By Richard Hilson, head of sales at Parking Facilities
According to the most recent figures published by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), burglaries, theft, and criminal damage cost UK businesses a staggering £12.9 million in 2023.
Fortifying your premises with security that delays an intruder significantly improves the chances of protecting assets and apprehending the culprit.
This isn’t rocket science, I’m aware, but it’s surprising how often we witness the contrary as we go about our days here, with protection not always matching the value of its assets.
While the above figures don’t take into account motives for wider potential break ins, such as vandalism, or indeed crimes committed against larger businesses, or critical national infrastructure (CNI), the costs alone indicate huge repercussions upon the bottom lines of UK businesses, and further impact upon employee welfare and safety, and our insurance premiums.
It seems no sector is safe from attack. Construction for example has always been a target, with tools, plant machinery and materials at risk of theft from intruders.
In fact it’s estimated the UK construction industry loses £800 million annually, while a Chartered Institute of Building survey revealed 92% of respondents had experienced theft on their sites.
Construction is not alone, and intruders will always look to find compromises to gain access to items of value, or to cause harm across myriad industries from government buildings and CNI, through to retail, warehousing and storage facilities.
Making entry tougher
If we can’t prevent the attack, what can we do? One solution is to catch perpetrators at the source of the crime, as they attempt entry, and the best way to achieve this is to make entry tougher.
Slow criminals down which either means they give up and move on, or they get caught because every second’s delay is a second closer to security personnel arriving on site.
In one high profile case in June 2024, £2m worth of Mulberry designer bags were stolen following a raid at the company’s south west depot.
While raiders cut a hole in the side of the storage facility to access stock, the most surprising part of the whole affair to me was that to gain entry to the site, it appears robbers removed bolts from the security gate.
This emphasises how vital security-rated (SR) gates are - not just for protection, but for buying critical time.
Loss Prevention Standard (LPS) 1175-rated gates are designed to do just that - slow intruders down.
Unlike flimsy barriers that can be breached in seconds, SR gates undergo rigorous testing to resist attacks using a variety of tools, from bolt cutters to power saws.
They are engineered to withstand forced entry long enough for authorities to respond, making them essential for security strategy.
High-security gates are an investment. The cost of a single break-in, whether it’s stolen property, vandalism, or insurance claims often far exceeds the price of proper security measures and can prevent hundreds of thousands, even millions, in losses.
Making the right choices
When it comes to security, choosing the right gate is just as important as deciding to install one in the first place, and I’d always endorse selecting an LPS 1175-certified gate with a rating that matches your risk level.
For instance, an SR2 gate might be sufficient for low-risk areas, while high-risk facilities should consider SR4 or SR5 models, which can withstand sustained attacks from professional criminals using heavy-duty tools.
It’s not just about theft, either. SR gates play an increasingly important role in preventing violent attacks and protecting lives.
For locations facing vehicle-based threats, impact-resistant gates tested to PAS 68 or IWA 14-1 standards are essential.
Vehicles are being used far more now as a weapon of terror, such as the 2018 attack at Westminster when a Ford Fiesta crashed into, and stopped at, security gates at Old Palace Yard after hitting and injuring three civilians.
This is a subject that’s been too often hitting the headlines in recent years, and not something I need to elaborate upon, but the security standards required for such attacks are now being incorporated into more mainstream security, especially within sites requiring heavy security - such as CNI.
I cannot over emphasise the security significance of SR gates. They provide maximum protection through their high-tech locking mechanisms, durable construction and resistance to physical force.
And that they are built from high-grade materials, means they are designed to withstand not only wear and tear but also harsh environmental conditions, ensuring long-lasting performance across multiple industries including warehouses, factories, commercial properties, CNI and even private estates.
The ability to delay intruders now needs to be built into companies’ security planning, particularly when the risk and costs require it.
Access control systems, CCTV monitoring, and on-site security personnel all play a role in maximising the effectiveness of physical barriers.
A well-designed security system doesn’t just react to threats - it actively deters them.
Unfortunately, many businesses only invest in sufficient security after falling victim.
The reality is that criminals are always looking for vulnerabilities, and a weak entry point can make all the difference in whether a business is targeted or bypassed.
Proactive security measures - especially high-quality, certified SR gates - serve as the first and best line of defence, especially given intruder delay technology is specifically engineered to slow down unauthorised entry, allowing security personnel valuable time to respond.
Crime rates will always fluctuate, but professional criminals and opportunistic thieves are always adapting.
If businesses and property owners want to stay ahead of threats, the delaying of intruders should be a priority. Security gates that meet certified standards are not just a precaution; they are a necessity.
The longer an intruder is delayed, the less likely they are to succeed. And in the world of security, every second counts.
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