Whether you own a business or private land, you will want to restrict who can come onto it at any given time. Those who choose to enter your land without permission are classed as trespassers, and keeping them out can pose a huge headache for landowners up and down the country.
In this article, Newgate, specialists in secured access solutions look at some of the most effective ways that you can keep your land safe from trespassers and the dangers that they can bring with them.
What is a trespasser?
A trespasser is someone who enters or remains on your land without your permission to do so. Not only is it a violation of your property rights, it is also a criminal offence that can result in prosecution in some cases. Whilst accidents can happen and people can occasionally stray onto land that they should not without realising, trespassing is a deliberate act, where the person responsible is aware of the fact that they do not have authorisation to be on the property.
Trespassers can pose a huge threat to your safety and security, as they can be responsible for theft, vandalism and violence. They may be there to try and cause a nuisance for your business, start a protest or squat on the land in order to take up some form of indefinite residence. The damage that they have the potential to do can not only be extremely costly but they can also create huge amounts of stress for everyone involved until they have been removed.
Removing trespassers
When someone does trespass on your land, it is not always easy to get rid of them again. Confronting trespassers can be potentially dangerous, so it is best to call the police and let them handle it. Whilst some might leave peacefully, others can be more difficult, and it can take time to get them removed from your land. It is therefore better to take measures to stop them from gaining entry to your land in the first place. So, how do you do it?
Perimeter fencing
Your land will have a boundary, and so one way to deter trespassers and errant wanderers is to put secure fencing all the way around it. This creates a physical barrier between potential intruders and your property, and makes it clear to anyone who does not know where the boundary lies that they are on the outskirts of someone else’s land. Fences can come in all shapes and sizes, but it is important to check with your local authority whether there are any restrictions on the height of what you can install.
These fences can be made of durable material that are hard to climb. They can be made of a variety of materials and are installed using different methods, so it is important to research what is most suitable for your land. In some cases, it may also be possible to opt for fences which are connected to alarm systems and even electric fences to ensure no-one attempts to gain access who should not.
Gates and barriers
If one of the main ways to gain access to your land is through a clear entrance way, then look at installing gates or barriers to keep them out. These can be operated in a range of different ways and can be electrified to avoid the need for manual operation. They can slide or swing, meaning that you can find a style that works with the space and terrain that you have, and will provide a robust and secure method of protection for your property.
Most gates and barriers can also be fitted with high-tech access control systems, so you can be in complete control of exactly who comes and goes. This can work through a fob, access code, fingerprint recognition or even ANPR technology, ensuring that only authorised people and vehicles can gain entry to the site, and any potential trespassers are kept at bay.
Road blockers
If you are worried about trespassers gaining entry to your site in vehicles, then it may be a good idea to install road blockers. These can take the form of bollards or rising kerbs, and can prevent vehicles from squeezing through any roads, paths or driveways. Of course, you don’t want to keep every car and van out, which is why these physical blockages are retractable. That means that they can be opened when an authorised vehicle comes along, or you can just put them in place at night or when you know the property will be unmanned.
Signposting
In order to make sure that trespassers know what they are facing, it is important that you make use of clear and regular signage. This should show any potential trespassers that they are about to enter private land and that they are not authorised to do so. It is also important that you point out that they may be prosecuted if they do so. Whilst it is not a physical deterrent, it can sometimes be enough to make people think twice and serves as evidence that you have taken reasonable steps to make people aware of the situation if you decide to press charges.
Lighting
Throwing light on a situation helps most things, and it can also help to make sure that there are no dark corners for trespassers to hide in. This can help to discourage those who were hoping to sneak in undetected, and it can make it much easier for your security team or CCTV cameras to spot what people might be up to. Security lighting can be set up to permanently illuminate an area or it could be motion sensitive, only coming on when it picks up movement in the area.
Trespassing can be a difficult situation to deal with, which is why prevention is often better than cure. By putting the right measures in place, you can help to keep unwanted visitors out and ensure your property and everyone in it is kept as safe as possible.
That covers everything you need to know about how to stop trespassers on your property. If you have any questions, queries, or insight into the matter, please feel free to get in touch!
Alexandra is a junior content producer who enjoys writing articles and finding out more about the property market. Read more about Alexandra here.
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