Access Control and Patrol Procedures
Access control principles
Access control manages who enters, what they bring in or take out, and where they may go. The standard sequence is identify → verify → authorise → record → issue pass → direct. Know the difference between identification (who you say you are) and verification (proving it - photo ID, register, phone confirmation with the client).
Common access control traps
- Letting someone in because they "look official" or wear a uniform - always verify.
- Accepting a borrowed or expired pass.
- Failing to search or record deliveries and tools.
- Allowing tailgating - one person enters behind another without checks.
- Not recording removals of equipment or documents.
Patrol procedures
Patrols deter, detect and report. Understand foot vs vehicle patrols, random vs fixed routes, and the importance of varying routes and times so they cannot be predicted. Use clocking points or checkpoints to prove presence. Observe, listen, smell, and check doors, windows, fences, lighting and fire equipment. Report defects and suspicious activity immediately.
The patrol mindset
A good patrol is alert, unhurried and observant. Do not disturb a crime scene; secure it and call for help. Record times and observations in your occurrence book.
Rule of thumb
Use the "three checks" for every entry: Is the person identified? Is the purpose verified? Is the entry authorised and recorded? If any answer is "no", the person does not pass.