SecurityWise: Behaving securely while reopening businesses
22 May 2020
The Covid-19 crisis has had a great impact on all of our lives within the short-term lockdown, subsequent phased re-opening of businesses and social distancing requirements which will affect all of our lives for some time to come.
This has led to a number of changes in our personal and business lives, some of which are for the better and some of which, unfortunately, are for the worse. The way in which we are currently living and going to have to live means we will need to change the way we think, behave and also make adjustments to our expectations. Certainly, life is not going to be the same for some time to come.
Just as life has changed for us, so it has for the criminal fraternity, which unfortunately is likely to grow in its numbers as the economic downturn bites and unemployment rises. Some of the changes we will be making to our lives will be seen as opportunities by criminals to deprive us of our physical possessions. Greater care also needs to be exercised with online transactions, as there has been a spike in online fraud. We, therefore, all need to think and behave in a secure manner.
As changes are made to business practices consideration needs to be made as to what effect this will have on the security. Some of the changes will be physical in nature with the installation of screens and other premises adjustments intended to aid social distancing, and also some on an operational level with potentially reduced staffing numbers. The way in which these interact with each other will determine some of the measures businesses will need to make to ensure that they are operating as securely as possible without impeding too much on businesses functioning efficiently.
I will touch on both of these aspects separately however it is imperative that any security alterations should be run past your insurers to make sure that they are happy with the proposed changes as, ultimately, they are the ones you will want to respond to a crime. Therefore, care needs to be taken that changes do not breach any policy cover terms and conditions.
Image: costcuttersuk.com
Firstly, lets look at the physical changes which many businesses are looking to implement to the premises. This may actually not be too extensive; however, a number of businesses are looking at the installation of Perspex screens or changes to the layout of the premises. Whilst on the face of it this may seem of not much importance, consideration needs to be made on how these changes affect some of the electronic security in many premises. Has the change in layout obscured or reduced the observable range of CCTV cameras? Are there now new blind spots? Also, have these changes affected the range of alarm detection equipment? A simple Perspex screen may not obscure a CCTV camera, but it can obscure an alarm motion or infra-red detector leaving big gaps in the alarm protection. This may mean the re-siting of some CCTV and alarm detection equipment will also be required.
The Perspex screens, whilst protecting the staff, may possibly embolden potential criminals to snatch goods and run out of the premises and there are a number of precautions, both physical and procedural, that can be put in place to reduce this. Some businesses may wish to consider, if not already in place, installing electric locks on the doors to control access to the premises both in and out. This will not only reduce the risk of a snatch and run but also have the added benefit of ensuring that effective social distancing between customers can be achieved by limiting the number of persons in a premise at any one time.
If electric locks cannot be installed there is always the option of having a member of staff physically unlocking the door to let customers in and out. As we are all now getting very used to queuing outside of supermarkets, a simple sign at the door advising that access is now being controlled to limit the number of customers at any one time is likely not only to be understood by customers but also appreciated that you are looking after their safety.
A locked door is only effective whilst locked, however, and criminals will be looking for opportunities to run off with goods when the doors are opened to let other criminal associates or independent customers in and out. Therefore, when customers are handling goods, these should be passed back to the shop assistant before the door is opened to allow entry or exit of other persons. Also, it is recommended that only one item at a time is to be handled by customers wherever possible. Objections to such security measures is often due to a perceived negative reaction by a legitimate customer on their honesty. However, the more stringent security can be explained to customers as measures to protect the business, not from the customer actually in the shop but from other less scrupulous members of the public who may rush in and snatch from the customer handling the item or from desks and counter tops.
Of greater concern will be the use of face masks, especially in conjunction with the use of hats, caps and sunglasses, obscuring faces so that offenders can operate whilst not being identified. This should be treated with great caution much as you would have prior to the Covid-19 outbreak when, for example, someone in a full-face motorcycle helmet presented at the door.
It is very strongly recommended that you request all customers to momentarily remove the face covering and look at a CCTV camera before replacing again. If requested of all customers, it is unlikely that you can be accused of being discriminatory and most are likely to be understanding. Even if this is not requested at entering of the shop it should certainly be requested before any goods are to be handled by the customers. It is, however, understood that this could be a very sensitive area but in making the request you are not only protecting your goods, but more importantly you are protecting your staff.
Whilst this momentary removal of the face mask is not likely to currently be an insurance requirement, in order to deflect the criticism of such a request there is always the option of saying that you have been told by your insurers that this should or needs to be undertaken. Certainly, this is already a requirement for Jewellers in many other European countries, who have been released from lockdown earlier.
On an operational level, consideration of reduced staff numbers means that your operating procedures, which are vitally important in maintaining effective security, may be weakened. The key moments for any business are the opening and closing procedures of the premises. A reduction in numbers attending at such times will increase the attractiveness of your business as a target to the criminal fraternity. The normal process of opening and closing with two persons can still be undertaken with social distancing in mind. Only one person should present at the door to unlock whilst a second person observes at a safe distance, usually advised to be the other side of the road or at a significant distance within a mall.
A reduction in staff members on the shop floor may also necessitate a rethinking of the layout of the stock within the display area. With reduced staff numbers it could well be prudent to reduce the usual value on display at any one time both in display windows, which are increasingly attacked through the window backs as display glazing improves, and also internal cabinets.
One thing for certain is that the criminal fraternity have not been able to access the Government’s furlough job retention scheme. Whilst the country has been on lock down the opportunities open to them have significantly reduced, therefore it is expected that there will likely be a spike in criminal behaviour as they look to recoup lost earnings when businesses start to reopen.
I think one question which all businesses should be asking themselves whilst implementing change is, “Are we behaving Securely?” It is certain that the criminals will be looking at your businesses and asking themselves exactly that question. Are there any weaknesses and opportunities to deprive you of your hard-earned goods?
As always, a good insurance broker should be able to give you advice, not only on what your insurance policy requires, but other measures above and beyond which will help target harden the business against criminal attack.
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Source: TH March