Access Control & Gatehouse Security

Whoever controls the entrance controls who is on the property. A well-run gatehouse filters out casual opportunists, creates a record of every visitor and contractor, and discourages stock or equipment from leaving without authorisation.

We assess and quote on access control for:

• Residential estates and complexes with a main gate and boom
• Office parks and corporate buildings with a shared entrance
• Warehouses, factories and yards with delivery and collection traffic
• Construction sites where workers and contractors change frequently

Whether the service suits your site, and how it is staffed, is confirmed after we have seen the entrance and understood how it is used.

Depending on the site and what is agreed in the proposal, officers at the gate or entrance may handle:

• Boom and gate operation for residents, staff, visitors and deliveries
• Visitor management: confirming the visit with the host, recording details and issuing passes where your system uses them
• Contractor control: checking that work is authorised and recording entry and exit times
• Vehicle checks at entry and exit on sites where this is part of the agreed procedure
• Bag and parcel checks where your site rules provide for them
• Key and register control for gatehouse keys, remotes and access cards

For reception-based entrances in office buildings, see corporate lobby and reception security.

Searches are where good access control is most easily done badly. Our approach is that checks follow written site rules that people are made aware of, and are conducted with the consent of the person concerned.

• Site rules on checks should be displayed or communicated in advance, for example in employment terms or estate rules
• Officers ask for consent and conduct checks respectfully and consistently, not selectively
• If a person declines, officers do not use force; they record it and follow the escalation agreed with the client
• Personal information captured at the gate is handled in line with POPIA and kept only as long as needed

We help clients put these procedures in writing before officers start, so staff, residents and visitors know what to expect.

We start by observing the entrance: traffic volumes at peak times, how visitors are announced, how deliveries arrive, what systems are already in place such as intercoms, booms, card readers or CCTV. This often forms part of a wider security risk assessment.

From there we propose the number of officers per shift, shift hours, written access procedures and the records to be kept. Day and night shifts can be arranged, with coverage confirmed per site. Officers are PSIRA-registered, screened before deployment and briefed on your procedures, and supervisors check that the procedures are actually followed.

Gate registers, occurrence book entries and incident reports give you a record of who came and went and anything unusual. The format and how often reports are shared is agreed in the proposal.

Access control is usually an ongoing service, but we can also quote on a defined period, such as during a construction phase or a busy season. All terms are set out in writing before deployment.