Introduction
Access control at residential estates is only as strong as the people who follow the rules. Unfortunately, one of the greatest threats comes from within. When residents bypass security protocols and bring in unvetted individuals, they unknowingly create serious vulnerabilities that put the entire community at risk.
We recently conducted an independent security risk assessment for a residential estate in Ballito, where several overlooked security risks were uncovered. Unlike standard assessments tied to service providers, our independent approach ensures every risk is identified without bias or sales-driven recommendations.
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One of the biggest access control risks at residential estates is when residents themselves become the source of the security risk.
Security risk assessment of residential estates: This happens when residents bypass the estate’s security rules, especially the access control rules. They pick up individuals like domestic workers, garden workers, builders, or anyone else and drive them into the estate without following proper procedures. Since residents have full access, they bypass security, allowing unvetted individuals without proper identification into the estate. Security remains unaware of their presence.
If, for example, a builder decides to enter/leave the estate without proper identification or registration, the situation becomes highly dangerous. Security wouldn’t have any record of the person’s name or appearance. Such a scenario is a significant risk, as residents themselves contribute to compromising security. While residents typically want security and complain when things go wrong, they sometimes don’t realize they are part of the problem.
Many residents don’t understand that their negligent actions can lead to serious consequences, including crimes.
A prime example is the Featherbrooke case, where individuals were taken to court for negligence, as it was believed their actions contributed to the incident. Residents must understand that if a serious crime involves someone they brought in without clearance, they could be held accountable. Neighbors, management, directors, security, and even friends could sue them for negligence. In some estates, such breaches have even led to murders, highlighting the severity of this issue. Residents should sign a document accepting responsibility for anyone they bring onto the estate and acknowledging that bypassing security makes them liable for any issues.
I’m not referring to family members
This refers to temporary workers hired for gardening, moving, or small construction tasks. On weekend mornings, residents often bring in such workers, who go largely unnoticed by security preoccupied with other tasks. It’s not the fault of security; residents must recognize their own role in ensuring the estate’s safety. They cannot assume they have the right to bypass security as they please.
This issue represents one of the biggest risks to access control.
When residents themselves become the weak link in the estate’s security. For solutions to these types of security risks, read through your risk assessment report. If you would like to learn more about our services or need additional information on security risk assessments, please send us an email or visit our website, Security Meetings, and subscribe to our newsletter.
Article written by Andre Mundell, independent security risk advisor at Alwinco. #security risk assessment residential Estates
Our security risk assessment projects include strategic locations such as Bloemfontein, La Lucia, Kimberly, Midrand, Fourways, Tshwane North, and Waverly in South Africa.