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Security in Schools CONTENTS Security & Safety Problems Facing Schools Security Measures Anylised Physical Security Electronic Warning Devices Security Guards Closed Circuit Television Conclusion SECURITY & SAFETY PROBLEMS FACING SCHOOLS Having visited a large number of schools to carry out security surveys, we have analysed the information given to us together with the potential problems we observed for ourselves. Different problems are identified in different schools and individuals involved in the safety and security of those schools have different answers and solutions. These problems can be placed in two different groups:and outside school hours. DURING SCHOOL HOURS Safety of pupils and staff from intruders Verification of alleged attacks Walk-in theft of school equipment Vandalism and graffiti Bullying and racial problems Pupils leaving the premises without permission The sale and taking of drugs OUTSIDE SCHOOL HOURS Theft of school equipment Arson Vandalism, breaking of windows etc. The use of school grounds for undesirable and dangerous activity With any security measures, the largest impact is from a visible deterrent. It is an unfortunate fact of life that the 'softest' or least secure premises will be targeted by the criminal element of our society. Visibly securing our own premises might well move those intent on criminal activity elsewhere but 'elsewhere' is someone else's responsibility, they must take their own security measures. It is rather like saturating one troublesome area with Police Officers, very little trouble will occur while they are there but the hard-core of troublemakers will find somewhere else to go. You still police a troublesome area even if the trouble moves elsewhere. Many schools consist of a number of separate buildings, almost like small towns or villages. Pupils have to pass to and from these buildings for changes of lessons etc. Our research has shown that in the majority of cases, it is neither practical or desirable to keep doors locked. It is also apparent that fire doors which cannot be locked while the school is open are used for example to take a short cut or to slip out of school and they are often left open for any easy return, an open invitation to an intruder. Measures to alleviate or solve these problems can be placed into three main categories, all of which can be used separately or collectively. When considering appropriate measures for any individual school, it is our belief that any measures that appear appropriate should be considered, costed and discussed. Accordingly, any decision that might be arrived at will be based on the anticipated results being achieved using the most cost-effective method within the available budgetary constraints. PHYSICAL SECURITY School Open: Locked Doors - restricted access Access Control (e.g. card or code) School Closed: Grills and Shutters Gates and Barriers ELECTRONIC 'WARNING' DEVICES School Open: Audible warning of 'door opened' School Closed: Intruder Alarm System SECURITY SURVEILLANCE School Open: Watchful and alert staff Security Guards Closed Circuit Television School Closed: Security Guards Security Patrols Closed Circuit Television SECURITY MEASURES ANALYSED We will now compare the various security measures that might be under consideration, looking at both their advantages and disadvantages. PHYSICAL SECURITY When the premises are vacated, physical security measures including grilles and shutters provide a deterrent and will delay even a determined intruder. When the premises are in use, their effectiveness is governed by practicality and the desire to allow freedom of movement for staff and pupils. Consider both the advantages and the disadvantages of the following security measures. A/ High perimeter wall or fence. B/ Reduced number of entrances to buildings. C/ Entrances kept locked. D/ Electronic Access Control. For: The fewer the number of entrances and the more difficult access to the grounds, the easier securing the premises becomes. Against: (A/) High walls or dense fencing restrict vision from the outside and can mean intruders cannot be seen. (B/) Reduced number of escape routes in the event of fire or other incidents. Lost keys can necessitate costly changing of locks. (C/) As (B/) and if doors can be opened from the inside, they can be used as short cuts by pupils and left open. (D/) The security of access systems employing a digital code can be quickly compromised if their use can be watched by children. Frequent changes of code become necessary so the codes should be 'user' changeable to avoid the cost of calls. Card or proximity systems are more expensive but they overcome this problem and can prove effective provided that lost cards can be easily voided. ELECTRONIC WARNING DEVICES Different types of electronic warning devices can prove useful in aiding security, some are effective when the school is open, others when it is closed. A/ Intruder Alarm System. B/ Personal Attack Alarm. C/ Door opened warning. FOR: Good Intruder Alarm Systems provide a deterrent and warning of intrusion when the school is closed. A personal attack alarm can be incorporated with police response at little extra cost. A 'door open' warning device is low cost method of monitoring fire doors which should only be used in an emergency. AGAINST: (A/)High false alarm rate and costs for rental/maintenance call-out and resets. Some alarm companies offer comprehensive maintenance schemes so they have a vested interest in reducing false alarms to reduce the number of visits they have to make. (B/) Doors can be opened deliberately to cause disruption unless the incident can be seen, for example on C.C.T.V. SURVEILLANCE - SECURITY GUARDS We see Security Guards deployed in more and more shops to act as a deterrent and apprehend offenders. In the school environment, they can also deter and they can challenge persons who appear to be attempting unauthorised