place with the intention to live there. This is sometimes known as ‘adverse possession’. The reasons for squatting are vast and may be driven by homelessness, poverty, protest or other reasons.

What the law says

While the law is quite well defined with regards to squatting in residential property like apartments and houses, it is less clear with non-residential property and may be termed as trespass. With residential property, squatting can lead to large fines, prison sentences or both. With non-residential property though such as schools, warehouses, factories and shops the law is less clear.

The act of being inside a non-residential property without express permission is often deemed as trespass which is a civil matter and means that property owners must seek resolution through the courts – which can often be a lengthy process. The only way that the police can take action is if there is proof that another type of crime has been committed such as fly tipping, criminal damage, use of utilities without permission or other criminal matters and because of this, commercial properties or often targeted by squatters.

The process of removing squatters is often a lengthy process with land owners having to apply for what is called an interim possession order (IPO) which can take time to be processed in which time damage may have been caused to your property without your knowledge. Seeking to remove squatters yourself is not only dangerous but should you use force could mean that you face criminal charges yourself and therefore prevention of squatting is often the best strategy to take.

Prevention

There are plenty of different methods for securing a vacant property from being accessed by squatters. Strong perimeter security tools such as gates and barriers are an important place to start. However, every property is different and may require different approaches to put a stop to unauthorised access.

Gateway Automation provide a range of products to help businesses and individuals to secure their sites and also provide nationwide servicing and repairs to gates, barriers and other perimeter security equipment. To find out more and to arrange a risk assessment, please call us on 01522 682255.

Safe gates for schools

With the school holidays just around the corner, many schools are thinking carefully about what maintenance work needs to be carried out across their sites over the summer months. Here at Gateway Automation we are encouraging schools and educational sites to take the school holidays to not only ensure that their sites are protected but also to review the safety levels of their security equipment.

How gates can protect schools from crime and reduce truancy

Security is high on the agenda for many schools, ensuring that only authorized visitors can access the site and that the safety of their pupils is safeguarded. Equally, it is just as important that schools are able to ensure that their students stay safely inside the school premises and that they are able to effectively prevent truancy among students and perimeter security tools can help with both aspects.

Whether this is achieved through access control equipment like intercoms, keypads, cards or fobs, or by installing a turnstile system allowing staff to check credentials, it should be high on the agenda when looking at how to meet their expected requirement and one key tool that is common place is the use of security gates.

Gate safety

A strong security gate is one of the most effective forms of access control and creates a physical barrier that acts as an obstacle and a deterrent against crime. However, it is vitally important that schools have their gates fitted by professional installers who are aware of how to make a gate safe as well as secure. Further to this it is equally important that those gates are maintained to a high standard, rather than left in a dangerous state. Neglecting to have them fixed can lead to fines, damage to the school’s reputation and in some cases, and worst of all, a devastating loss of life or injury to pupils, staff and visitors.

Gateway Automation provide a range of gates to help businesses and individuals to secure their sites and also provide nationwide servicing and repairs to gates, barriers and other perimeter security equipment. We are proud to be certified as Gate Safe Aware Installers. To find out more, please contact us on 01522 682255 or take a look at our brochure which can be viewed here: http://www.gatewayautomation.co.uk/brochure.

The dangers of urban exploration and how to safeguard your business premises

One of the benefits of the world wide web is that it can bring together online communities built around shared interests. However, for owners of vacant properties and facility managers, one online interest and the community that has grown around it has become a source of constant headaches. That is urban exploration.

What is urban exploration?

Urban exploration is the act of visiting old abandoned buildings and documenting what you find through photographs which are then typically shared online with fellow hobbyists. Whilst these groups and communities usually practice a motto of leaving buildings as you find them, there are many dangers both for themselves and for the owners of these buildings.

Whilst urban explorers often have the best intentions, posting their photographs online often attracts far more people into these buildings which are often unsafe and can also act as scouting material for criminal gangs, thieves and travelers looking to exploit the sites.

In recent years there have been cases of urban explorers being badly injured, or even losing their lives while making their way into or around these often old and unsafe buildings.

What does the law say?

While trespass is a civil offense and explorers risk arrest and punishment, there are legal repercussions for property owners too. Under the Defective Premises Act and the Occupiers Liability Act, property owners have a duty of care towards anyone who visits their site and this means if someone is injured due to a failure to repair or maintain their property they could be liable. This means it is absolutely critical that property owners take steps to prevent urban explorers from gaining access to their property.

What can be done?

