How Security Bollards Can Help Keep Eyes on the Street in Pedestrian Areas

Journalist Jane Jacobs developed the concept of “eyes on the street” as it relates to public safety over 50 years ago. The theory holds that pedestrians tend to feel safe in public places that attract a lot of people because the crowds perform informal surveillance of the area and can draw attention to any potential threats. According to the theory, to draw the necessary numbers of pedestrians to keep “eyes on the street,” the public space and the area around it must be accessible and attractive.

Enhancing Physical Security for Health Care Facilities During COVID Response

During a public health crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic, medical facilities and personnel are even more critical than usual. While trying to care for patients infected with the novel coronavirus, health care providers have faced challenges such as lack of personal protective equipment, insufficient supplies of respirators, and overwork, as well as the risk of contracting the illness themselves or passing it on to their families.

Bollards Provide Aesthetically Pleasing Protection to Public Buildings

The last six years have seen an alarming trend, both in the United States and abroad, in terroristic attacks using motor vehicles as weapons. These attacks have involved cars and trucks barrelling into large crowds, pedestrian areas, and college campuses. Potentially any soft target, such as sports stadiums, community centers, and government buildings, could see a vehicular attack.

The Art of Separation

Ensuring public safety should always be the driving force of security. Protecting both people and property from an attack can take more than rudimentary safeguards like fencing and traffic barriers. Mass demonstrations such as protests can put security teams at odds with these goals, but when intensive measures are taken, the response can project a tone of intimidation instead of protection. With the right tools and excellent preparation, any location can be ready to both safeguard people and property while also maintaining an air of professional authority.

Handling Closings and Restrictions Through the COVID-19 Crisis

As the pandemic continues to wash over the country, state and federal parks and services are drowning in closures and occupancy restrictions. Unfortunately, citizens are looking for solace away from quarantine procedures in the majesty of nature. This puts undue strain on the National Park Service that wasn’t designed for long-term regulations to minimize exposure. Fortunately, there are many ways that location managers can mitigate the disruption in service with either temporary or permanent barrier systems. Using simple methods to upgrade security procedures can help facilitate easier transitions as these places are reopened to the public.

Gates Can Be the Weak Link in Security

A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. When that chain is part of perimeter fencing, the most vulnerable point may not be where you think. Gates act as more than security equipment, they represent structural safety meant to stop even the largest of threats. While bollards and recessed rising barricades are effective, they just don’t project the outward strength that is immediately captured by a well-constructed and manned gate. Even so, that image can be shattered in short order when a determined assailant decides to take action against private or secured property.

The Threat Behind Computerized Vehicles

The idea behind vehicular attacks is simple. Unlike conventional weapons, larger cars and trucks are more ubiquitous, and the potential cost to morale and the population as a whole is high. The main concession is that these transports need to be manned by a person with devious intent. However, the continued computerization of vehicles, as well as the push towards complete autonomous driving, may make this form of improvised ammunition much more effective and dangerous.