Crime is rising – How to protect your business

During a cost of living crisis, all types of criminal activity rise as thieves go to any lengths and are prepared to take more risks to meet the spiralling costs of food and fuel.

This sends figures for everything from violent street crime to thefts in rural areas soaring.

Farmers are particularly vulnerable. Their businesses – often situated miles from anywhere – make their high-value machinery and vehicles an attractive target for thieves and insurer NFU Mutual has reported that the cost of rural crime is up almost 50% on the same period last year in some parts of the country.

But the spike in thefts and burglaries is not confined to rural environments. Homes in urban areas are also seeing a crime spike as the realities of escalating costs bite.

At Absolute Protection Group, we know how devastating it can be when your home or business is targeted by thieves.

Founder David McKeown said: “I’ve seen first hand the upset and disruption victims of crime feel – it doesn’t just end when the broken window is repaired or the insurance replaces your brand new tractor.”

“The effects can go on for years. People often don’t feel comfortable leaving their homes or businesses for any length of time, holidays become difficult as people can’t relax and overall there’s a sense of violation which can be very difficult to overcome.”

Absolute Protection Group offers a suite of commercial and domestic security options to suit every need and budget – and gives you complete peace of mind.

We work with our clients to gain a full understanding of their objectives and their risks so we can pull together a security strategy that works for them. We have extensive expertise in the design, installation, monitoring and maintenance of reliable security systems for businesses of all sizes.

To ensure your home is in safe hands, we will come to see you at your property, run through all the potential solutions available to you and help you identify the right set up.

For both our commercial and domestic customers, our services include:

Intruder alarms – design, installation, commission and maintenance
Site surveys and strategy planning
Access systems, including key fob and biometric entry
Full turnstile entry systems including planning, installation and maintenance
Surveillance, including CCTV risk assessments
Service & maintenance
Monitoring systems via mobile apps or monitoring stations

Our commercial maintenance packages help to keep your business secure as risks are continually reviewed and mitigated against. Not only does this help you sleep at night, it could also help to lower your insurance premium.

We believe feeling safe should be a right, not something you have to fight for. Contact us for a free, no-obligation survey. If you’ve already got a maintenance contract, we’ll do our best to beat the price and save you money. Call 01622 437838 for more details.

Fire Safety – How To Make Sure You Use A Verified Professional

Whether you’re a homeowner or a company director, it’s important to ensure you choose a qualified, verified and reputable professional to install and manage your fire detection and alarm systems. After all, it could be a matter of life or death…

Many people mistakenly think their regular electrician can carry out the work but fire systems necessitate a comprehensive understanding of what is required to meet stringent safety standards, especially in a work environment such as a factory, office building or workshop.

Investing in home fire safety is just as important. According to the government’s ‘Fire Kills’ campaign, you are around eight times more likely to die from a fire if you don’t have a working smoke alarm in your home. Someone is killed by fire every six days in the UK and cooking is the main cause, with faulty electrics close behind.

As a business owner, there are regulations that must be followed to keep your staff safe. Anyone responsible for a non-domestic premises, such as a landlord, guesthouse owner or building facilities manager, must:

carry out a fire risk assessment of the premises and review it regularly
tell staff or their representatives about risks that have been identified
put in place, and maintain appropriate fire safety measures
plan for an emergency
provide staff information, fire safety instruction and training

Failure to comply with the requirements carries penalties including fines and imprisonment so it’s not worth taking a risk. But how do you find a qualified and verified professional who can carry out the work?

BAFE accreditation provides reassurance that a contractor’s work has been independently assessed and meets a rigorous set of conditions. The BAFE scheme has been established for more than 25 years and is recognised as the industry standard for fire protection.

Assessment by an engineer is followed by an audit by a technical expert before certification is awarded, ensuring the highest standards are maintained. BAFE accreditation covers design, installation, commissioning and handover plus maintenance of systems, whether in a home or a large commercial premises.

So how can you check if a contractor is BAFE registered? There’s a simple online tool on the BAFE website – just enter basic information such as the company name or location and one click will tell you if they’re verified.

