In contrast to using dogs to protect private warehouses, the Crime Prevention through Environmental Design strategy is defined in the paper, along with the reasons why it is preferable. Also described are the specifics of CPTED that I would advise the proprietors implement in order to assist in securing a number of private warehouses. The report also discusses the benefits and drawbacks of using dogs as security guards. A multidisciplinary strategy called CPTED employs environmental architecture to discourage criminal activity. The approach is thought to combat crime by making effective use of the built environment and good architecture to help lower the frequency of offenses and fear while also enhancing quality of life. On the other hand, the use of canines for security involves the use of professionally trained protection dogs that have the ability to deterrent against criminal and respond to imminent threats of terrorists. However, the canine security does not operate for twenty-four hours and during hours of sleep intrusions and crime may occur.
CPTED is an essential element that ensures the safety through design and has much benefit when the strategy is applied during the early stage of design process. The approach is more practical since it integrates other methods of crime prevention such as environmental, social, and community-based strategies. CPTED encompasses of principles such as surveillance, defensible space, management and maintenance, physical security, and movement control (Wallis & Ford, 2014). Surveillance may be divided into natural surveillance and mechanical forms. Natural surveillance is based on a built environment, and it is directed to reduce the fear of loss and crime. Also, it enables the individuals to observe the area surrounding their warehouse through hearing and seeing. Various parts of the warehouse can be seen without any mechanical or electronic devices during the day and night. The layout of the warehouse would be made visually accessible, and every person or vehicle that gets in and out is realized. The visibility of open spaces and adjacent building is optimized without isolation of activities and casual public encounters. Mechanical forms of surveillance and access control involve use of locks, CCTV, and lighting to support the projected function of space to complement the natural design policies of CPTED. Mechanical devices are essential for the development of security and safety control. Automatic control system only allows authorized vehicles or persons to enter the warehouse through the use of a key, special pass, or other designed device. The territories should be enclosed with concrete structures such as a wall, fencing with gates, among others.
Defensible space or territorial reinforcement is the system explains that the ownership of space should be defined to provide for a transition from public to semi-public to semi-private and private spaces. The change provides a sense of change between individual warehouse buildings and public structures. Territorial reinforcement arises when the design is used to recognize people’s sense of ownership that occurs when owners take responsibility for public safety and security. In this case, it can be enhanced through creating a secure warehouse with a precise and observed range which offers a tough transition from public to a private repository (White, 2015). Additionally, territorial reinforcement is an expression of proprietorship that provides users with a sense of control and boundary. The essential role of territorial reinforcement is to set up the structure of the control system. Thus, for implementation to occur regional strategies should include both natural access control strategies and natural surveillance. The warehouse location must be spatially defined to the adjacent buildings and activities.
Management and maintenance are crucial activities in warehouses to ensure that the development is free from signs of disorder and indications that the environment is cared for are also necessary. The warehouse should be kept clean to demonstrate pride of ownership. Additionally, physical security is used to ensure the store can withstand attack. Finally, movement control is used to restrict access and outlet to increase privacy.
The owners of the warehouse interest to employ canines to guard their stores is understandable since the security system has some advantages. The dogs that offer safety and protection are unique and are highly trained professionals. Most of the specialized, unique dogs come from Netherlands those breeds are different from other countries since they show most essential qualities. The dogs from Netherlands are bred along working lines for their traits and are imported to kennels in other countries such as the United States. The security professionals who have specialized in canine use and training pick the dogs for specific purposes. Some advantages of using dogs for security include. Firstly, dogs are the best most effective tools to detect explosives through sniffing out a bomb and saving individuals from damage (Grover, 2012). Dogs are obsessed with finding the weapon or illegal goods and then signals their handlers so that they can get the best imaginable thing that they like.
Secondly, dogs may be effective in dealing with an aggressor. For example, if a person is having a covered face exercising a stick approaches menacingly, a desirable dog can stay calm and focus until the danger is close and forthcoming so that it can then engage through flight or fight response. The warehouses may require canine service for various reasons such as searching for specific items in the rooms or the surrounding environment. Also, dogs are crucial for alerting for smells that are flammable, discovering a lost or hidden item, finding weapons and dangerous devices, and protecting an important person. The owners may use the dogs to check the materials that enter in the warehouse to avoid contamination and other dangerous elements in the incoming packages (Biniok, 2015). The dogs have special bonds with their handlers and do not hesitate even when commanded to enter into hazardous zones. Dogs have the ability to work alone or in small numbers and can carry out the same workload as many regular security officers with an extremely effective visual deterrent.
Notably, the use of dogs for security purposes has some disadvantages in that they are not reliable throughout the day and night since they may become tired and fall asleep. During the hour of sleep, crimes may be committed leading to a significant loss in the warehouses. Also, the dog may be poisoned to death by those who intend to commit a crime. Additionally, an employee within the store may commit a crime such as theft and disappear undetected by the dog.
The safety of the warehouses is dependent on full-time security during the day and night. Use of CPTED for the safety purposes can have an immediate effect through the previously discussed means since the focus is the location of the criminal activity and the performer. CPTED is not prone to error or limited in capacity as compared to the use of canine security. CPTED requires no sleep and has important success in physical detection, temporal entities and other concepts such as image and territoriality.
In conclusion, I would recommend the warehouses owners to use CPTED security system since it focuses on the natural crime prevention strategies which can be attained through good design and require minimal labor to maintain. The owners of the warehouses should agree to engage in the planning and designing process applying the CPTED principles. The security of the warehouse will be met in an unswerving manner if the principles are properly implemented. Also, opportunities for disorder and crime will be reduced, and safer communities will be created.
References
Biniok, J. (2015). 21st-century security dogs. Pittsburgh: Eldorado Ink.
Grover, J. (2012). Explosives detection canines.
Wallis, A., & Ford, D. (2014). Crime prevention through environmental design. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Dept. of Justice, National Institute of Justice.
White, G. (2015). Crime prevention through environmental design. Lewiston, N.Y.: E. Mellen Press.
