How to combat crime by securing your reception area

While reception areas can be a pleasant and welcoming place for greeting new clients and customers, they also have a vital role to play in providing protection against criminal activities.

Aside from the typical duties of greeting visitors, answering calls and handling incoming mail, today’s receptionists should have a good grasp on security threats. This means being aware, using guest books and visitor badges and staying up to date on the latest scams.

However, no matter how well prepared your receptionist, there is always the potential for human error and businesses should be aware of technology which can further aid them in their security efforts.

Proximity devices
One highly successful way to prevent access to specific areas of your business is to utilise proximity devices. Keypads can be used to restrict access, with the entry code shared only with those members of staff who need it. Similarly proximity cards can be used and this reduces the need for staff to remember a specific entry code. Many proximity cards such as our PC-200 proximity cards feature ‘smart chips’ which mean that users simply have to press their card against a reader rather than having to insert it.

Biometric fingerprint readers
Fingerprint recognition devices are a secure and reliable way to control access to unauthorised areas. The human fingerprint is unique to each and every person making it a very effective way of securing a building or an area. Using fingerprint recognition reduces the need to remember a code or present a card which significantly reduces risk.

Waist & Half Height Turnstiles
Tail gating is a common tactic that criminals use to gain unauthorised access to a building. This happens when a criminal quickly follows behind another person shielding them from view as they gain access.

Training staff to watch out for the tell tale signs of tailgating but installing a waist or half height turnstile is a much more fool-proof method.

A turnstile can help to manage traffic in a number of ways. It can slow down traffic by restricting flow to once person at a time and halt access until the person shows identification or until they provide payment.

Examples of settings where half height turnstiles are popular include offices, libraries and leisure facilities.

For more information about our range of access control equipment to help secure reception areas, please visit our website here or arrange a call back with one of our members of staff here.