The top 10 tips for keeping thieves, vandals and trespassers off your site
1
Any security should relate to the value of what you are protecting, so your first move should be a cost analysis of equipment on site to determine what you are prepared to pay to protect it.

2
Contact the local police so they can make you aware of any particular crime problems in the area, which you can then factor into your cost analysis.

3
Children are the most common trespassers. If your site is in a residential area, particularly a densely populated one, liaise with the local school and talk to the children to make them aware of the dangers on site. You could be held responsible for any injury to a trespasser on site.

4
Liaise with the local community. Send out a newsletter warning of the dangers on site. A reward for information about vandalism is also a good deterrent. If your project is sensitive - on a greenfield site the local community was against developing, say - liaising with locals may help cut the risk of protest vandalism.

5
Mark out the site boundaries clearly. Erecting hoarding or fencing is also a good idea – preferably around the whole site to a height of at least 2.4 metres. Inspect the perimeter daily and do any repairs promptly. Gates should be sturdy and secured with locking bars (not chains) and heavy-duty close-shackle padlocks where possible.

6
Good lighting is essential. It should be vandal-resistant and out of reach of casual tampering. All-night lighting is preferable to movement-activated lighting.

7
All security guards have to be licensed by the Security Industry Authority, so check that yours are. The human element in security is often the weakest link, so good-quality guards are essential.

8
All staff on site should be aware of the security procedures and carry them out. For example, they should lock away valuable and combustible materials at night where possible.

9
Site managers should report any security breaches to senior management so the effectiveness of the security system can be monitored.

10
The use of warning notices can deter casual vandals, but only if the notice does not make false claims. It's no good having a notice saying the site is alarmed if it isn't: once word gets round, it's an open invitation to vandals and trespassers.