access. FOR: Properly trained Security Guards act as a deterrent and can intervene Protection of staff and pupils in the event of an incident. AGAINST: The on-going costs over a period of time can prove prohibitive, Not all guards are well trained, some are not even vetted. SURVEILLANCE - CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION C.C.T.V. is deployed in many public places and has become generally accepted by the general public who find the presence of cameras reassuring rather than intrusive. Cameras offer a significant deterrent and provided that the recorded pictures are of a sufficiently high quality to identify and lead to the apprehension of offenders, they will prove very effective. FIXED CAMERAS FOR: Fixed cameras provide the lowest cost solution and can prove very effective if properly sited and fitted with the correct lenses. Multiplexed recordings can provide the ability to review the images from all of the cameras alleviating the necessity of constant monitoring. AGAINST: The chances of obtaining a close up picture are less than with a pan, tilt and zoom camera being controlled by a camera operator. PAN, TILT & ZOOM CAMERAS FOR: The ability to obtain close-up pictures of any incident and patrol all areas in line of site of the camera. AGAINST: The necessity of the employment of a person to constantly monitor the system. The possibility of 'decoy' incidents to occupy the operator while a far more serious incident takes place. MONOCHROME SYSTEMS FOR: Better results under low light conditions and generally lower cost. Good results with infrared lighting. AGAINST: Recognition and identification more difficult. COLOUR SYSTEMS FOR: Easier recognition and identification with colour of clothes and shoes etc. AGAINST: Generally higher cost (but the gap is narrowing) and lighting level more critical. Will work better with 'white' light, cannot be used with infrared lighting. LIGHTING for CAMERAS When considering lighting for cameras it should be noted that Infrared Lighting can be expensive to install, run and maintain with a relatively short lamp life. In many cases existing lighting might well prove sufficient. It is often a better option with schools to check the results after installation of cameras and add suitable lighting where necessary. CONCLUSION First we must accept that no single or group of security measures taken can provide an absolute guarantee that there will be no breach of that security. However, each measure taken reduces that risk. It can be compared with using a seat belt in a car, we accept that injuries can be substantially reduced so we use them. So which measure provides the most comprehensive and effective solution? If cost were no object, a security guard by each entrance twenty four hours a day would provide a formidable deterrent and he would be on hand to intervene if any incident were to occur. Clearly, the astronomical cost of this approach means that it is not a practical consideration. Can we therefore mimic the effect of deploying security guards?in response to questions on the effect of C.C.T.V. installations in town centres, the police are often heard to compare the presence of a camera to the presence of an additional officer watching the one specific area covered by that camera. To be that effective, cameras have to be controlled and monitored twenty four hours a day, backed by a rapid police response.However, where school premises are concerned C.C.T.V. on a lesser scale can provide a formidable deterrent, often reducing incidents of vandalism for example to an extremely low level whilst recorded images can lead to prosecution and pleas of 'guilty'. In many cases, the introduction of such systems can be justified and can be more than paid for from the savings on repair costs to buildings alone. A properly managed C.C.T.V. system can prove effective in many other ways. In fact it is probably fair to say that C.C.T.V. is the only affordable single security measure that can be taken, that is capable of addressing and minimising all of the security problems previously identified. Clearly, affordable physical security measures should be adopted to an acceptable level where they do not become oppressive or create problems in the day to day running of the school. A well chosen Access Control System which includes an intercom for conversing with visitors can be another useful security aid and which in common with 'door open' warning devices for fire doors etc. is enhanced when used in conjunction with C.C.T.V to provide visual confirmation. Any measures taken to restrict access however, must not impede escape from the premises in the event of fire or any other emergency. Intruder Alarms provide the best solution when the school is closed but they do not provide protection against 'smash & grab' type raids. Accordingly, targeted items such as computers are best kept in an inner secured area or on the first floor so that the intruder having triggered the alarm, still has to breach a physical barrier in order to attain his goal. There are advantages and disadvantages with the introduction of any form of security and different solutions will be best suited to individual problems and budgets. We hope that the information contained herein will provoke some thought and discussion on the suitability of these various methods and be of some assistance in your search for solutions to your security concerns and problems. The complexity of both the security problems and their solutions, underlines the need both for a survey to be carried out (at no charge and without obligation) and for advice to be taken from a professional security company. This report was compiled by Julian Baker, Managing Director of Owl Security Services Ltd. and first published in-house by Owl Security Services Ltd. in June 1996 for free distribution to those responsible for security in educational establishments. It was updated in 1998 and published on this web site in June 2000