Common Incident #3: General Security Breaches

An unsecure door is a basic security breach, but it is so common that it was given its own heading as Common Incident #1. These are other common security breaches that are related and dealt with together as General Security Breaches. These include:

1) Inoperable camera(s)
2) Leaked confidential information.
3) Unmonitored areas that should be monitored.
4) Unauthorized weapons on post.
5) Other breaches.

Security breaches can be subdivided by these types:
1) Breaches that only require a simple and immediate action to secure.
2) Breaches that can be temporarily secured by a simple immediate action until a permanent solution can be made.
3) Breaches that cannot be secured immediately and can only be reported or partially secured and reported.
4) Breaches that may not be resolved, because the client does not consider it important or economical to secure.

The proper procedure for security breaches follows:
1) All identified breaches must be reported in an incident report along with any action(s) taken to secure the breach.
2) Breaches that the client chooses not to secure must be documented as well. The report should contain a description of the breach and possible risks associated with not securing it. The report should also make recommendations on the best ways to secure the breach considering the budget of the client. Breaches that pose a safety or fire hazard must be reported to the proper authorities if the client refuses to secure them.

Common Incident #2: Damaged Property

Damaged property can take many forms; therefore, different classes of damaged property are used to simplify procedures. These classes include:
1) Client’s property.
2) Employee’s personal property.
3) Visitor’s property.
4) Vendor’s property.
5) Security’s property.

In addition to identifying the class of property, it will also be necessary to determine if the damaged property will pose a security breach, safety hazard or fire hazard. Damage may occur for these reasons:
1) Vandalism
2) Damage during forced entry or attempted forced entry.
3) By accident.
4) By negligence.
5) Mechanical failure.
6) Other reasons.

The general procedure for damaged property follows:
1) Follow procedures for whatever other incident may be involved, such as forced entry.
2) Always report damaged property in an incident report in case an insurance claim is filed.
3) Document all detail and take pictures or video if possible.
4) Get names and contact information of any witnesses as well as property owner of damaged property.
5) Document any other related information that pertains to the incident.

Common Incident #1: Unsecure Door

If a door should be secure, but it is not, then this is the basic procedure to properly re-secure the door unless post orders state differently due to special circumstances:

1) Stay calm.
2) Examine the immediate area.
a) Look for possible signs of forced entry.
b) Make a field note.
3) Establish contact with base and advise them of the situation.
4) Visually clear the room before entering. Enter if safe. If unsafe, then fall back to a safe position and report the situation.
5) Upon entering an unsecure area, determine if anything is out of order and make a field note.
6) Proceed in a systematic manner throughout the entire area.
7) After making a check, if the room appears to be clear, then exit and secure the door.
8) Report the incident in an incident report and make suggestions or related observations if there are any to make. Make a reference log in the log book with the incident report #.

There are two basic reasons a door is left unsecure. The most common reason is intentional. Intentional reasons may be for criminal purposes, convenience, or indifference to security procedures. The second reason is negligence. Negligence can occur when someone thinks they have closed the door securely, but they did not.

Security Requirements

A post may have multiple levels of security that change by area or time of day. For example, during normal business hours, a building may allow general access, but be fully secured during non business hours. In general, every post will always have at least one or more restricted areas during all times. Some posts will require stringent requirements to get clearance, but then give a high level of access once cleared. Another post may have different levels of clearance for different areas of a post. In all cases, the higher clearance requirement for the most restricted area increases the lowest clearance requirement.