Industrial estate security is a major concern for thousands of land and business owners. Industrial estates are found on the outskirts of most urban areas across the UK, home to businesses across a wide range of industries from wholesale, distribution, manufacturing, retail to storage and repairs. These businesses, largely made up of small to medium enterprises (SME’s), are the backbone of the UK economy.
According to FSB at the start of 2020 there were 6 million SME businesses in the UK employing 16.8 million people and turning over an estimated at £2.3 trillion. For these businesses the threat from burglary, theft and anti-social behaviour including criminal damage and arson is ever present. In fact, recent research ‘Calling time on business crime’ suggests that smaller businesses are particularly vulnerable to crime with 2.54 million small firms in England & Wales experiencing at least one business crime in the previous two years. Concerning statistics indeed for business owners to mitigate.
One thing is for sure, protecting business premises, assets and people with adequate industrial estate security measures is necessary. That’s why 71% of small businesses have taken at least one defensive measure against traditional business crime, with 46% of these installing or upgrading physical security, e.g. locks, alarms and CCTV – but often more still needs to be done.
A quick scan of the news media reveals that industrial estate security is constantly being tested by criminals, especially during evenings, nights and weekends when there aren’t many people around to see them.
It’s not only burglaries, physical robberies, or yobs messing around after hours, or even people using the industrial estates as race tracks or driving practice grounds – there are also other more sinister incidents too that include drug deal drop-offs, illegal cannabis factories being set up in empty units and even gangland activities. Here are some examples of headlines relating to industrial estate security incidents:
Launch of partnership initiative to support industrial estate security
One industrial estate in Cambridgeshire that has had its fair share of security incidents, has pushed back on crime with a police supported crime prevention partnership. This brings together the estate businesses, Cambridgeshire Police, Neighbourhood Watch and Farsight Security Services which now remotely monitors the ‘collective’ existing CCTV systems present across the site as well as access control at its new entry gate.
Highlode industrial Estate, situated on the outskirts of Ramsey and home to 33 business units, decided it was time to work together and appointed Helen Galer as Security Project Manager. This decision followed the ‘tipping point’ of a spate of incidents affecting businesses on the estate, including three ram raids carried out on two motorcycle retail businesses.
Helen Galer – Security Project Manager at Highlode Industrial Estate Association (pictured above with Malcolm O’Shea Barnes – Senior Operations Manager at Farsight & Alan Wilcher – Cambs Neighbourhood Watch Area Co-Ordinator for Ramsey) highlights some of the security concerns that the site has faced recently:
“Additional areas of concern over the last few years have included:- Believed drug drop off/ courier pick-ups, two cannabis factories found in empty units, learner drivers using the private road for practice, diesel being taken for lorries parked up, wheels being taken from cars left on business premises overnight and joy riders.”
Helen has worked hard to bring this new partnership alive with the aim of slowing down intruders who were determined to gain access to the site and deter unwanted anti-social and unwanted behaviours by showing signs of increased security including CCTV monitoring.
The businesses on Highlode Industrial Estate have collectively contributed to enable the activation of a ‘joined up’ partnership to secure the site better which will benefit all. This has included the installation of a security barrier gate to provide increased control of who enters the site after hours with Farsight’s access control service with audio, and a linking up and repositioning of existing CCTV cameras on the site along with some additional cameras being added. The businesses involved will all have access to CCTV footage and the cameras will be CCTV monitored by Farsight after hours or as required.
“Helen has been instrumental in also bringing neighbouring commercial businesses onboard to support this partnership initiative too, which supports the security efficiencies of the whole Stocking Fen Road area of Ramsey,” says Alan Wilcher – Cambs Neighbourhood Watch Area Co-Ordinator for Ramsey & Villages, “We work with the Police and other partners to improve their local communities and keep people safe. By communicating and acting on crime prevention advice, and looking our for each other, active Neighbourhood Watch groups reduce crime, fear of crime, and increase community cohesion and wellbeing.”
Find out more about working with Neighbourhood Watch here.
Malcolm O’Shea Barnes – Farsight’s Senior Operations Manager says, “On the face of it – to think of linking up CCTV camera systems from many different business premises, all using different systems, software and different types of cameras – sounds impossible. Not much is impossible for the Farsight technical team and we have commissioned the site which is now being monitored by our vigilant CCTV operators. We look forward to a long association with Highlode Industrial Estate Association.”
Could a similar security partnership boost your Industrial Estate Security?
Farsight is a leading remote security monitoring centre operating from our purpose built and state-of-the-art Observatory based in Cambridgeshire. We operate across a broad spectrum of industry sectors, including industrial estates across the UK, partnering with thousands of businesses who want peace of mind that their premises, assets and people are protected.
See how Farsight’s CCTV monitoring services work…
Get in touch with Farsight today to find out how we could help improve your industrial estate security with our range of security monitoring services which include CCTV monitoring as well as Fire & Intruder Alarm monitoring, access control and lone worker protection. Get in touch with our friendly, knowledgeable staff on 0845 371 0101 or send us an email.
Further Reading about Remote Facilities Management…
In the context most relevant to Facilities Managers, remote monitoring refers to the management and control of a site’s devices by a remote central monitoring station. To the majority of people this will mean the management of safety and security systems including CCTV, fire & intruder alarm and access control systems.
But remote monitoring is not simply limited to CCTV. Nor is it just for security purposes such as the remote management of access control, or even keeping lone workers secure.
Hi-tech and skilled central stations can manage a site’s environment, provide extensive risk management and offer a whole host of out of hour’s services. All of which can make the running of a facility more efficient and cost effective not to mention the positive affects of energy consumption and sustainability. Read more how remote monitoring is increasingly being used to support the role of modern Facilities Managers:
