A common threat shared by all public institutions is the ease by which subversive, criminal, or terror-based offenders may bring destructive items or weapons onto the property.  Management has a clear duty to protect staff, visitors, and others from these threats, and provide a safe environment for work, study, or visitation.   The best accepted method of doing so is through professional entry screening.  Options include personal inspection, physical bag searches, magnetometers, and metal detection.  Recent technology developments offer additional alternatives.

Any form of entry screening is labor intensive, and costly…the two prevalent reasons given for foregoing any form of scrutiny.   We expect, and accept reasonable screening practices, now utilized in sporting event centers, most government buildings, theme parks, and a growing number of business centers.  There are more considerations in addition to cost and staffing.  This session will outline the pros and cons, and walk attendees through the necessary preparations for initiating reasonable entry screening, for a variety of environments. Presented by Stevan P. Layne, CPP, CIPM, CIPI