To identify the risks to your business premises, it is a good idea to think about the kind of incidents you may have experienced in the past. Walk around the inside and outside of your premises to identify where your vulnerabilities are. 

In London, the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime has produced a guide on how to carry out a security self-assessment. A link can be found in the references at the end of this article. Other police forces may have similar guides, produced locally to you. 

Regularly test that your locks, shutters, grilles, windows and doors are working properly. If they are not, get them repaired or replaced by an approved contractor who uses police accredited products. A list of police approved companies can be found here.

As you walk around your pharmacy, think about where your most secure area is. Then consider what additional security measures you might introduce. For example, you might want to think about fitting additional locks to existing doors, as adding a second lock will improve the resistance of the door and make it harder for someone to break in. There are products available which can be fitted to the door frame (London Bars) and hinges (Birmingham Bars), to reinforce them. 

While a professionally installed and maintained alarm is desirable, there are wired and non-wired audible alarms and sensors that can be fitted to doors and windows. 

Roof lights and windows can be vulnerable points. Openings can be reinforced with additional locks and supplemented with audible alarm sensors, and glazing can be reinforced with laminate film on the inner side of the glass. There are various types of film offering different levels of security. 

Ensure internal and external lights are working and replace any bulbs. If you are considering installing external lighting, then a dawn till dusk system is recommended.