Lack of construction site security leads to losses of £400 million a year

The lack of proper security measures on construction sites is causing losses of up to £400 million a year for the construction industry, a report from the Chartered Institute of Building has been able to reveal.

The paper, ”Crime in the Construction Industry”, points out that the construction industry is very susceptible to crime. Factors such as the constant turnover of staff, the mobility of the workforce and the temporary nature of project work make the industry an easy target for both opportunistic petty criminals and serious organised crime.

Stealing vehicles and machinery is common on construction sites, which are also a popular target for the theft of metals, with over 100 acts of metal theft reported daily.

Data from the CIOB report suggests that, in terms of site security, the majority of respondents (93%) have implemented popular security measures such as enhanced lighting and secure storage. These methods are also identified as the most effective, with 85% stating secure storage is effective and 69% stating enhanced lighting is effective (although the comments highlight the need to ensure lights are connected to CCTV).

Using locking points to immobilise plant is also considered effective by 68% of respondents and heavy-duty barriers/gates by 67%.

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