Maidstone’s Absolute Protection Group is proud to be a BAFE-accredited contractor for fire detection and alarm systems. The firm was established in 2017 by David McKeown who was frustrated by the poor customer service he witnessed in the industry. After 15 years of experience, David was determined to set up a business offering exceptional quality at a fair price, and no job is too big or too small.

David has achieved BAFE certification for Absolute Protection Group, offering the ultimate standard in the fire protection industry. The company is also CHAS (Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme) accredited and all Absolute engineers are DBS checked and registered with the ICO (Information Commissioner’s Office).

Absolute’s bespoke approach takes account of the customer’s individual budget and specific requirements. Whether it’s a small business or a large commercial premises, Absolute always provides the same careful attention to detail.

Services include:

Fire safety plans
Fire extinguishers
Basic staff fire training
Fire alarms
Fire detection, suppression and air sampling systems
Emergency lighting
Fire maintenance packages
Legal and regulatory fire compliance

Whatever your fire safety needs call 01622 437838 or email for more information.

Christmas Is A-Coming – Think Safety First!

Absolute Protection Group Fire-Christmas-Safety-Plugs-Lights

It’s almost time to get up in the loft or rummage in the garage for the box of Christmas lights and decorations. But before you start plugging everything in, think about electrical safety and any precautions you might need to take to protect your home and family this festive season.

We all have traditional favourites that we bring out year after year, but when it comes to anything electrical you need to carry out a few simple safety checks before you plug them in. Cables can easily become frayed or damaged, wires can become detached, and old bulbs can overheat and melt fittings so carefully examine everything first.

Check Your Lights

Christmas lights are often stored in a tangled mess which makes damage more likely and there’s more risk if they’re kept somewhere damp. Battery powered lights should have the power source removed before being packed away or the batteries are likely to corrode. The potassium hydroxide that leaks from batteries is highly toxic and can cause skin irritation, damage to your eyes and respiratory problems.

Old-style Christmas lights get hot whereas new LED bulbs operate at very low voltage, reducing the chance of an electric shock and using 80-90% less electricity. They’re far less likely to cause a fire as they stay cool to the touch and they’re much cheaper to run so it’s worth considering investing in new lights if yours have traditional filament or lantern bulbs. Make sure you buy from a reputable supplier and that they carry the CE safety mark.

Choose The Right Equipment

Many people like to decorate the outside of their homes with lights but it’s important that they are specially designed to be used in all weathers and are plugged into a socket with a residual current device (RCD) to prevent shocks and fires. All lights should always be switched off when you are out of the house and overnight – better still, put them on a timer so you don’t forget.

Don’t Get Overloaded

It’s tempting to overload sockets and extension leads at Christmas when you want to plug in lots of lights, but this is a serious fire risk and should be avoided. Supplement mains lights with battery-powered sets and consider buying rechargeable batteries to save money. If you have an imitation Christmas tree, make sure it’s fire resistant – and if it’s real don’t let it dry out or it’s a bigger fire risk (though you need to be careful when watering a tree with lights on!).

Christmas Statistics

Statistically, you’re more likely to have a fire-related incident over Christmas and the season is responsible for various festive injuries and even deaths:

Christmas tree lights injure nearly 350 people annually
50% of fire-related deaths occur over Christmas
26 people died between 1997 and 2010 in the UK of electrocution while watering their Christmas tree with the lights on
About 260 home fires begin with Christmas trees each year

Stay Safe

To make sure you keep yourself and your family safe over the Christmas period, check smoke alarms are working and do a dry run of your home fire escape plan to ensure everyone knows what to do.

For more advice about home fire safety including smoke and fire alarms and fire extinguishers, call Absolute Protection Group on 01622 437838.

FIRE SAFETY – IT’S TIME TO CHECK!

Absolute Protection Group Fire-Exit-Safety-Blocks

For most businesses, recent years have brought about changes to the way they operate, whether it’s enabling staff to work from home, or making changes to their office spaces.

Regardless of the changes, it’s important to ensure they don’t have a negative impact on fire safety. A little time invested now could prevent a catastrophic event in future that could jeopardise the business.

So what do you need to consider?

