Welcome to the Places of Worship section of the West Yorkshire Police Crime Reduction files.
West Yorkshire Police are committed to working in partnership with other organisations to reduce crime and have put together the following advice to help places of worship develop a crime prevention strategy.
Risk Assesment
In developing a crime prevention strategy your aim will be to remove any opportunity to commit a crime. A review of the present arrangements along with the local Crime Reduction Officer and the Fire Prevention Officer may be necessary. Their expertise will help to compile a risk assessment of your building(s) and identify aspects needing attention that you and your members may not have noticed. Any review will need to consider the following:
Responsibility
• In every place of worship the most important single measure is for a particular individual (Imam, Minister, Priests, Rector, etc.) to take responsibility for security. Responsibility may be delegated to another: elder, verger, secretary, administrator or a member of the congregation.
• The person responsible needs to carry out their own ‘risk assessment’ to identify ways in which intruders, thieves or vandals could commit crime, what the effect would be and how to prevent or reduce the risk. Help is available from the premises insurer, fire brigade prevention officer and police crime reduction officer.
General Good Practice
• Never leave keys in locks
• Never 'hide' keys on the premises
• Never leave internal secure areas/rooms unlocked even when the building is in use
Nominate as small a number of responsible people as practicable to be key holders
• Ensure the local police know who the key holders are
• Establish procedures to ensure premises are locked and secure when vacated
• Keep attractive, easily portable equipment in locked cupboards when not in use
• Ensure key holders know how to react on discovery of a crime or an intruder and consider personal safety by trying to ensure two people are on the premises
• Encourage all church/places of worship users to be alert and observant - a minor act of vandalism or theft is most likely to herald a more serious attack
• Keep in touch with your local Crime Reduction Officer and Fire Prevention Officer for up to date advice relevant to the circumstances of your building(s) and criminal activities and trends
Good Housekeeping
• Try to ensure there is no combustible material lying around for an arsonist. This is particularly important where premises are used for collection points or recreational and educational purposes.
• Don’t let rubbish accumulate – inside or outside the premises.
• Wheelie-bins should be kept in their own locked compartment or kept well away from the premises.
• Matches, candles, paraffin, petrol and liquefied gas can all be used to start a fire and help it spread. Keep all such materials locked away.
Perimeter and Grounds
• Ensure the walls/hedges are regularly maintained. If your boundary walls/hedges are kept to no more than four feet high you will benefit from natural surveillance by local residents and passers-by. Loose, broken stonework or other debris will not be readily available as ammunition for thieves or vandals. If there are trees present ensure that any branches are removed up to a height of five feet to prevent climbing. Regular maintenance of grass, shrubs and trees not only ensures easy surveillance but has a deterrent effect itself.
• Gates should be maintained and locked whenever possible. Double gates will allow vehicular access to assist criminal activities so they must be locked when not in use. Multiple access points may be both unnecessary and difficult to control and creation of one common entrance could make security easier. Gates, hinges and padlocks should be of sound quality and checked for damage and deterioration.
• Outbuildings should always be kept locked and any windows obscured to conceal contents. If possible avoid wooden sheds for storage of items of value. Fit a chain and padlock to ladders. Ensure that locks, fittings and padlocks are of good quality and door hinges are mounted internally.
• Notice boards are essential to provide information about activities and access. Do not advertise your members personal details too fully. Limit the information to a couple of names and telephone numbers to be contacted for information and ensure the details are reviewed and updated.
Exterior of the building
• Anti-climb paint can be applied to drainpipes. Barbed wire or other deterrents can be attached to prevent access to low level roofs or onto fixed ladders/fire escapes although care must be taken to prevent accidental injury. Barbed wire may only be attached to roofs which are more than 8 feet above ground level. A warning sign will highlight the presence of these measures.
• Points of entry can be numerous. Review the situation - in consultation with the Fire Brigade - and limit to as few as possible. Ensure doors, frames and locks are good, strong quality. Hinges should be concealed if possible or at least mounted on the interior side of the frame. Locks wherever possible should be mortise deadlocks. Old door locks can be supplemented with mortise deadlocks or internal bolts. A reputable locksmith could be consulted for advice and you will benefit from his expertise.
• Windows are common points of entry for criminals and regularly subject to vandalism. Ensure their protection by adding external barriers of laminated or toughened glass, polycarbonate sheeting or wire mesh grilles. Fit internal locks to windows that open. Provide curtains/blinds to conceal contents.
• Exterior lighting is an excellent and relatively inexpensive deterrent. Electronic timers, photoelectric switches and automatic detectors are readily available. Care must be taken in fixing both lights and sensors so that they are not accessible to damage.
• Consider CCTV
Interior of the building
• Items of exceptional value -either monetary or historical- can be replicated so that the originals can be safeguarded by storage in a local bank or museum from which they can be retrieved for special occasions.
• Theft from offertory boxes is the most common crime. Remove the opportunity by regularly emptying the box and if possible install a metal wall box with flush fitting metal front.
• Most items of value can be marked using a variety of means: ultraviolet, engraving, ceramic, branding. In addition an inventory, professional description or photographic record may be taken. These will assist in identifying and returning stolen goods. Post signs advertising the fact that all items have been security marked.
• Create one internal secure area which is kept locked. This can accommodate a safe and provide secure storage for valuable items. An alarm system for this one area could be relatively inexpensive.
New Buildings
Contact your local Crime Reduction Officer who should be able to put you in touch with one of their Architectural Liaison Officers. Much can be done at the design and construction stage of a new building to limit crime.
Also see
'Secured By Design' : Information on how crime prevention and security can be factored in to the design of buildings and spaces.*
Contacts
For more information please
contact your local Crime Reduction Officer at your nearest police station.
Telephone 999 for emergencies. Telephone West Yorkshire Police on 0845 6060606 for non-emergencies when police attendance is required or to report a crime or other incident
* Disclaimer : Please note that by accessing the link above you will be leaving the West Yorkshire Police website. We are not responsible for the quality, accuracy or content of external websites.
West Yorkshire Police Crime Reduction department is part of the Local Policing Department. Read more about the Local Policing Department.