A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Access

Control
PURPOSE and definition of any access control SOP:

Purpose; SOPs were designed to create uniformity of effort, and cohesion, thus resulting
in the continuity of standards. These standards would also refer to unit standards,
TACTICS: best practices, immediate action drills, intelligence gathering, surveillance and
counter surveillance, interrogation, authentication, and legislative
compliance among other things.

Aim; to couple objectives with standards; It becomes a standard for tactical

implementation. (Tactical implying; the use of military/ Police science that deals with
securing objectives set by strategy). Especially the technique of deploying and directing
troops guards -, and the use of terrain, and communication, as well as technology to
effectively counter any threat with.

Strategy implementation; Thus we design a strategy first, and then we use techniques
tactics/ SOPs to deploy guards/ resources for the greatest impact and effect, in
executing our access control strategy.

Definition; To establish an integrated standard criteria and control system for all
functions/aspects of access and egress control within the scope of standards.

Standards in this context refers to; something considered by an authority or by general

consent as a basis of comparison; or an approved model. Put at its simplest,
a standard is an agreed, repeatable way of doing something.

APPLICABILITY of an SOP:

SOPs for the most part cannot and should not just be cut and paste exercise only, granted its
good to work from a template. The applicability of an SOP applies to all security personnel
assigned to the safeguarding and protection of life and assets at a specific site or gate, or venue,
and effects all who they come into contact with. Therefore it needs to be specific, in both
addressing security concerns as well as enforcing the basic aspects of security and access control.

An SOPs aim is to create one specific criterion to be followed during all hours of operation; by
all concerned, thus creating a uniform approach to access control. This also then becomes a
standard, that then becomes the benchmark for the level of service expected, and to be
maintained; how you start will determine where and how you will finish. The departing standard,
will also thus inform the grading of guards required and a performance criteria to be followed for
the maintaining of a minimum, (or medium, high, or maximum level of security). a level of
security in it self becomes a expected standard.

Standards are set pertaining to any agreement reached, or president that was set. Any attempt
to address any level of threat, should be coupled to a standard, or by adopting a best practice. Not
just on consensus reached, perception is not reality. Threats can only be countered,
by implementing barriers, a counter strategy, that prevents the opposition from achieving his
goals committing crime by countering such threat with tactics. Tactics are set standards to be
adopted.

Tactics may very or escalate, (you wont just have one criteria for instance to address just one
problem with; if violence erupts in a community, or we experience a sudden crime wave, then
naturally the level of security must escalate automatically -, and then be adequate to face
the emanating escalating risk, and be escalated disproportional to the risk).

Flexible tactical escalation and de-escalation could be built into any SOP, with set protocols for
each level to escalate to.

The aim is to have scale-able criteria, and to still have set standards for each scale. If you only
adopt one level of security, and it never flexes, then its easy to observe and be bridge by
criminals. However, if you have changing tactics, and scale-ability then they will have to make a
huge effort to bridge your security. This aspect could also be coupled to time; for instance day vs.
night time deployment could see different criteria, (more guards during night time, dog patrols,
etc.) and then even seasonal, calling for additional measures to be adopted.

The SOP must address the situation well and in its entirety; some say in parallel; for instance
with peak hours and off peak; we make provision for traffic flow, or get house sitters, to
check proprieties of people on leave, etc. Our strategy and actions/ tactics needs to inform and
speak to us; on both the internal as well as external factors that will, could, have, has impacted
on our strategy in the past, to address where we suffered error in hindsight effctifly in the future.
It must be in parallel with trends, and crime patterns, neither be over bearing, nor be watered-
down either. Therefore; not extreme, it must be efficient professional and both effective
valuable.

Thats the best way to describe it. We have to think highly of these people we employ as guards,
and they have to become indispensable assets of the community they serve. (Not the norm,
where they cant speak, or communicate, lazy, and they are the masterminds behind most acts).

Detail; they say the devil is in the detail; any good SOP will/ should cover several aspects
clearly. we have to go into detail, and cover every aspect we can think of that will
impact, challenged, compromise, and or address our access concerns. The only way to do this is
to go into detail, for instance;

It should define the minimum force criteria;

The minimum level grading of guards to be deployed

 Those minimum actions condoned, how far is a guard expected to go; including the use
of (armed) force; to be sufficient to bring any situation under control or to defend
against hostile acts or hostile intent. In other words, the guards should be bound by the
use of force criteria. But not to such an extent where they become useless, or targets
themselvesstrive for balance in all things

The specific amount of guards and resources on the gate, or terrain at all times.

Informed decision making practices;

what is the best practice pertaining to each criteria staring with;

Access control criteria

Vehicles

Pedestrian

Delivery people

Contractors

Visitors

Service suppliers

Patrols

Perimeter

outside, inside, mounted, dog, equestrian, etc..

Look at all the criteria in questionthen see if it is legitimate.

LEGITIMACY:

Legitimacy is the final test, the legal status of your criteria set, and the standard used and
adopted to become the SOP.

Always get a legal opinion before denying people their rights. However for the most; The short
and the long of it is; basically, any (legal and reasonable) criteria implemented by the owner,
body corporate, trustees, landlord, or anyone who is legally in charge of a property will be
deemed legal. No matter peoples rights. Any person May institute any criteria they deem fit for
the use of access criteria, and it will be deemed legal, as long as its legal and reasonable.

Legally speaking, however Accountability and Responsibility is not thereby removed;

it remains vested with the HSO: Head of Security Operations at a venue; or otherwise
the owner, or his/her appointee.

A responsible individual appointed on orders to act as the representative of the

Directorate/ people that employed them security contractor -, on all matters involving
access, egress, traffic, parking, and security. He/she is totally responsible for supervision
of the control, of personnel and systems and will ensure that the SOP is maintained.

Second HSO: An individual appointed on orders to assist the HSO in all matters of
supervision and control. Unless otherwise specified, the term refers to operational
effectiveness.