As a business owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that your business is kept safe and secure by following all of the required laws and regulations regarding fire safety. 

Now, we understand that this is not an easy thing to do. With so much legal stuff to keep on top of, ensuring everything you do is 'by the book' can be a struggle, especially when it comes to health and safety and the various laws that come with it.

One of the most important areas in health and safety that can't be overlooked, however, is fire safety. Negligence here can lead to some very serious problems such as property damage and even death. So, it's extremely important that as a business owner, you ensure that your commercial fire alarms and fire safety measures are up to scratch.

To make things a little easier for you, IDS Security Systems is here to guide you through the requirements of your business fire alarm!

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If you own a storage unit that contains either highly-valuable or sentimental goods, you'll want to make sure that it is always kept under the tightest security measures to ensure your belongings are as safe as possible at all times.

At the most basic level, you can expect your storage unit to have a strong lock and maybe a nearby security camera but if that's not enough, there are further measures that you can implement.

This blog is here to provide you with additional security systems for storage units that increase the level of security for your goods!

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For the past year, the UK has been subject to a range of lockdown restrictions that have drastically changed our normal lives. The usual routines of heading out to work, popping to the pub on a Friday, and meeting friends for coffees have been taken away from us in order to keep the country safe. 

When thinking about the impact that the "stay at home" orders have had on crime rates, you'd probably expect to see them go down dramatically. After all, a large number of crimes including drug dealing, anti-social behaviour, and shoplifting require criminals to go outside. 

That being said, it might be naive of us to think that criminals who already break the law on a daily basis are sticking to the lockdown restrictions religiously, even if it means putting their lives and the lives of others on the line. 

So, let's dig a little bit deeper into some crime statistics that were collected during lockdown to find out whether crime rates have, in fact, gone up or down. 

Data collected by The Office for National Statistics

During the months of April and May 2020, the UK was put under strict national lockdown restrictions to control the spread of COVID-19. The Office for National Statistics conducted a Telephone-Operated Crime Survey to find out how trends in crime were changing during this period. 

They were then able to compare the crime rates during this two-month period to a pre-lockdown two-month average to establish whether or not crime rates had gone up or down.

What did they find out?

The Office for National Statistics reported that during the period between April and May 2020, crimes (no including computer misuse or fraud) fell by 32%. During this time, there was also a shift in the public's perception of police officers, with 91% of all adults in the survey reporting that they were satisfied with the way the police in their area were responding to the ongoing situation.

Which crime rates fell the most and why?

There are a few crimes in particular that happened far less frequently due to lockdown restrictions. One of these was theft. In fact, theft offences fell to almost half the level recorded in April and May 2019.

Of these theft offences, domestic burglary saw a significant drop. With people at home more frequently and for longer periods of time, the opportunity for domestic burglaries in vacant properties was dramatically reduced. 

Shoplifting offences were also less frequent. A lot of shops that would usually be open to the public were closed, therefore removing the opportunity for theft in public spaces.

Were there any exceptions to this trend?

Yes, sadly the coronavirus pandemic didn't stop certain criminals from carrying on with their daily business. Drug offences actually rose by 22% in April and 44% in Mary 2020 compared to the same months in the previous year. 

This doesn't necessarily mean that the number of drug offenders doubled during this time. With police attention away from crimes like shoplifting and domestic burglary, and with fewer people out on the streets, it was easier to identify potential criminal activity and prosecute accordingly. 

Home and Business Security

While these statistics indicate that certain crime rates have gone down, that doesn't mean that now is a time to neglect your security measures. 

Business owners, who may have empty premises for the next few months (or longer) should really consider improving their business security to protect any assets inside. While shoplifting is certainly easier when a shop is open and operational, burglars are guaranteed to attempt a robbery at an unoccupied business if they can see there are no security measures in place.

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Homeowners who have been spending more time than even in their properties might have become a little bit relaxed with their security systems. After all, we know that burglars are unlikely to attempt a break-in if they know you're at home. 

That being said, many of us will be returning to work, visiting friends, and (hopefully) heading off on holidays later in 2021, so now is a great time to get your home equipped with a reliable home security system. 

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Our engineers are still working despite the COVID-19 lockdown and we've got measures in place to keep you safe. Get in touch to arrange a free quotation today!

Read More: Keeping You Safe During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Whether you're self-employed or the owner of a limited company, it's a good idea to protect your business premises with a decent security system.

A state-of-the-art business security system may comprise a number of different technologies, including alarms, CCTV cameras, door entry panels, security barriers, or any combination of these. As you can probably imagine, a system like this doesn't come cheap, so you will probably want to deduct the cost from your business's taxable profit if you can.

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No two properties are the same and, as such, no two properties have the same security requirements. One of the problems with off-the-shelf security systems is that they don't always offer maximum protection. As a property owner, you really need a bespoke security system that covers all of your security needs.

Designing your bespoke security system

Here at IDS, we've worked with businesses and homeowners throughout England and Wales and we've never installed two security systems that are the same!

Our process for designing a bespoke security system starts with a FREE Security Survey. During your survey, one of our experienced engineers will talk to you about your security system needs. Some people require a fairly simple bespoke alarm system, while others need a more complex system that includes CCTV, access control systems and even thermal screening.

If you're unsure what security systems you need in your bespoke package, our engineers will be able to talk through your concerns and assess your property to make the best recommendations for you.

Bespoke security systems for homeowners

A typical home security system might include some or all of the following:

• Fire alarms
• CCTV cameras
• Door entry systems (for flats and apartments)
• Intruder alarms

When designing your bespoke home security system, we'll look at the layout of your home and areas that might be susceptible to burglary etc. We'll make sure that your security system leaves you feeling safe and protected, even when you're not at home by setting up remote CCTV viewing on your mobile phone!

Whatever your home security needs, we've got you covered. Find out more about our home security systems by clicking the button below:

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Bespoke security systems for business owners

For business owners, our bespoke security system services really do come in handy. Commercial properties are wildly different, and whether you're looking for better security for your shop or a place of work, we can help!

Some of our most popular commercial security systems include:

• Security barriers
• Access control systems
• CCTV
• Fire alarms
• Thermal screening
• Density control

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we've been inundated with requests for bespoke security systems to help ensure commercial properties are safe and protected. 

Our thermal screening and density control systems can be combined to help monitor people coming in and out of your business premises. This is particularly beneficial for busy workplaces or customer-facing businesses that are exposed to new visitors on a regular basis.

Read More: How to Make Your Business Safe for Christmas Shoppers 2020

While installing these new systems, our engineers can also incorporate a range of new and improved security systems into your business such as new key fobs or improved CCTV.  If you're ready to give your business an upgrade, let us help you create a bespoke security system for your business.

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If you have any further questions about our bespoke security systems, don't hesitate to get in touch. We look forward to hearing from you!