Streets, parks, plazas, market places, libraries, religious buildings, public transportation, schools, restaurants, and community centers all fit the definition of public places. Security in public places is crucial because the areas hold many people at a given time. Factors include fear of violence, crime, and terrorism render public places insecure, as well as denying people the opportunity to carry out and participate in various activities.
This article will outline ways to improve security in public places, including surveillance analytics from CCTV. Read on.
1. Awareness Creation
Both local and regional authorities are critical stakeholders that need to be educated about their role in enhancing security in public places. They need to be provided with the knowledge, tools, and best practices to deal with terrorism threats that are among the factors that make public places insecure.
2. Conducting Visual Audits And Risk Assessments
Conducting visual audits in public spaces will help develop measures and strategies to put in place to enhance security.
Assessing the risks that may exist in particular public places will help determine the extent to which they can be alleviated. The risk assessment will also point to the actions to engage in that’ll improve the security in public places.
3. Better Lighting
A well-lit area will prevent any activity likely to threaten the security of the people around. In areas with poor lighting, the local government should take responsibility for providing adequate street lights and fixing those damaged. Local businesses should be encouraged to fix outdoor lights that are motion-activated.
4. Construction Of Barriers
Constructing barriers like benches in front of buildings, in parks, and around sidewalks is advisable to prevent entry or the idling of unauthorized vehicles. Plants in cement-filled pots can also serve as barriers and beautification elements.
5. Cleaning Up
Removing litter and clearing overgrown bushes around public places will keep the area clean and discourage any criminal activity that may use the bushy areas to hide. Cleaning can be done by the assigned local government department or as a community activity.
Specific groups in the community like students, local church members, or company workers can organize themselves to clean up a park or any other public place. This improves security and also brings a sense of shared responsibility.
6. Beefing Up Surveillance
Beefing up surveillance is increasing watch in public places for activities that may compromise people’s security or put their lives at risk. Security personnel can install more cameras on the streets and other public areas for continuous monitoring.
Installing vector cameras is an added advantage because their high capture rate allows for automatic data transmission to data centers. This data is then analyzed in real-time using TraffiData analysis software. For instance, when a suspect vehicle enters a school, the vector camera will capture that image, and police officers, after they receive the data, can track the movement of the car and take the necessary action.
7. Use Of Biometric Devices
Different biometric devices identify people, including facial features, voice prints, and fingerprints. These features can be matched with those on a database of known individuals for easier recognition in case the person is a criminal.
8. Manning Empty Buildings
Most of the time, empty buildings provide an environment for criminal activity, which threatens the security of people around. Deploying security officers to man such structures throughout will prevent any unauthorized activities.
9. Integrating Security Measures In Design And Construction
Security should be among the priority considerations when designing and constructing various structures in public places, including schools, houses of worship, and malls. These structures should have reinforced walls, floor-to-ceiling windows for natural monitoring of anybody moving towards the building, and installation of bulletproof doors and windows.
10. Policing By Anticipation
This is achieved by generating crime statistics and analyzing them to enhance security. Such information can help the security department identify crime hot spots and deploy officers to manage the areas. Having this information also helps the security officers be well-prepared before getting to the crime scene so they know how to deal with the issue at hand.
11. Get Information
Learn what you can do in case of danger while in any of the public places. For example, when in a park, identify a calling booth to use in case you need help or don’t have a cell phone.
Conclusion
Security in public places is critical, but some measures may make these places unattractive and lose their meaning. For instance, activities like going out for picnics may be restricted to a park that was initially meant for such events. The park could be well-maintained but has no aesthetic value to the community. Therefore, security in public places should be based on measures that protect and improve people’s well-being.
