The safety of the children who attend nurseries in Bury is a top priority for the community safety team and we work closely with local groups, parents and carers to give the best possible advice to protect your child.
A guide to making your nursery more secure
Perimeter Security Is the first thing that will put off offenders when they are scanning a premises to decide if it is an easy target or not. Railings and weld mesh fencing (to BS.1722) are the most popular types of fencing used in urban areas. Weldmesh has become increasingly popular as it is visually more aesthetic, but it also has other qualities in that, it is difficult to cut or climb due to it’s design. Fence height should be at least 2m and planning permission will need to be sought.
The use of defensive planting in conjunction with a less suitable fence line can be a cheaper alternative and just as effective.
Use prickly bushes or other types of dense growing hedgerows such as leylandii and grow to at least 1m thick and 3m high.
Any gates should be the same height and constructed from the same material as the fence, this will give good continuity.
Ensure that they have anti-lift hinges and that horizontal bars and locking mechanisms do not aid climbing.
Lighting
Successful lighting requires good but not oppressive levels of light that is evenly distributed, allows clear colour rendition and avoid light spillage into areas such as adjoining neighbours.
Lighting should be positioned so that it deters and reveals potential intruders and reduces the fear of crime. Dusk until dawn lighting should be
installed in areas where surveillance is considered important, such as entrances and car parks.
Other areas should use vandal resistant lighting, operated by sensors.
If your premises has residential neighbours nearby make the most of them, sensor lighting is useful as it will attract attention and can be a
good way of deterring offenders. If your neighbours see anything suspicious they are likely to contact the police in your absence.
Building Security
An alarm is one of the most important security features to install, without an alarm the offender can spend as much time as they want searching
through rooms, stealing items and committing damage without being disturbed. When an alarm is ringing it attracts attention, it is disruptive and disorientating to the offender. Therefore time spent on the premises will be
greatly reduced.
There are two different types A and B, type A is monitored by a central monitoring station, who have the ability to respond immediately to any
security breaches. For example if your premises has ‘Confirmed Technology’ which means that there have been two triggers on the alarm system, the monitoring station will call the police direct and it will warrant an immediate response.
Type B is ‘bells only’ which will disrupt the offender and alert the neighbours. There are other systems available on the market which can
be set up to dial your home/mobile phone or be accessed via the internet should the alarm be triggered.
Further information and advice can be obtained for your local Crime Reduction Advisor on 0161 856 8046
Roof spaces
Low or flat roofs are a target for climbing, attempts to gain access to roofs can be minimised by placing waste disposal areas and oil tanks away from buildings, as they can be a target for arson or provide access to windows.
Rainwater down pipes should be either flush fitting (i.e. square profile) or concealed within the cavity.
Consider umbrella spikes on existing vulnerable down pipes.
Existing cast iron pipes may also be coated with anti-climb paint above 2250mm over ground level.
A sign indicating the use of this paint must be erected, another alternative is a flush metal guard which can be fitted over the down pipe from ground
level to a height of 3m.
Any skylights fitted should have either steel bars or expanded metal beneath them, which is securely fixed to the building fabric.
CCTV (Closed circuit television)
There is a wide variety of CCTV systems available and it is important to decide what is required from a system and obtain three quotes before
purchasing one. Advice is available from the police if you want to ensure the system is fit for purpose.
CCTV systems are legally required to be registered with the Information Commissioner and clearly signed when used in a public place see
Commissioner’s guidelines at www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk
CCTV is a deterrent but only works in conjunction with physical security measures such as locks and alarms etc. Ensure signs are clearly visible and images provide good facial identification for evidential use by the police.
Windows
Ensure windows are locked and consider additional security such as window locks(all types) and sash jammers (for upvc only) to help resist
jemmying.
Bars can be fitted internally to less noticeable windows such as toilets or kitchens which are often targeted, and internal concertina or removable grills to other windows.
External doors
Doors should ideally be solid with hardwood or metal frames. If upvc, check that panels can not be kicked out as this is a common fault in
older doors and that all the locking mechanisms are in working order. If wood there should be at least three locking points at the top, middle
and bottom.
Fire doors should be fitted with door contacts programmed into a 24 hour alarm circuit with an audible alarm on opening and signed accordingly
to prevent accidental activation.
To improve security and the threat of arson wooden fire doors can be covered with a piece of sheet metal and where possible overlap the
wooden frame to prevent jemmying.
All external doors which open outward should have hinge bolts fitted to ensure they can not be lifted out of the frame.
Roller shutters should comply with LPS 1175 grade 3.