Maintaining a safe business during National Lockdown

What can business owners do?

• Consider ways in which someone could start a fire inside or outside your property. Take responsibility and act on any issues you identify.
• Protect your property. Seek advice on security, good lighting and CCTV – these can all act as a deterrent, to anyone who may harm or damage your property.
• Sign up to your local neighbourhood network schemes. These can help alert you to any anti-social behaviour within the area.
• Where possible, in line with Government guidance, make a visit. Check your smoke and alarm systems are working, and any electrical appliances which are not designed to be left on, are switched off.
• Ensure all internal and external doors are shut and locked where appropriate. This will help prevent intruders and, should a fire break out, doors can act as a fire break or delay fire spread.
• Ask your employees to keep an eye on social media posts and, where possible, the current status of your business premises.
• Take measures to ensure there are no visible signs that your building is unoccupied over a long period of time. For example, arrange for mail and deliveries to be redirected or, where possible, collected.
• Farms, small holdings and isolated commercial units can also be vulnerable. Lighting around barns and outbuildings can deter the opportunist thief and the would-be arsonist.

What can the public do?

• Keep watch over business premises in your neighbourhood. If you see something suspicious, or a change in circumstances, report it to your local neighbourhood policing team (online or by calling 101, or 999 for an emergency).
• Report accumulated or abandoned refuse to your local council. Don’t let it become a target for arson.
• Anti-social behaviour can be linked to arson. Report any anti-social behaviour through your local neighbourhood policing team, neighbourhood watch team or through Crimestoppers.
• Contact the business owner and let them know you are willing to help.