Fire Risk Assessments

Every business employing five or more people has a legal requirement to complete a fire risk assessment which should be reviewed when changes occur that could significantly affect the plans that have been put in place.

Any changes could also impact insurance policies so it’s worth taking time to carefully check and review.

Office Reorganisation

The reorganisation of desks and workstations could affect safety systems such as smoke and heat detectors, emergency lighting and sprinklers so it’s vital to get these checked and serviced by a competent engineer to ensure they still are working and fit for purpose.

Exit Routes

Reorganisation of the internal space means staff may now take a different route to exit the building in an emergency so this must be rehearsed with regular fire drills to familiarise people with any changes. Staff may be working in different areas of the building and special arrangements like buddy systems for those with mobility problems should be reviewed.

With so many internal changes it’s important to ensure exits are kept clear and self-closing fire doors are checked to ensure they work properly.

Fire Marshals

Fire marshals play an important role in safety and changes to working hours and people’s locations could mean plans need to be updated. If more staff are working from home, are some of them trained fire marshals who would be needed in an emergency? It may be necessary to train more marshals and draw up rotas to ensure adequate cover is provided in your business.

Absolute Protection Group can help review your fire safety plans and ensure your business is fully covered. Click here for further information or call 01622 437838 to book an appointment.

Stay Protected With A Maintenance Contract

Installing systems such as security cameras and fire alarms to safeguard your business premises is an important step but maintaining the systems themselves is just as crucial.

An alarm that repeatedly goes off or CCTV cameras that are too dirty to record a clear image won’t provide effective protection, so how can you ensure you’re fully covered 24-7?

Putting a maintenance contract in place not only offers peace of mind, it also prevents unexpected bills for breakdowns and repairs and ensures you’re complying with health and safety regulations. It’s easy to forget when a security alarm service is due or a fire system needs its annual check, but failure to maintain safety and security systems can have serious consequences.

If you don’t carry out maintenance as required, it could invalidate your insurance policy in the case of an incident. And a fire alarm that doesn’t sound in an emergency could be catastrophic, so why not put it all in the hands of an expert?

At Absolute Protection Group we offer maintenance contracts for a wide range of security and fire safety equipment such as intruder alarms and CCTV cameras, door entry systems, fire alarms, automatic gates and barriers, and fire extinguishers.

A contract means we’ll visit to carry out regular maintenance checks and services at pre-arranged times to make sure all your systems and equipment are working properly, and we’re on call if you have an issue such as a barrier that’s stuck or an alarm that won’t stop sounding.

Legally, fire safety systems must be maintained by a competent person, from the servicing and commissioning of fire extinguishers to checks on smoke detectors and alarms. It is recommended in BS5839-1 that maintenance is completed every 6 months after commissioning. If you need training on how to use your fire system we can support with that too.

There are lots of rules and regulations relating to building safety and security so it’s worth taking expert advice to ensure you’ve got everything covered. A break-in or a fire can have a devastating impact so take action before it’s too late.

Not only will you have peace of mind that your fire detection and alarm systems will operate in an emergency, maintenance contracts can also save you money. Non-contracted call-outs can be costly and regular servicing can also ensure that your systems operate efficiently for the lifetime of the technology avoiding costly components.

Absolute Protection Group has the expertise and experience to look after all your needs, from the design and installation of systems to maintenance, repairs, and upgrades. We work with businesses of all sizes, from small shops to large industrial units, and we offer prices to suit all budgets.

Contact us for a free, no-obligation survey. If you’ve already got a maintenance contract, we’ll do our best to beat the price and save you money. We’re confident you’ll be 100% happy with our service so call 01622 437838 for more details.

Dog Theft – Protection for you and your pet

Absolute Protection Group Golden-retriever-dog-laying-down

The growing trend of remote work has led to an explosion in dog ownership over the past years. But the rise has been accompanied by a disturbing increase in dog thefts, which have multiplied at an alarming rate. Criminals are now using increasingly sophisticated methods to steal animals for lucrative breeding or sale.

The charity Dog Lost saw a three-fold increase in reports of missing dogs between 2019 and 2020 and police forces across the country have warned owners to be vigilant.

