How to Implement Security Systems in Your Private Car Park

As a business owner, the last thing you want to see is the public using your private car park as a personal parking space. To prevent this annoying occurrence from happening, you’ll need to invest in tight security measures to protect your premises.

Here’s everything you need to know about creating a secure, controlled-access car park for your business.



What is car park security?

Car park security covers the methods we use to keep an area where vehicles are parked secure. There is a huge variety of systems and technologies that can be used to secure a car park and all of them are encompassed by an area of security called vehicle access control. This involves preventing unauthorised members of the public from using your parking facilities and exerting greater control over who can access your car park.

Why should I increase the security of my private car park?

While you might not have an issue with members of the public using your private car park, it’s important to remember that unauthorised parking can cause various problems for business owners, employees and customers. In many cases, a mere ‘private parking’ sign will do little to restrict external access to your car park and people will use your premises regardless of whether or not they are authorised to do so.

These key issues will make you think twice about the security of your private car park:

Unauthorised parking

You’ll want to stop people using your car park illegally or parking and going somewhere else. This is very common in town or city centres as people will try and find the cheapest or a ‘free’ option.

Vehicle theft

Opening your private car park up to the public can cause a rise in vehicle theft. Without sufficient security measures, the cars and vans of your employees are left vulnerable to thieves.

Traffic congestion

A lack of access control can risk your private car park becoming congested if too many members of the public park there.

Site vandalism

Weak security can leave your premises exposed to vandalism. If you want to minimise the risk of company vehicles and equipment getting damaged or destroyed, you’re going to want to invest in some heightened security measures.

Abandoned cars

In the UK there is still a problem with old or damaged cars being left in car parks or other private areas. Ensuring you have a strong car park security solution in place will reduce and even eliminate this.

Out of hours parking

You’ll want to prevent people using private car parks illegally out of hours. This is the peak time for criminal activity, from anti-social behaviour to unauthorised meetups.

Fly tipping

An unsecured car park is often seen as the perfect place to engage in fly tipping and disposing of other unwanted items. With car park security, you can stop them from getting in your car park or catch the guilty parties.

Revenue losses

Problems with your company parking facilities could cause you long-term financial problems. People will not pay for their parking in certain car parks - if there are no barriers, cameras or security methods they will often take their chances and not pay for parking, losing you revenue. Therefore, improving your car park security is a cost-effective investment that will protect your business.

Which businesses can benefit from car park security?

There are a number of businesses that could benefit from installing car park security systems and measures.

Some of these industries include:

●     Retail

●     Gyms

●     Education

●     Hotels

●     Security

●     Police and law enforcement

●     Hospitals and healthcare

●     Cinemas

●     Restaurants

●     Prisons

●     Automotive

●     Commercial

●     Industrial estates

●     Storage facilities

●     Shopping centres

How can I improve the security of my private car park?

There are many ways you can improve the security of your private car park, and most of these involve the concept of access control. You’ll want to introduce measures that allow employees and customers to enter safely while keeping unauthorised people and vehicles away.

Here’s some key security features that will help your car park become more secure:

Car park barriers

If you’re looking for an effective way to secure your parking area, car park barriers offer a simple but safe way to monitor vehicle traffic in and out of your business. The installation of car park barriers operated with proximity card reading equipment means your staff and visitors won’t be held up waiting for someone to come and open barriers, or even have to get out of their vehicles. This system will allow only those with the correct permits though, providing seamless access by emitting a signal to the reader which automatically opens the security barrier. Whether you require a heavy-duty automatic barrier for high volume vehicle parking control, a folding parking barrier or manually operated security barriers for smaller premises, there’s a plethora of options available - you’re bound to find a choice that suits your requirements.

Security cameras

CCTV camera installation is a simple but effective security measure to protect your private parking space. Security cameras are not only a great deterrent to prevent members of the public from parking on your property, but they also provide the means to help catch intruders. High-quality security cameras and CCTV systems will help you monitor your premises 24 hours a day, meaning you’ll be able to easily spot someone who isn’t meant to be there. In many cases, you’ll also be able to view the recordings remotely or stream a live feed to your smartphone or tablet - this means no matter where you are, you can deal with any problems quickly and effectively.

Access control systems

Another technical security measure to regulate who is able to enter your car park is an access control system. From digital to biometric door entry systems, installing an access control system on your car park gates will ensure only people with authorised access are able to enter your office building or restricted area.

Most access control systems include:

●     Keypads

●     Swipe cards

●     Access fobs

●     Door entry systems

●     Stand-alone units

●     Intercom systems

●     Proximity cards

Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR)

ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) is a method used to keep car parks secure - another form of vehicle access control. As the name states, the system scans inbound and outbound vehicles’ plates and either grants or denies access to the car park based on various factors. The factors used to determine a vehicle’s access level can be things like if the owner has paid for their parking, if they are an employee and are on the database or if they have temporary clearance. In terms of a private car park in a retail setting, plate information is temporarily stored and once the vehicles have left the car park successfully the plate information is removed. ANPR is a popular security measure used in a range of different car parks across the United Kingdom and the globe - and we definitely recommend you look into it if you want to make your own car park more established.

Intercoms

An intercom system is another way you can decide who gets to access your car park. An intercom is a stand-alone tool that can be used at almost any property or building. The two-way device transmits and receives audio/visual communications from one part of the building to another, allowing the person indoors to be able to talk and view the person outdoors.

There are many benefits to using intercoms in a private car park setting:

●     They protect employees from harm by removing the need for face-to-face, physical contact with a visitor.

●     They provide internal access control, meaning vehicles will be viewed and vetted before being allowed to enter.

●     It reduces the need for door security - manned security for their doors can be scaled back or even replaced with intercom systems. This may give you the funds to invest in other areas of the business, or additional security measures.

Contact Shuretech for traffic management systems and more

If you’re looking for a company offering security systems, look no further than Shuretech Ltd. All our engineers are health and safety accredited, offering a professional and reliable service. You can have complete peace of mind knowing that we are members of The Door and Hardware Federation and SafeContractor approved. Contact us today to find out what we can do for you.