The American Crime Prevention Institute has developed a unique nine (9) step process to guide law enforcement, crime prevention and security specialists in conducting effective security surveys, resulting in strategies to protect their constituents’ and client’s most critical assets.
While all facilities and situations will differ at least slightly, this document provides a guideline of areas that should be included in most Security Surveys. The surveyor, however, should adjust and tailor the process for their specific needs.
Step 1: Letter of Agreement
A Letter of Agreement is a document which details a formal agreement between two parties. It should contain, at a minimum, the scope of the security survey, timetable, deliverable dates, and confidentiality statement. It should also contain a legal disclaimer, which should be approved by both parties’ legal counsel, and be signed by both parties.
Step 2: Advance Questionnaire
The first course of action once the project has been approved is
for the surveyor(s) to request information through an Advance
Questionnaire. The purpose of the
Advance Questionnaire is to collect information and material that will aid the
surveyor in the conduct of the site inspection and actual writing of the
report. It contains a detailed
description of the property or environment to be surveyed, as well as the
following facility information:
- Facility mission, nature of activities, critical assets, hours of operation, etc.
- Security-related policies and procedures
- Previous security surveys
- Crime reports
- Site plans and building floor plans
- Emergency policies & procedures
- Security incident history – external & internal
Step 3: Pre-Inspection Briefing
The Pre-Inspection Briefing is a survey kick-off meeting with the key participants in the Survey process. It should involve any facility personnel impacted by the Survey and the senior management with approval authority. The agenda should include a discussion of any known security-related issues, anticipated changes to the facility mission, functions and/or operating procedures, introductions of the site surveyors, scope and timeline of the Survey, and a review of the Survey process.
Next Week: Steps 4-6 of the Security Survey process.
