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PRESS
Safe & sound – protecting goods in storage
21/10/2004
No matter what kinds of goods you are responsible for storing, whether it is a collection of irreplaceable medals from World War II or the contents of someone’s home whilst they are away, looking after goods in storage is a service that demands stringent security systems.
Security must be in place for goods in transit and on-site. There can be no gaps in the system as the security provision is only as strong as the weakest part of the chain. Priority considerations for storage are secure transit, perimeter security, CCTV of outside and indoor areas, alarms, access control (internal & external areas) and physical security of area where items are kept – such as bolts and locks. If the site stores vehicles you should also use one of the array of devices available such as satellite tracking and wheel-clamps. The Police run an assessment scheme, Secured by Design that provides advice on incorporating anti-theft devices into the design of storage sites.
The kind of security that you choose for your storage site will depend on the budget available weighed against the risk entailed if products are stolen, rather than the actual value of products stored. If I had a million pounds (£) worth of bananas in storage would anyone really steal them? Probably not, but if I had £10,000 worth of computer equipment then it is likely to be stolen without a good security system in place. ADP secures a large pharmaceutical storage & distribution site, which needs a complete, integrated security system that includes automatic barriers, security officers, CCTV, alarms and access control to sensitive parts of the site. A warehouse storing low-risk goods would not need this level of security.
Physical presence of security officers, either with or without dogs, remains the best crime deterrent. The beauty of having security officers on site is that they can also deal with a range of unforeseen problems during the night such as false fire alarm activation, evacuation in the case of a real fire, calling out a plumber in the event of a burst pipe or flood, and so on.
The security team can be a real benefit to the storage-handling organisation, working as part of the team that keeps the goods in pristine condition ready for despatch. Site managers should expect their security team to provide a range of value-added services whilst not carrying out routine security patrols, such as monitoring mission-critical machinery, handling goods in and out, reception and access control duties.
Electronic systems can be pre-programmed to deal with intruder and alarm detections, but will not think and adapt to a given situation as a person can. Even when connected to a monitoring centre there are limitations as they can only sound the alarm and are not pro-active at analysing situations or immediately dealing with intruders like an on-site guard can. CCTV is still best when used together with security officers. The technology is developing rapidly and carries much promise, but the norm is that it is a passive tool that records what happens and does nothing to prevent break-ins!
Mobile patrols are a cost-effective option for low-risk goods. You may choose to hire a mobile patrol that passes by every 24 hours and checks that things are unchanged. This way, a burst pipe or other problem would not go unnoticed for days on end. One of ADP’s customers has a back-up office location in case of problems at the main location; a mobile patrol passes by at regular intervals during the day and night to ensure that the back-up location is still secure and ready for use at a moment’s notice.
At the end of the day, the principle of security is to protect the premises and property. The value of the goods being stored will help you decide your level of investment in securing them, and weigh up the return that you can derive from an integrated security arrangement.
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For all press enquiries, comment or photographs, please contact: Keren Burney
Public Relations Representative
| | TEL: | 01730 894123 | | MOBILE: | 07876 780065 | EMAIL: | Kburney000@aol.com | | | | POST: | Compege,
Mainline Business Centre,
Station Road,
Liss,
Hampshire,
GU33 7AD |
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