Physical Security
Physical security is the hardware and layout that stop or delay an intruder: walls, gates, lighting, locks, alarms, CCTV and barriers. The exam tests defence in depth, the components of a perimeter, and the guard's part in keeping them working.
Defence in depth
Security is layered: perimeter → building envelope → interior zones → the asset itself. An intruder must be detected and delayed at each layer, giving the guard and police time to respond. One strong layer with a hole in it is weaker than several ordinary ones.
Perimeter elements
- Compound wall and fencing of adequate height, checked for gaps, cuts and objects stacked against it.
- Controlled gates with boom barriers, bollards and, where required, tyre-killers.
- Perimeter and flood lighting, with no dark patches and no glare into the guard's eyes.
- CCTV covering gates, boundary, store and cash areas, with recording retained for the client's stated period.
- Signage warning of restricted entry and surveillance.
Locks and key control
Use good-quality locks, keep a key register, follow the two-man rule for strong rooms and safes, and change locks when a key is lost or a staff member leaves.
CPTED thinking
Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design: keep sightlines clear, remove hiding places, mark private areas clearly, and repair damage quickly so the site looks cared for.
Worked example
A guard on rounds finds a 1-metre gap under a broken fence panel behind the warehouse. He reasons: the wall alone does not matter if the gap exists, so the perimeter has failed. He records the exact location and time, informs the supervisor, requests immediate repair, and increases watch on that side until it is fixed.
Traps that cost marks
- Believing CCTV prevents crime by itself; it only helps if someone responds.
- Leaving keys in a drawer or under a mat.
- Ignoring a failed light or a blocked camera.
- Allowing stock to be stacked against the boundary wall.