Collective Security of industrial estates
On 1 July 2001 we moved to the industrial estate ‘Gooisekant’ in Almere. The Stichting Beveiliging Bedrijventerreinen Almere (Foundation for the Security of Industrial estates in Almere), SBBA, coordinates collective security on the estate in a joined effort with the Dutch police force and private security companies. Coen Kleipool is the manager of SBBA. As the manager of SBBA, he speaks many entrepreneurs. We asked him a couple of questions.
Prevention is an important starting point in collective security. After all, if you keep unwanted visitors out of the estate, there is less chance that they are able to inflict damage, start a fire or commit a burglary. It is therefore important to detect unwanted visitors swiftly and respond adequately. But what is the role of the entrepreneurs themselves?
According to Coen: "In security one thing doesn’t come without the other. Seven years of experience have taught me about the elaborate preparations that were made for some of the burglaries that were committed. Burglars are usually well-informed and thoroughly estimate what the odds are that they are caught beforehand. Entrepreneurs have an important duty in this respect: they have to stay alert to everything that seems uncommon and communicate their findings to the private security company. This way the security guards can direct their attention towards certain suspicious activities."
SBBA, in cooperation with the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research TNO, the city council of Almere and the Province, will launch a pilot project that aims to achieve an early detection of unwanted visitors on the industrial estate ‘Veluwsekant’ in Almere.
But the quality of collective security on industrial estates also strongly depends on the level of security inside the companies themselves. We asked Coen if he thinks that entrepreneurs give sufficient attention to security.
Coen: "I have different experiences with entrepreneurs. Unfortunately many don’t take security serious enough. Last year our security guards discovered that at 550 companies 1101 windows were left open and 206 doors were not locked properly or not locked at all. It is also very easy to simply walk into many offices during daytime."
The way security is organized could be a lot more efficient and SBBA can help companies to achieve this.
Coen: "SBBA, participants, the police, the city council of Almere and the fire brigade have elaborated a company prevention folder we will distribute to all the companies in Almere. The folder contains a lot of practical tips on prevention in general. Moreover, a police officer has been put at our service to advise and assist entrepreneurs."
Secure industrial estates are very important for Almere, which is the fastest growing city in the Netherlands. After all, business is what the city builds on.
Coen: "By taking this initiative we send out a signal that we take security on industrial estates very seriously. Obviously, we need the support of private security companies. We also consider cooperating with Hoffmann Security Risk Management to offer companies a complete package of services to improve security."
The Keurmerk Veilig Ondernemen (the quality mark for security in businesses) is being developed for both existing and new industrial estates on a national level. At the moment there are however no plans to obtain the certification. But the initiatives of SBBA have already been a move in the right direction.
Coen: "Almere has taken the lead again. Fortunately, the city of Almere is receptive to innovations in the field of security. The city is prepared to stick its neck out and risk some criticism. My motto is: security is being dynamic and looking ahead! If you stand still in this work, you will fall behind quickly."
Prevention is an important starting point in collective security. After all, if you keep unwanted visitors out of the estate, there is less chance that they are able to inflict damage, start a fire or commit a burglary. It is therefore important to detect unwanted visitors swiftly and respond adequately. But what is the role of the entrepreneurs themselves?
According to Coen: "In security one thing doesn’t come without the other. Seven years of experience have taught me about the elaborate preparations that were made for some of the burglaries that were committed. Burglars are usually well-informed and thoroughly estimate what the odds are that they are caught beforehand. Entrepreneurs have an important duty in this respect: they have to stay alert to everything that seems uncommon and communicate their findings to the private security company. This way the security guards can direct their attention towards certain suspicious activities."
SBBA, in cooperation with the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research TNO, the city council of Almere and the Province, will launch a pilot project that aims to achieve an early detection of unwanted visitors on the industrial estate ‘Veluwsekant’ in Almere.
But the quality of collective security on industrial estates also strongly depends on the level of security inside the companies themselves. We asked Coen if he thinks that entrepreneurs give sufficient attention to security.
Coen: "I have different experiences with entrepreneurs. Unfortunately many don’t take security serious enough. Last year our security guards discovered that at 550 companies 1101 windows were left open and 206 doors were not locked properly or not locked at all. It is also very easy to simply walk into many offices during daytime."
The way security is organized could be a lot more efficient and SBBA can help companies to achieve this.
Coen: "SBBA, participants, the police, the city council of Almere and the fire brigade have elaborated a company prevention folder we will distribute to all the companies in Almere. The folder contains a lot of practical tips on prevention in general. Moreover, a police officer has been put at our service to advise and assist entrepreneurs."
Secure industrial estates are very important for Almere, which is the fastest growing city in the Netherlands. After all, business is what the city builds on.
Coen: "By taking this initiative we send out a signal that we take security on industrial estates very seriously. Obviously, we need the support of private security companies. We also consider cooperating with Hoffmann Security Risk Management to offer companies a complete package of services to improve security."
The Keurmerk Veilig Ondernemen (the quality mark for security in businesses) is being developed for both existing and new industrial estates on a national level. At the moment there are however no plans to obtain the certification. But the initiatives of SBBA have already been a move in the right direction.
Coen: "Almere has taken the lead again. Fortunately, the city of Almere is receptive to innovations in the field of security. The city is prepared to stick its neck out and risk some criticism. My motto is: security is being dynamic and looking ahead! If you stand still in this work, you will fall behind quickly."
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