NCJ Number
112107
Editor(s)
B A Twyman
Date Published
Unknown
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This booklet provides guidelines for initiating, conducting, and reporting on a police security survey of a residence or business.
Abstract
Security inspection services involve law enforcement's anticipation, recognition, and appraisal of crime risk to a residential or commercial property, followed by a report recommending actions by the owner to reduce the crime risk. The first step in a residential security inspection program is a crime analysis that identifies high crime areas by type of crime and emerging or changing crime patterns and trends. Advertisement of police security inspection services can encompass media public service announcements, newspaper feature stories and advertisements, presentations to community groups, business and industry, and neighborhood watch groups. Prior to undertaking a security inspection program, police must plan for scheduling, conducting, and following up on the inspection. Considerations should include the initial contact, the inspection itself, and the report. The inspection involves assessing various zones of vulnerability for the property, including the neighborhood, property boundaries, open space/yards, exterior, and interior. The security inspection report should focus on an assessment of crime risk and findings, problems, and recommendations for each of the zones of vulnerability. The effectiveness of the inspection should be evaluated through such means as comparative crime rates for properties surveyed and not surveyed.