Organised Crime Groups (OCGs) pose a serious threat to UK businesses, using theft, cybercrime, and violence to disrupt operations. Learn how to protect your business from their growing impact.
What Are OCGs?
The term ‘OCG’ stands for Organised Crime Group which represents a group of three or more individuals who work together to commit illegal activity for their own financial or material gain. This includes theft, cyber attacks, extortion and violence.
OCGs are normally built by professional criminals meaning they’re often well-organised and expertly structured, making their strikes more successful and able to be completed on a large-scale basis.
Most commonly linked to theft, OCGs may also commit illegal activities simply to disrupt operations, display power or for their own gratification.
What Are The Dangers of OCGs?
Due to their often large-scale network, there are severe dangers relating to OCGs if they decide to strike your business.
These will vary depending on your industry, however, generally the main dangers of OCGs are as follows:
- Financial Loss - OCGs tend to be large groups of criminals working together, and therefore, the financial damage they can cause, specifically following theft can be extremely severe to your business.
- Public safety risks - Whether it’s employees, visitors or the general public, any individuals present during an OCG strike could be at physical risk. Some groups will go to any lengths for their own gain.
- Social disruption - Any instances of OCG strikes could lead to local communities feeling a sense of fear and instability following such events which has economical and reputational impacts on your business in most instances.
Overall, the cost of OCG crime goes much deeper than just the financial costs, and it’s important for those industries most at risk to understand what the specific risks are and how to overcome them.
Which Industries Are Most Impacted by OCGs?
Although any industry could be targeted by OCGs, there are certain industries that face increased risks and for businesses within these fields, remaining aware of this and how to tackle it could be what protects your business.
Below outlines the five main industries vulnerable to OCGs:
Construction
Construction sites are prone to OCGs due to their often vast, open space, lack of security, complex supply chain and high-value machinery and equipment left in plain sight.
Especially with copper prices increasing in value, construction sites with high volumes of this are becoming popular targets for OCGs with copper theft.
Due to their temporary setup, OCGs will assume a lack of security and standardised procedures to protect the site from such strikes.
Retail
As you can imagine, having a high-volume of goods within one location makes retail highly vulnerable to crime, particularly from OCGs.
Smash-and-grab techniques are becoming increasingly more common, with criminals making bolder, more dangerous moves for their own financial gain, leaving employees and customers in fear.
With high numbers of theft already within the industry, the financial loss from OCGs could leave retail businesses struggling to survive.
Rail
Similar to construction, rail networks hold high-value equipment, most importantly copper and cabling which is in-demand for OCGs. This often leaves them prone to theft.
Their remote, rural locations make it easier for OCGs to target the cabling and with larger numbers often involved, the impact of any crime is much greater and creates complete operational disruption.
And theft is not the only concern from OCGs with rail, their heavy reliance means some may look to target them simply to cause severe interruption for their own personal gain.
Vacant Property
Often based in remote- off-grid locations with no occupants present for long periods of time, vacant properties are easy targets for OCGs to carry out various illegal activities.
From drug trafficking to theft, vacant properties are easy to scope out and utilise for whatever purpose an OCG has.
Most commonly, vacant property is used for drug trafficking or housing by OCGs and this can increase other issues like violent crime.
Critical Infrastructure
From solar farms to water facilities, critical infrastructure are heavily relied upon by millions, but unfortunately, they are also targets for OCGs.
Their high usage of high-value metals makes them susceptible to theft and due to their demand, they are also prone to those looking to simply create public safety hazards or extreme disruption.
Due to sites spanning across large spaces, OCGs will look at this a similar way to construction whereby there are more weak points in which they can take advantage of in order to gain access to the site.
How to Protect Your Business Against OCG Crime
Crime is costly on your business and it’s important that to avoid these consequences, you have the correct security in place to prevent and minimise the dangers presented by OCGs.
There are several key steps you should take to protect your business against this, including:
Increase Your Physical Security
Most OCGs will consist of trained criminals, all of which will often be aware of the best tactics to utilise in order to pull off their elaborate plans.
Due to these groups working in teams rather than singularly, their attacks tend to have greater impact and be larger in size.
To minimise the risk of capture for themselves, part of their build-up to such criminal activity will be to scope out the site or building and understand its weaknesses.
Those with a lack of security are much more likely to be targets for OCGs as there’s an assumed lessened risk of their identities being exposed, fewer obstacles and lowered chance of capture by the Police.
Therefore, the best method to combat this is through increasing your physical security for two reasons; the first being it offers a visible criminal deterrent and the second being some offerings can monitor and record threats whilst doing this also.
Physical criminal deterrents include perimeter fencing, signage and security guards.
However, for enhanced protection, CCTV would be the recommended option for increasing your physical security and be easily slotted alongside any existing security systems in place.
We aim to create convenient, cost-effective solutions. We created our CCTV Towers that work as both a visual deterrent and a live monitoring and recording device.
This minimises the need for multiple security solutions on-site, as well as reducing costs.
