Measure type: Access control

Access control is the measure of reduction of risk by regulating and controlling the flows of traffic into and out of an area of object

Description

This approach involves architectural features, mechanical and electronic devices, and related means for maintaining prerogatives over the ability to gain entry:

1. Key control systems
2. Locked gates, doors, windows
3. Electromagnetic doors unopenable from outside
4. Deadbolt and vertical-bolt locks
5. Metal door/window shutters
6. Protective grills over roof access openings
7. Fenced yards
8. Vertical metal or small-mesh (unclimbable) fencing
9. Reduced number of building entrances
10. Unclimbable trees/bushes planted next to building
11. Prickly bushes planted next to site to be protected
12. Sloped windowsills
13. Elimination of crank and gear window mechanisms
14. Steeply angled roofs with parapets and ridges
15. Use of guard dogs
16. Use of student photo identification
17. Partitioning off of selected areas during "downtime" hours
18. High curbs along areas to be protected

Effectiveness

Economic effectiveness

Access control does not only reduce the risk of security threats, but also requires time and money by private agents, companies/developers and the public authorities, exacting economic costs. Together the benefits and costs are referred to as economic impact of security measures. The costs of access control measures contain the relatively straightforward direct expenditures on capital equipment and operational costs (both temporary and permanent), and in addition generate various types of secondary effects. Access measures like closed roller shutters or big chain locks in shopping streets are classical examples of measures that do not create a welcome environment, creating indirect economic effects as a result of a reduction of the perceived security and quality of the environment. On top of that, access control measures can cause negative indirect effects for commercial venues like convenience stores. These negative effects are caused by a decrease in accessibility, reducing the amount of customers and increasing the costs of distribution.

Whether the costs are making sense from an economic point of view, depends on many factors, and can be answered by two distinct sets of questions:

1. Are the envisioned access control measures cost effective from a socio-economic point of view, or are there better alternatives?
2. Which specific agents (individuals, companies, sectors, authorities) are affected by the access control measures, and to which extend? How do the envisioned measures adjust the behaviour of these agents, and of course the behaviour of criminals/terrorists?

Economic tools can help the decision makers to answer these questions and to prevent wasteful expenditures on security (of course in collaboration with insights from criminology, sociology, etc.).