Reducing loss through the prevention of crime within and against your organisation should be a fundamental strategy to enhance growth, provide a safer and happy working environment for you and your staff says Mike Georgantis, the Director of Icarus Investigations Ltd.
One cost effective method of achieving this is through environmental design. Whilst this sounds complex and expensive, and it can be for major corporations there are a number of ways to achieve this with little or no cost and will reduce the likelihood of you or your organisation being the victim of a crime.
Crime prevention though environmental design (CPTED) is nothing new and is used by governments and councils when designing cities and subdivisions, however its use for smaller business and individuals is just catching on.
The international CPTED association defines CPTED as a multi-disciplinary approach to deterring criminal behaviour through environmental design. CPTED strategies rely upon the ability to influence offender decisions that precede criminal acts by affecting the built, social and administrative environment.
This can be a simple as where and how people access your business, where they park, visibility into your premises, where your premises is located, escape routes available for the offenders following the crime.
Have you ever wondered why major bank are moving away from High street branches and relocating them into shopping malls? A bank robber is far more likely to rob a branch in a suburb with ease of escape into side streets rather than flee through the congestion of a shopping mall where there is no parking nearby. This is CPTED at work says Mr Georgantis.
Icarus Investigations Ltd can undertake a simple or complex risk audit of your business and provide you with easily implementable strategies that will reduce likelihood of your business being targeted by criminals. Mr Georgantis says that Icarus can build an audit that is suited to your needs and budget and will work with you to mitigate the harm that may be caused by crime to you, your business and to your staff.
Have an audit, implement the recommendations and influence the criminal’s decision making in your favour by making them go elsewhere for their ill-gotten gain says Mr Georgantis.
