RECEPTION The concentration of high profile businesses in the City of London and the fact that hundreds of thousands of people are commuting in and out each day does make the area more vulnerable to office theft than other parts of the capital. According to City of London Police figures, over 900 crimes are committed each year by thieves who target office premises in the Square Mile. Many simply walk in without being challenged or screened.


Your reception area is your first line of defence: a security breach at this point can leave the thief free to commit any crime unchallenged.


When theft happens in office premises, it is usually because visitors gain access by deception, so it is particularly vital to recruit and train reception staff who are attuned to the methods that thieves will use to achieve entry, such as ‘tailgating’,


when a thief will follow a member of staff and gain access as he or she holds the door.


If you are employing mechanical entry or security pass systems, they should function properly and be regularly maintained, while the size of your organisation may make x-ray and biometric-based systems or some other kind of bag or body scanning process a useful addition to your security armoury.


Proper maintenance and positioning is also vital if closed circuit TV monitoring is installed in reception lobbies or lift areas, in order to provide a visual, timed record of everyone entering and leaving the premises.


Visitors should be signed in and escorted at all times while on the premises. Good communication is essential: staff must be aware of how to alert security instantly to


intruders or suspicious activity. If possible, it is advisable to avoid combining reception duties with managing deliveries or pick-ups, which should be diverted to a dedicated area such as a loading bay where couriers and delivery personnel can be monitored appropriately.


Finally, do try to get the balance right between maintaining visible security and being welcoming. Remember that your reception area is also your shop window for visitors and a place to make an impression. Never make it too forbidding.


For further information and advice about combating office crime visit www.cityoflondon.police.uk


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