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Protect your empty site from fly-tippers

Some free advice

Many business premises have been left vacant as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, creating an increased risk of break-ins. Unfortunately, unauthorised entry or, worse still, occupation can prove very costly. To help you to take the right steps to protect your premises, the Fire Protection Association (FPA) has given free access to its guidance, S31: Unauthorised occupation of non-residential premises – a guide to managing the risk (see The next step ). The 15-page document was published by its sister body RISCAuthority which is an insurance-industry-backed research organisation. As the document describes, once a commercial premises has been occupied by squatters, this often leads to further criminal activity some of it environmentally harmful, including setting fire to buildings, damage leading to the release of hazardous substances and fly-tipping.

What’s covered?

The guide advises on preparations, practical measures and security controls which can be employed in order to reduce the risk of a break-in or squatting. It also looks at the escalation and contingency plans you might put in place so that you can act promptly on discovery of a security breach or unauthorised occupancy, emergency response in order to make a premises secure, and the handling of incidents.

Fly-tipping

Of the types of environmental crime to fear, fly-tipping is the one which can lead to major practical difficulties and escalating cost. It can also impact any unattended site, regardless of whether the premises includes a structure.

If your site is targeted by criminals, the waste they leave behind becomes your responsibility. This is because it’s an offence under s.33 Environmental Protection Act 1990 to keep waste, except for your own, on land which does not have a waste management licence. If waste is dumped on your site, you become legally bound to: (1) prevent its escape from your control; and (2) transfer it to an authorised waste carrier/disposer.

Avoidance tactics

Use the guide to ensure you have taken the appropriate steps to protect your unoccupied premises from unauthorised use.

Tip 1. Carry out a security review to see how break-ins might occur and what you could do to make them less likely. This will include a range of measures such as keeping the premises in good order (so that it doesn’t look abandoned), good exterior lighting, clear visibility of the premises from roads and/or neighbouring land, secure locks and CCTV.

Tip 2. Remove valuables where possible, and also combustible materials and vehicles as these can be targeted by arsonists.

Tip 3. Carry out regular inspections, checking for signs of attempted entry, particularly at ground floor and basement level. Check that there are no weak points in your security, for example via external fire escape staircases, scaffolding and roofs of adjoining buildings.

For a link to the FPA guidance, visit http://tipsandadvice-environment.co.uk/download (EN 15.01.03).