Technical measures: Lighting and alarms

Technical measures strengthen physical barriers or procedures for admitting visitors, such as spy holes, intercoms and video cameras (see below). This is because technical measures are only useful when they are activated to deter intruders. In order to work, a technical measure must provoke a particular reaction, for example, attracting attention from neighbours, the police or a private security firm. If this does not happen, and the intruder knows that it won’t, such measures are of little use and will be reduced to preventing petty theft or recording the people who enter.

• Lighting around the building (of courtyards, gardens, pavement) and on landings is essential.

• Alarms have several purposes, including detecting intruders and deterring potential intruders from entering or from continuing to attempt access.

An alarm can activate a warning sound inside the office; a security light; a general, loud tone, bell or noise; or a signal in an external security centre. An audio alarm is useful for attracting attention but can be counter-productive in conflict situations or if you don’t expect local residents or others to react to it. A careful choice must be made between an audio and light alarm (a fixed powerful light, and an intermittent red light). The latter can be enough to deter an intruder, because it suggests that something else will happen following initial detection.

Alarms should be installed at access points (courtyards, doors and windows, and vulnerable premises such as rooms containing sensitive information). The most straightforward alarms are motion sensors, which activate a light, emit a noise or activate a camera when they detect movement.

Alarms should:

• have a battery, so it can function during power cuts;
  
• have a delay before it activates so it can be deactivated by staff who might set it off accidentally;
  
• include an option for manual activation in case staff need to turn it on;
  
• be easy to install and maintain;
  
• be easily distinguishable from a fire alarm.
  

Video cameras

Video cameras can help improve admission procedures or record people who enter the office. However, the recording must be made from a point which is beyond the reach of an intruder. Otherwise intruders can break open the camera and destroy the tape.

You may need to consider whether cameras will intimidate people you want to come and visit you such as victims or witnesses, or whether they will be seen as a valuable commodity which will attract thieves. It is good practice to post a warning notice if you are using a camera (the right to privacy is also a human right).

Private security companies

This area requires great care. In many countries, private security firms are staffed by ex-security force members. There are documented cases of such people being involved in surveillance of, and attacks on, human rights defenders. It therefore makes sense not to trust security companies if you have reason to fear surveillance or attacks by security forces. If a security company has access to your offices, they could plant microphones or allow other people in.

If you feel you need to use a security company you should ensure that you have a clear agreement about what their personnel are allowed to do, and not allowed to do on your behalf, and which parts of the building they can access. Of course, you also must be able to monitor that these agreements are fulfilled.

For example:

if you have hired a security service that sends a guard in case an alarm

break off, this guard may have access to sensitive parts of your office and

might set up listening devices in your meeting room.

It is better if you can agree (and if possible screen) which specific staff will be working for you, but this is rarely possible.

If the security guards carry weapons it is important for a human rights organization to have a clear understanding about what their rules are for using them. But it is even more important to outweigh the potential benefits of using weapons against their drawbacks. Hand guns are not a deterrence against attackers with higher fire capacity (as it is usually the case), but if attackers know that there are carriers of short guns within your premises, the may decide to break in ready to open fire, to protect themselves during the attack. In other words, some armed capacity (small arms) will probably lead attackers to open use of arms with higher fire capacity. At this point it is worth asking yourself, if you need guards with sub-machine guns, do you have the minimum socio-political space in which to carry out your work?