Public service venues, such as hospitals, colleges and schools, have some key areas of potential vulnerability, particularly around their size and scale, as well as the vulnerable nature of the people making use of them. Therefore, the critical assets of any public service venue - its people, property, information and reputation - must be protected with good security.
The hospital environment generally has unique characteristics that demand unique security solutions. For instance, hospitals often have extensive geographical footprints, containing several thousand employees, as well as a huge variety of property, including expensive medical equipment. The presence of large, transient populations of patients and visitors, allied to multiple entry points, makes it difficult in most cases to control access and identify trespassers. In addition, while most areas contain property of some description, some of the key areas of vulnerability, such as accident and emergency departments and maternity units, are often allied to emotionally-charged conditions.
As a consequence, hospitals are exposed to a broad range of threats, including employee and visitor thefts, threats and violence against patients or staff, and even baby abduction. It has been estimated that in the UK, crime costs the National Health Service more than £1 million every week. Security in hospitals must therefore always focus on the need to preserve essential healthcare facilities and provide a safe environment for staff and visitors.
Security in schools, colleges and universities has grabbed the media headlines in recent years because of multiple shooting incidents across the world. 18 people were killed in two incidents in Finland, one person in Canada, three in Argentina and 32 in two separate incidents in Germany. The USA has experienced 72 deaths in seven college shootings, including the 32 people killed at Virginia Tech University and the 13 deaths at Columbine High School. Whilst these dramatic statistics cannot be ignored in terms of assessing risk, they belie the fact that the overriding threats facing most schools and colleges are more likely to be about thefts, assaults, vandalism and antisocial behaviour. Security in schools and colleges must always be focused on the need to preserve essential education facilities and provide a safe environment for staff and students.