Which Security Measures Would Benefit Your Commercial or Public Sector Premises Most?

One of the highest priorities for commercial and public sector venues and premises is to ensure the safety of customers and staff and to limit the amount of crime which takes place. One of the best ways to do this is to ensure that your premises are kitted out with the latest security installations.

To help you understand what your requirements are, this guide details the most effective installations for different types of premises.

Education

The most important priority on educational premises is the safety and wellbeing of the pupils. With this in mind, there are various measures that can be taken, and security systems installed, that will help. The first is to add a perimeter security fence. To ensure that pupils can’t just leave school when they’d like and to make sure that no outsiders can enter without going through the entrance, a high perimeter fence is a great option. Plus it keeps wildlife out which could similarly be a safety hazard. If the education premises is in a densely populated, urban area then you may wish to consider a car park barrier. Schools that have large front-facing car parks, like my old school, are an immediate health hazard as there is a much higher potential for car accidents. Installing some form of traffic barrier will allow you to regulate the flow of cars in and out of the premises and another layer of security could be added by only allowing certain cars in.

Lastly, CCTV is important in particular areas of the school. The most frequent CCTV locations are outside of toilets (where a lot of mischief occurs), near the entrance of the school, and in more concealed areas where it’s harder to keep an eye on pupils. Installing CCTV will not only allow poor behaviour to be properly addressed but it’ll also act as a deterrent to poor behaviour in the first place.

Healthcare

Healthcare premises have to be very secure locations. For example, to stop contagious health problems from spreading across the hospital, it’s necessary to add access control points to certain areas of the building. On this note, automatic doors are a good option for hospitals as it results in fewer points of contact being shared between patients and staff.

Another good option is to install shutters because the equipment in hospitals is often very expensive. Heavy-duty shutters with CCTV outside of them is a solid decision to reduce the risk of theft. If an automated model is purchased, which is highly recommended, then these shutters will also allow ambulances to be stored inside rather than outside which has a range of benefits.

Sporting Venues

Sporting events are usually hotspots for drinking and mischievous activity which makes it important to ensure that your security systems are up to date. For example, to make sure that only those who purchased a ticket enter the venue, some form of turnstile will be required. This can also be used as a security checkpoint, allowing the traffic of incoming or outgoing fans to be regulated. A speed lane would be a good option in this instance. Given the hostilities which can occur at sporting events, particularly football derby days, some form of metal security grill may be required to protect windows and any other glass. It’s not uncommon for bottles to be thrown at matches and this may smash windows unless the proper precautions are taken. This measure will not only protect other customers, but it will also protect staff members as well as the offender.

A good way to keep sporting events manageable and within a contained area is to use some form of security fencing. However, a fencing option should be chosen which still offers a high level of visibility. Wire mesh or slotted fences are a good way to do this whilst still prioritising the safety of staff and customers. This fencing can also be automated so that, at the end of the event, the premises can be vacated more quickly. The quicker customers leave the premises, the safer it is for themselves and for staff members.

Transport Hubs

Transport hubs are also easily forgotten commercial premises that require extra security measures. The most obvious system that would be required is a turnstile to check people’s tickets. Along with turnstiles, speed lanes might be a good choice to funnel customers in particular directions. Both installations also provide the opportunity to control incoming and outgoing traffic at busy periods.

Access control installations are also a good choice for transportation hubs. More often than not, there is expensive equipment stored in train stations and airports like security equipment, screens and monitors, and other electronic equipment. Access points reduce the likelihood of these being stolen or damaged. Access controls also reduce the risk of people deliberately entering important areas and tampering with vehicle controls.

As industries are becoming more automated and digitised than ever before, there are less staff moving around airports and train stations who would otherwise report suspicious activities. The above suggestions, along with up-to-date CCTV systems, will negate this trend to ensure that your transport hub is secure and safe for staff and customers alike.

Shops

The most obvious security a shop should invest in are CCTV cameras. Although they come with a pricey up-front cost, they could save you eye-watering amounts of money in the long run. CCTV not only helps to identify those who commit wrongdoing in your shop but it also acts as a deterrent. It was found in 2018 that the single biggest deterrent for burglars was having active security cameras. This means that they provide value before there’s even been an incident - this is probably why a lot of shops have security cameras on show that don’t actually function properly.

Another good option for shop owners is to buy shutters. This is especially important seeing as almost all shops leave their stock out overnight. Without shutters, it would be relatively easy for a criminal to break the glass and run away within 5 minutes with tens of thousands of pounds of your produce, depending on what you sell. When buying shutters for your shop, it’s recommended that you spend more and get a very recent model because it extends the amount of time they’ll be appropriate - if you buy an older model then you may need to replace them in a few years, especially as burgling methods are becoming increasingly sophisticated and tech-savvy.

Hotels and Bars

Hotels and bars are very busy venues which see a lot of activity. They’re places which typically require more security because the hospitality sector naturally deals with intoxicated customers more often. For example, in most football stadiums the kiosks close after half time and the shutters are lowered to ensure the staff’s safety for the rest of the match.

What type of shutters you buy depends on their purpose. If you intend on keeping stock behind the shutters then heavier duty ones are more appropriate. On the other hand, if your aim is to conceal workers from view then lighter shutter doors are a good option.

These venues will also require access controls for staff areas. To ensure that customers, or anybody for that matter, don’t go anywhere they aren’t welcome, installing some form of access control is a good investment. Whether this is keycard or pin activated is a matter of preference. It’s also recommended that some form of CCTV is installed to oversee these areas just in case anybody still tries to enter.

Regardless of whether your premises is a school, a football ground, a train station, or a hotel, it’s extremely important to ensure that the most appropriate security systems have been installed. This guide outlines the best security measures to take for the main venue types in both the commercial and public sector to help you understand what your requirements are before making any decisions.

At Shuretech we are proud of our team of fully experienced surveyors and certified engineers and we can install the above measures as per your requirements. If you’d like to discuss these options any further, or if you have any questions, then don’t hesitate to get in touch with us by calling 01344 307 350 or emailing sales@shuretech.co.uk.