THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENCE

Paul Painter, Managing Director at fencing solutions specialist Zaun, discusses the importance of security perimeter systems and the role they can play in helping to protect the UK’s Critical National Infrastructure against the threat of attacks like terrorism, vandalism and theft. There are a number of key challenges facing the UK’s Critical National Infrastructure when it comes to security. Firstly, it is a very attractive target for terrorists. The consequences if a terrorist cell manages to infiltrate a site could be devastating. For example, a utility company’s supply water could be contaminated or an energy provider’s power generation could be attacked. The knock-on effect of either would be severe. Another issue is the fact that the majority of the UK’s infrastructure is aging, which heightens the risk of cyber attacks if terrorists penetrate control of IT systems associated with power management. This obviously pushes the importance of security to the top of the corporate agenda. There are a host of other challenges as well. According to reports, theft costs the sector millions of pounds each year, with criminals on the look out for anything they can cash in on. Taking all the necessary measures to safeguard your facilities is therefore paramount. This is not only because of the financial implications that a security breach can cause, but the true cost of an attack is much worst. This includes the disruption it can cause to your day-to-day operations, the possibility of replacing stolen equipment or the aftermath of dealing with a crisis. Another factor that must be considered is the well-being of your staff, customers and the local community around your site. Having suitable security measures in place to mitigate the risks of attacks and ensure people are as safe as possible is vital. A security breach that potentially scared, unsettled or hurt a customer or employee can have a damaging impact on your brand and reputation. Likewise with terrorism, the threat of this generates public fear. There are a number of measures that sites of Critical National Infrastructure can adopt to help reduce the risk of security breaches. Simple things like better locks for example, right through to operating covert CCTV, will deter intruders from entering your facility. One of the most important areas that will help you do this is the type of fencing you install around your perimeter and certain ‘higher risk’ buildings. The right fencing solution will provide a secure boundary and limit the number of access points a facility has, helping to provide effective management against a wide range of issues like crime and anti-social behaviour. However, with a wide range of solutions on the market to choose from, what should you expect from a perimeter system? For sites where security is less of an issue but a perimeter system is still needed then the most suitable solution is a standard mesh fence that uses 6mm or 8mm horizontal wires. For applications where a higher level of security is required then there is a range of fencing solutions available that combine excellent aesthetic appeal with a host of security features, thus avoiding a ‘fortress’ look but giving you all the benefits you need. Zaun’s Hi-Sec solution for example is designed to discourage intruders and this is reflected by its use by the Home Office for prison facilities. The design of Hi-Sec makes it almost impossible to climb and provides reasonable delay when attacked with hand tools. For sites with the highest security concerns though, we have recently launched ArmaWeave. The range, which has received the Secured by Design (SBD) Award, is the first of its kind on the market that has been specifically introduced to set new standards in high security perimeter solutions. Welding high tensile wire causes brittleness and ver

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