So what additional steps can you take to protect your beloved pet and ensure you’re not targeted by thieves?

Firstly, make sure your dog is microchipped and check your details are up to date with the chip company. Take plenty of good photos too in case your pet does go missing so it can be easily identified.

Data collated by the National Animal Welfare Trust shows that 50% of stolen dogs are taken from gardens and 19% from house break-ins so it’s important to protect your property too and put security measures in place to deter thieves.

The police recommend that dogs shouldn’t be left outside unsupervised, especially in the current climate. But installing security fencing and strong, lockable gates creates a visible deterrent and ensures dogs can’t escape on their own.

Outdoor security floodlights with motion sensors also make criminals think twice about targeting a property if they know they’ll be bathed in light as soon as they get close.

Security cameras that cover all external areas and are constantly filming give added protection and keep a permanent record of anyone who has approached your property. This is particularly important as thieves often do a dry run before stealing a pet and do surveillance to check when your dog is let out.

Most systems can be accessed remotely with a phone app too so you can keep an eye on your property if your dog is left home alone and quickly react to any suspicious activity.

Signage can also play a role in deterring thieves, drawing attention to security measures such as CCTV. And installing a highly visible alarm system provides another reason for thieves to go elsewhere.

But it’s not only outside where cameras can play a role…

Indoor pet cameras have become increasingly popular and manufacturers have even created models that dispense treats. Some have video screens so you can have a two-way chat with your dog while you’re away from home, and there’s even a robot dog camera that follows the animal round the house and provides a dog’s eye view.

The huge demand for dogs means criminals are targeting all breeds, not just pedigree or fashionable animals. Some owners have even had their dogs snatched while out walking so it’s worth considering putting extra security measures in place for peace of mind.

The Absolute Security Group can advise on all aspects of home security and can create bespoke systems tailored to your needs. If you’re worried about your pet’s safety, call for a no-obligation chat on 01622 437838.

DIY electrical work – is it worth the risk?

Whether to save time or money, many people attempt DIY electrical work in the home. But it’s important to understand the legal requirements and potential risks before embarking on any such projects.

Around one in 20 people will end up in A&E at some time in their life due to a DIY disaster, but accidents involving electricity can have devastating consequences including fire, electric shock, serious injury and even death.

Registered electricians are frequently called to fix issues caused by attempts at small electrical jobs in the home, with cutting through power leads and drilling through cables in walls just two of the most common incidents.

The availability of YouTube video tutorials and other online advice often tempts people to take on jobs outside their normal ability and expertise, but electrical work is an area where this should be avoided at all costs.

There are a few small jobs that it’s acceptable to tackle, such as wiring a plug or replacing like-for-like fittings such as light switches and sockets. But any bigger electrical work is covered by Part P of the Building Regulations and should be carried out by a qualified electrician, or at the very least checked and signed off by one.

Part P was introduced in 2005 to keep people safe from electrical hazards and ensure any works carried out meet a required standard. Failure to comply with the regulations, or to get work checked once completed, is not only dangerous but will also invalidate home insurance policies so it’s not worth the risk.

Some electrical work is notifiable, such as replacing a fuse board or rewiring a house. This means you must apply for permission from your local authority before carrying it out, unless you employ a qualified electrician who is registered with one of the Government-approved scheme providers and can sign off the work themselves. Otherwise, the work must be inspected on completion.

When carrying out even the simplest electrical tasks, it’s important to take your time and ensure you follow the safety rules every step of the way. NEVER do any electrical work until you are certain the power has been isolated at the fuse board.

Be certain the circuit you are working on is not live by switching the circuit breaker off and checking the lights or sockets in the room. If the circuits are not carefully labelled, switch off each breaker from left to right followed by the mains switch. You can then use a voltage detector to ensure there is no power flowing, preventing an electric shock.

By far the safest way to ensure your electrical work is done safely and to the required standard is to employ a qualified electrician. But people are often concerned they will end up with a huge bill or be hoodwinked by a rogue trader. So how can you ensure you’re making the right choice?

It’s important to check that they are registered with a government-approved scheme, which means they are qualified to carry out complex electrical work and their skills are regularly reviewed.

