Educational Risk Assessment
Leicestershire Constabulary, Leicestershire Fire & Rescue Service and the Arson Task Force are very aware of the financial constraints on all schools, but we believe it is important to assess your security and take appropriate remedial action now.
The cost of repairs, replacements, loss of amenities and insurance premiums can be significantly greater than the cost of a few simple preventative measures.
Even very modest efforts at crime prevention can bring significant rewards both in terms of cash and running of your school, but you may wish to go further.
It is therefore important to take preventative action and to make it obvious that your premises are now a far more difficult target.
As a means of providing some initial assistance, we have compiled a checklist, which will assist you to identify areas where some form of action is required.
Introduction
Seriously compare the cost of GOOD EFFECTIVE crime prevention measures to the cost of reparining and replacing school property; lost personnel hours, increased insurance premiums, low staff and pupil morale, etc.
If the answer to any of the following questions is NO remedial action should be considered.
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YES
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NO
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1) Management Information & Practice
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Is there a specific budget each year for risk management measures, separate from any generalrepair fund?
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Has any money been allocated specifically for the prevention of crime during the next five years?
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Is criminal damage, theft and burglary automatically reported to the police?
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Is there a reporting point in the school known to all your staff?
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Are details recorded by the school of the nature, time, place, cost of criminal damage, theft and burglary?
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Is criminal damage quickly made good to discourage similar damage?
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2) Security During Working Hours
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Are measures taken to prevent unauthorised entry to the premises during working hours?
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Are buildings designed to prevent access except through normal entrances
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Are visitors encouraged to use the main entrances?
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Is it possible to monitor the arrival and departure of visitors?
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Are visitors asked for identification and to sign in and out of the premises?
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Are members of the public prevented from entering unauthorised parts of the building?
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3) Security of Buildings
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Are the premises in good repair?
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Is the boundary of the premises clearly defined and maintained in good order?
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Has consideration been given to protecting or eliminating recessed doorways, concealed yards, shrub planted areas and similar features which can give cover to intruders?
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Are the main buildings free from examples of flimsy construction such as low level glazing or lightweight panelling?
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Are shrubs and undergrowth regularly pruned?
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Are all entrance doors locked and windows and skylights secured when the premises are not in use?
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Are skylights fitted with internal bars or grills?
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Have identified areas which are particularly vulnerable to forced entry or criminal damage been made more secure?
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Have steps been taken to restrict easy access to the roof from points such as lower adjacent structures, compounds, walls or downpipes?
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4) Arson Reduction
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Are all litter bins emptied regularly and not allowed to overflow?
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Are all combustibles removed from the site prior to the school closing for a holiday period?
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Are all wheeled rubbish bins kept in a locked bin room or compound when not in use or chained to an immovable object at least eight metres away from the school building?
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Are matches or lighters kept secure whilst on school premises?
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If there is a letter-box, is there a metal mail-box on the inside of the door?
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5) Property Marking
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Has all removable property been marked/post coded?
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Is all IT equipment identifiable and is work backed up?
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6) Alarms
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Has an intruder alarms system been installed?
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Is the alarm system on a protected telephone line?
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Are the police notified of any alarm activation via a central monitoring station?
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Is the fire alarm linked to the intruder alarm?
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Is the alarm system set and unset solely be designated staff who are trained for the task?
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Is the alarm system regularly maintained and Inspected?
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7) Keys and Locking Up
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Is there a proper system to control the issue of keys?
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Is there an established procedure for locking up?
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Are rooms such as toilets checked to ensure that there is no one concealed in the building when locked?
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Are persons who use the building outside normal hours briefed on securing the premises when they leave?
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8) Security Outside Working Hours
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Are special arrangements made for surveillance during vulnerable times such as holidays?
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Are the premises checked by a member of staff or security firm?
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Are the premises well lit when not in use?
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Is there natural surveillance from surrounding buildings or passing members of the public?
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Do lone workers have a means of calling assistance?
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9) Liaison
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Has guidance been sought on security from:-
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The Crime Reduction Officer
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Local Education Authority
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The Fire and Rescue Service
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Has a risk evaluation survey of the premises been undertaken and its recommendations implemented?
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10) Training
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Are staff warned to note and report suspicious persons / activities?
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Are staff and employees training in security awareness?
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Do You Need More Help?
Leicestershire Constabulary operates a FREE Crime Reduction and Architectural Liaison service. If you need more help or advice on any aspects of school security, then telephone:-
0116 222 2222
and ask for your local Crime Reduction Officer.
www.leics.police.uk
For queries regarding Arson Reduction contact Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service and ask for the Arson Task Force.
0116 287 2241
www.leicsfire.org.uk
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