Advice on how to improve the physical security of your property
The physical nature of security is all about deterring the potential intruder from gaining access to your property. It is important as the first line of defence against an intruder or unwanted visitor. Your aim will be to leave nothing to chance when trying to prevent physical access to your property and theft of belongings.
This can be as simple as having secure locks on all of your outside facing doors/windows to steel security screens or high security gates. Advisors on security have previously used materials that are not so suitable such as wood for window boarding. This may be a slightly cheaper approach, but will degrade quicker and be more vulnerable to attack.
Physical security can be arranged on several layers or tiers that you should be bearing in mind when considering your security at home. They could include things like obstacles that are designed to delay intruders breaking into your property, alarm systems, external lighting or CCTV. Two main layers of physical security are:
- Environmental Design
- Mechanical Security
Environmental Design
Environmental design is the initial layer of physical security for a property and is generally more for commercial properties but could be employed in a residential dwelling. These can include deterrents such as barbed wire, spikes installed on top of walls, concrete barriers, metal barriers and warning signs. Concrete barriers by definition are insurpassable, but need a professional organisation to advise on the installation and eventual removal.
Mechanical Security
This layer is concerned with mechanical aspects of security. These include steel security doors, gates, locks, windows. Approved access through a gate or a door can be via a metal key or an electronic key or digital keycard. In larger buildings, the management of door access is more efficient with an electronic key rather than having to monitor a physical metal key. Biometric access control, using thumb print readers is another form of physical security which is gaining support.