At Absolute Protection Group all our electricians are NICEIC and CHAS (Contractor’s Health and Safety Assessment Scheme) approved and their essential training is regularly refreshed.

They are also fully insured, checked by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and carry ID with them at all times. In addition, all our electrical installation work carries a two-year warranty.

For further details visit our website or call 01622 437838.

Put Safety First This Christmas

Incidents of house fires can rise by up to 50% over the festive season, often caused by faulty Christmas lights or overloaded sockets, and exacerbated by an increase in flammable materials in the home. A dry Christmas tree surrounded by gifts wrapped in paper is a lethal combination if a fire starts.

So what can you do to protect your home and your loved ones?

Poor quality or old lights are the biggest risk, so consider investing in new ones from a reputable supplier and check they comply with British safety standards. If you need to replace bulbs, make sure they’re the same type and rating, and don’t use lights with a frayed cable or exposed wire.

Modern LED lights are cool to the touch and pose less of a risk than the traditional filament type because they operate at low voltage and don’t require as much power, but all lights should always be unplugged overnight or when you leave your home unattended.

There’s a temptation to overload sockets and use multiple extension leads to plug in all the fairy lights and illuminated decorations, but overheating can cause fires so limit what you’re plugging in and make sure everything has the correctly rated fuse.

When choosing an imitation tree, buy from a reputable source, ensuring it meets safety standards and is fire retardant. Real trees are less likely to catch fire as long as they’re not allowed to dry out, but be careful when watering your tree if you’re using electric lights – use a residual current device (RCD) to protect yourself from the risk of electric shock.

Never leave young children and pets alone with a Christmas tree. Pets can easily knock things over, especially where there’s limited space, and children can be tempted to touch hot bulbs, climb to reach treats or play with decorations. Extra vigilance is required to prevent an accident – and always check smoke alarms are working and batteries are fresh.

If you’re putting up lights outside your home, check they’re specially designed for outdoor use and make sure they’re plugged into an indoor socket. Always use an RCD – water and electricity don’t mix, and outdoor lights run more risk of becoming damaged.

It’s worth revisiting your family’s fire escape plan so everyone knows what to do if a fire does break out – it’s especially important if you have guests staying who aren’t familiar with your home.

A few simple precautions will ensure you keep your home and your family safe this Christmas. Taking chances just isn’t worth the risk.

Need a winter security check-up?

Absolute Protection Group winter security check-up?

With winter just around the corner and daylight hours fading fast, it’s a good time to review home and commercial security to make sure you’re well protected.

Buildings are often left empty for longer periods over Christmas, which poses many risks for businesses, including fire and burglary. Making sure you have carefully considered all the dangers and put plans in place to counteract them is crucial, taking into account your specific circumstances such as location, visibility and ease of access.

Similarly, home security should be a priority over the winter months when darkness allows burglars to go unnoticed and the value of contents increases with Christmas buying.

People often believe burglary will never happen to them, but putting measures in place such as alarms and security cameras is a cost-effective way of protecting your property – and it can also have financial benefits such as lower insurance premiums.

With commercial buildings, there are so many options when exploring security systems that it’s difficult to know what you need, and you can end up spending money unnecessarily or buying something that isn’t fit for purpose. Technology changes rapidly and, unless you’re very savvy, it can be tricky to understand.

Taking expert advice at the very beginning ensures the system fulfils your requirements and takes into account your specific circumstances and any operational nuances.

Absolute Protection Group’s experts can provide a free site survey to carefully analyse your needs and come up with a plan that fits your requirements and budget, whether you’re a small company with a single location or a multi-site business with complex demands.

Our extensive experience and knowledge, plus dedication to an exceptional level of service for all customers, means we’re perfectly placed to help you make the right choice.

We cover everything from design and installation to the monitoring and maintenance of your system – and we offer a two-year warranty on most new installations as well as maintenance contracts for peace of mind.

We can install intruder alarms, key fob and biometric entry systems, automatic gates and barriers and bespoke CCTV, using the latest app technology so you can remotely connect and monitor your business premises from any location at the touch of a button.

