Keeping cash under lock and key

One of the key elements in cash protection, for all types of businesses, is the safe. Safes are made in various grades according to the value of the contents to be insured.

It is vital that the insurer's approval is sought prior to purchasing a safe, otherwise it could well prove to be unsuitable for the insurance indemnity being sought. However, if cash is not being held overnight, insurers may approve a lower grade of safe than would otherwise be the case.

The number of keys and key-holders should be kept to a minimum. Mike Palmer, insurance liaison officer at the Guardian Security Group, said: "The more keys there are, the more likely they are to be lost, copied or stolen. The vast majority of thefts from safes are due to the illegal use of the keys. Combination locks are more secure and worth the extra cost."

Digital electronic locks can be more convenient because they involve keying in a code, rather than turning a combination lock. They can also include features enabling 'tracebility' i.e. if money goes missing, they can be interrogated to see when the safe was opened and locked, and by whom.

Needless to say, security of doors and windows should be commensurate with the amount of cash that is being kept and the risk of burglary or robbery. The BSIA has produced a useful guide on the standards that should be met by doors and windows in particular risk situations - this is available from www.bsia.co.uk/download.html

In certain public-facing situations, it is appropriate to use screens that can withstand manual or ballistic attack. A similar guide relating to these products is also available from the BSIA.