If trespassers get access to your land, it can cause a number of problems for businesses and private individuals – including vandalism and theft. Understanding how to keep trespassers off your property in the first place is much more effective than having to deal with the after-effects.
Whether you have a vacant construction site, an office complex that is empty at the weekend or even a site that’s continually in use, here are some simple ways to prevent trespassers from gaining access.
How to protect your land from trespassers
Know where the boundaries are
When you’re planning the security for your property, it’s essential that you know where the boundaries are. This will ensure any measures you put in place cover the whole site area. If you’re in doubt, check the Land Registry documents.
Install fences
If you haven’t already installed fencing, barriers or gates, these are effective ways to protect your land from trespassers. They clearly mark where your land begins and ends and make it harder for trespassers to gain access. Using fencing in conjunction with Private Property / No Trespassing signs serves notice that anyone passing these signs is clearly a trespasser. Other ways to limit access to the site can be natural vegetation, including trees, shrubs and hedges, to create an effective border around your property.
Security Cameras
When you’re considering how to keep trespassers off your land, investing in a high-quality CCTV system is definitely a good idea. Visible cameras on the property are an excellent deterrent to prevent trespassers. This will enable you to keep an eye on the property remotely out of hours. In those instances where they still gain access to the land, footage from camera systems can be vital evidence.
Controlled access points
Often trespassers are opportunistic where they find easy access points to your site. That’s why it’s important to limit where and how visitors can gain access to the land. For example, having manned security guards on the entrance gates or using other forms of controlled access, such as a camera system or ID cards. Carrying out a risk assessment will enable you to see possible access points and understand how to keep trespassers off your land.
Manned guarding
Employing a team of security guards on-site, either permanently or when the site is empty, will be a huge deterrent to keep trespassers off your land. They can monitor and control access points, carry out mobile patrols and provide a dog handling team. Having a 24 hour a day presence on the land will stop any opportunistic trespassers from gaining access.
A well-lit area
One of the most effective deterrents for preventing trespassers is to have good lighting around the site. Dark and un-lit sections of the property are ideal for helping trespassers gain access. This is particularly true for those who intend to commit theft, vandalism or other criminal activity. Motion sensor lighting around the exterior of the site will help to prevent trespassers from accessing your land.
How to keep trespassers off your property
Even if you have the most effective security system and have taken all the necessary precautions, there may still be occasions when trespassers get access to your property. If you have an illegal encampment on private land, then these can be swiftly evicted under common law. This means that there is no requirement for court action to carry out the eviction.
For fast trespasser and traveller evictions across England and Wales, speak to the enforcement team at CEA Limited. Our nationwide team of agents is highly experienced at carrying out same-day traveller evictions.
More Information
What can you do if travellers arrive on your land illegally?