Our in-depth survey allows us to make bespoke recommendations for your premises, such as security lighting in dark areas or specialist movement-activated cameras to capture photo or video images when activity is detected.

We can design a system as unique as your business’s requirements and can adapt it to your budget, making sure you’re fully protected round the clock. Our engineers are on call 24/7 and will generally be on-site in around 45 minutes when called.

Domestic security requirements are usually less complex but no less important. A burglary at home can have long-lasting and devastating effects and victims often say they never feel safe again after a break-in.

Putting simple security measures in place can offer peace of mind and reassurance, especially if your home is often left unattended or you work night shifts or irregular hours.

We can offer an array of high-tech solutions to keep your house and contents safe when you’re away from home, with simple-to-use controls that can be accessed from a phone or mobile device.

Our experts will assess your domestic needs in exactly the same way as our commercial site visits and will recommend the best solution for your property. Our visiting engineers are all DBS-checked and will operate with the highest possible standards to ensure you and your family stay safe.

We prioritise safe working and comply with all the latest government regulations and restrictions. We are accredited to CHAS (the Contractor Health and Safety Assessment Scheme) and are insured for public liability and indemnity.

Once your system is installed, our service and maintenance packages are a cost-effective way to ensure it is working effectively, year-in, year-out. And we’ll happily review your requirements if things change and recommend any refinements or upgrades.

So whether you’re a business with site security concerns or a homeowner who wants to review household security, get in touch and we’ll give you a free assessment and offer bespoke recommendations. Click here for more information and to book a site survey.

Fire Safety – Protecting Your Business

A fire in a commercial premises can have devastating and long-lasting effects. The immediate trauma and destruction are harrowing, and the cost to your business is potentially catastrophic – and if you haven’t met your legal obligations, the consequences could be even more profound.

Every year there are around 20,000 commercial fires in the UK. Kent firefighters have battled big blazes in commercial buildings in recent months, including a tyre recycling plant in Ashford and a furniture warehouse in Crayford. Both of these fires completely destroyed the buildings and seriously impacted neighbouring businesses and homes.

Government data shows that three quarters of fires in business premises are started by accident. The most common causes are electrical faults, such as overloaded sockets and poorly-maintained equipment, smoking and misuse of equipment.

So how can you ensure you adequately protect yourself, your staff and premises against the risk of fire? And what does the law say you must do?

Every business has a legal requirement to do a fire risk assessment, which must be documented if there are five or more employees. This must be completed by a competent person, should identify fire risks and hazards, and be regularly reviewed and updated.

Many businesses never recover after a major fire, so diligent risk assessment and prevention make commercial sense. Plus business owners and those responsible for premises can be fined – or even imprisoned – if they don’t meet their legal obligations.

So once you’ve assessed the risks and drawn up your assessment, what else do you need to do?

Your staff are your eyes and ears when it comes to fire safety. Fire marshals should be appointed, with the number dependent on head count, building layout and risk. In an office environment, one warden per around 20 staff would be appropriate.

It’s important that marshals are professionally trained and fully briefed on their responsibilities, which may include checking fire extinguishers, organising fire drills and giving new staff training in fire safety awareness. All staff must receive regular training and be aware of your fire safety procedures – this not only protects themselves and their colleagues but also YOUR business.

Fire-fighting equipment must be provided, and it’s crucial that staff know how to use it. Extinguishers require an annual maintenance test and high-risk premises, such as those using flammable materials, may need a sprinkler system or special hose reels.

Fire safety signs are also important, signposting exits and locations of extinguishers and alarms. These are legal requirements so it’s crucial to know what’s needed – and where. Fire doors must be clearly marked with the appropriate signage and fire assembly points must be clearly identified.

Fire alarms are not compulsory in smaller premises, but for most businesses an alarm system is recommended. Emergency lighting should also be installed to guide staff to safety if the main lighting fails.

As you can see, fire safety is a complex issue that requires careful consideration and a bespoke approach depending on your commercial activities. For more advice, Absolute Protection Group has over 75 years’ experience and can help with compliance, fire training, fire alarms, testing of electrical equipment and more. Click here for further information.