Implement Access Control
For industries like construction and critical infrastructure, they often span across large sites and it’s key that only those authorised can access them.
This is why you should restrict access to your site where possible, so that you can monitor those entering and exiting your site, whilst ensuring those without access cannot gain entry in the first place.
OCGs use various tactics in order to get away with their crimes, so you must remain vigilant of access points.
The first step you should always take with access control is to minimise entrances and exits at your site to as few as needed.
Additional types of access control you may wish to implement include:
- Site passes for sign-in
- PINpad entry
- Physical barriers such as turnstiles, fencing and gates
- Biometric scanners
- Manned security guards on entrance and exits
- Sign-in and sign-out registry
Any access control you implement should ideally be able to monitor those entering and exiting the site as this will log any individuals present at the time of crime or narrow down if it is an external person.
OCGs can utilise individuals from the inside, so keeping track of your employees is just as important as any visitors or unauthorised personnel.
Add On-Site Lighting
Increasing visibility on your site or surrounding the property/building is a small step you can implement to create a criminal deterrence there.
When scoping targets or carrying out attacks, many OCGs will use the undercover of darkness to do so as this provides a sense of security for them regarding their identity and being captured.
Therefore, adding lighting will boost the visibility of your site or property, as such reducing the chances of it becoming a target with OCGs.
Although OCGs are well-trained criminals, they’re also very aware of the risks of large-scale crime, so where possible, their aim will be to attack easier targets in most instances.
Lighting is a simple addition to any location, but just remember that where security cameras are present, you need to ensure that it doesn’t disrupt the service of this.
Install CCTV Backed by Remote Monitoring
As mentioned earlier, CCTV cameras are an effective tool at offering both visual deterrence towards crime and at monitoring and recording your site or building.
However, to enhance this further, you should seek a CCTV system that is backed by remote monitoring services.
Having this additional feature allows you to remain proactive in your response to security, with a monitoring centre of trained professionals monitoring your location off-site, assessing live threats and responding to them in the moment.
Every manufacturer will offer different remote monitoring services that back their products, however, ideally they should be NSI Gold accredited as this means they are recognised with the highest security standard.
We ensure our full product range is backed by NSI Gold accredited remote monitoring services that can respond in an instant.
From sirens and live audio challenges to calling the Police to the scene if needed, operators can utilise a range of tools to help prevent OCGs committing their crimes against your site.
Combining this with our CCTV Towers, you’ll receive visual and audio deterrence, alongside high-quality, 24/7 live monitoring and recording that ensures you’re covered every step of the way during an incident.
We also offer additional benefits, including remote connectivity which allows you to tune into your live video feed at any time to check in on your site or review recorded footage.
This provides that extra peace of mind that other competitors may not be able to offer.
Boost Security Awareness Within Your Business
Security starts from within, and that includes informing employees of any developing tactics and threats presented to the business.
OCGs are skilled professional criminals who will know how to scope out sites and buildings, assess any obstacles, establish any weak points and understand the best form of attack based on this.
Some tactics may even involve taking advantage of employees to commit their illegal activities, hence the need for training.
By maintaining security training with updated information and tactics, you will boost employees’ awareness regarding OCGs’ approaches, consequences of insider crime and how to protect themselves and the business against this.
Ensure You Have Extensive Business Insurance Coverage
Protection doesn’t just involve prevention. There’s a full process to provide complete protection for your business and site, including ensuring you have comprehensive insurance for your business and any other areas you’re responsible for.
Insurance mostly helps to protect you financially and legally if crime occurs, including that at the hands of OCGs.
Essentially, they support costs and cover them to a particular extent normally, so that your business is not faced with the brunt of those expenses.
When selecting an insurance policy, carefully read through it to ensure that it covers your needs, but more importantly you’re eligible for it as otherwise you are void if a claim is required.
You should complete regular checks on your insurance to make sure it’s still the correct policy, especially if you’re up for renewal.
However, do keep in mind that making a claim can lead to increased insurance premiums which will increase overhead costs over time, particularly if you place repeated claims.
This is specifically important for construction sites where there are high threats from OCGs due to the high-value machinery, materials and equipment on-site.
Seek Professional Advice and Police Support
Maintaining good relationships with the Police can help your business in various ways, from educating your business on new OCG tactics to understanding the best forms of defence against this.
In addition to this, if necessary, you can gain external support from experts within the field to help establish a security plan to help prevent the impact of OCGs on your business or site.
Don’t be afraid to learn and seek that additional support as by doing so, you’ll have a fresh set of eyes reviewing your site’s safety and finding where improvements can be made.
Overcome OCGs With Construction Site Security
OCG crime is like no other, the disruption and danger caused by this can be destructive to businesses across various industries, leaving some unable to recover from it.
With over 20-years supporting businesses with preventing OCG crime and other security dangers through our fully-managed surveillance solutions, we understand the strain such crimes have placed on businesses.
To find out how we can support your business or site against OCGs, speak with one of our security experts today!