There are plenty of different methods for securing a vacant property from trespass. Strong perimeter security tools such as gates and barriers are an important place to start. However, every property is different and may require different approaches to put a stop to unauthorised access.

Gateway Automation provide a range of products to help businesses and individuals to secure their sites and also provide nationwide servicing and repairs to gates, barriers and other perimeter security equipment. To find out more and to arrange a risk assessment, please call us on 01522 682255.

How to prevent illegal parties and events in warehouses and industrial buildings

One growing threat, particularly over the summer months, for businesses across the UK is the resurgence of unlicensed musical events in unoccupied buildings. Known as ‘raves’ or ‘free parties’ these events take place throughout the country in buildings which are typically left empty, are fairly isolated and are easy to gain access to.

Organisers of the events are known to scout for suitable locations which are normally large buildings such as warehouses or industrial premises. These types of buildings usually have access to resources such as electricity, are large enough to hold big groups of people and are isolated enough so as not to draw too much attention. However, while holding these types of events away from the public may mean that there is less noise pollution, the consequences of these events for the owners and tenants of these buildings remain serious.

A recent example of this occurred in Swanley, Kent where 500 people entered an industrial unit in Marks Way, without the consent of the owner. While police were called to attend at around midnight and attendees fled the scene, the aftermath of the event caused over £30,000 worth of damage to what was a brand-new recently refurbished warehouse.

A rave at a warehouse in Croydon attracted over 3,000 young people to an empty unit at Beddington Industrial Estate which was due to be taken up by a new tenant just weeks after the event took place and caused thousands of pounds in damage.

Like many of these events, organisers asked those interested to register their details secretly online before releasing details of the location at the last minute. Typically, locations are sourced at the last minute as organisers scout around for buildings which are deemed to be isolated, with electricity and are easy to access.

In order for businesses and owners to protect their premises it is important that they make their properties as secure as possible and as unattractive to criminals as they can. This means turning off amenities like electricity and water when buildings are left empty but also making their buildings difficult to access by installing strong forms of perimeter security such as gates and barriers. If you already have these installed, then it is important to make sure that they are maintained to a high standard so that they are still effective in preventing trespass.

Gateway Automation provide a range of products to help businesses and individuals to secure their sites and also provide nationwide servicing and repairs to gates, barriers and other perimeter security equipment. To find out more, please call us on 01522 682255.

How to prevent illegal gatherings and parties on rural land

Organisations such as the CLA have ramped up campaigning efforts in recent years to encourage farmers and other owners of empty buildings to keep their premises secure. This is due in part to a resurgence in illegal gatherings for unlicensed musical events – often known as ‘raves’ or ‘free parties’.

“Illegal raves cause a great deal of disruption to local communities, with the resulting mess causing harm to both wildlife and the environment. These illegal gatherings can also create unnecessary problems for landowners, who could fall victim to considerable clean-up costs and expensive repairs to outbuildings,” explained CLA President, Henry Robinson.

Illegal raves often occur on private land that is dormant or poorly protected, meaning that the organisers of these events can hold their events unnoticed by land owners. Bringing their own sound systems, the events will often go on until the early hours of the morning at which point revellers will often leave behind all manner of mess and damage costing land owners thousands of pounds to clear up and repair.

An illegal rave in 2017 which took place in the Cambridgeshire countryside between the villages of Arrington and Longstowe caused terrible damage to the land that the party-goers occupied. The farmer in charge of the land complained that rubbish and glass had been strewn all over the site – a serious problem as glass could potentially damage his machinery, injure livestock and become lodged in hay bales meant for sale. While policers officers were called to respond to the event, it took many hours for the event to be brought to a safe conclusion and for everyone to leave.

Another event near Darlington caused a farmer to complain that an event attracting up to 500 attendees caused him over £70,000 worth of damages after an all-night party resulted in broken glass, gas canisters and cans littered across his field as well as contamination of the corn in his barn which meant it could no longer be sold.

Police officers and the CLA have both recommended that the best way to tackle illegal raves and free parties is early intervention. This means informing officers of any intelligence that a rave may be taking place illegally sometime in the future, as officers can find it much more difficult to shut down a rave once it has started.

The best way to prevent illegal gatherings is to cut off access to both the organisers and attendees. As many of the people going to the events will travel by car, it is critical that owners of farmland find a way to limit access to their land to authorised vehicles only, wherever possible.

Gateway Automation provide a range of products to help businesses and individuals to secure their sites and also provide nationwide servicing and repairs to gates, barriers and other perimeter security equipment. To find out more, please call us on 01522 682255.