Prince George’s Co. bill would require businesses to open late to assess their safety

The level of security within a company late at night can vary depending on the type of company and where it is located. And there’s a lot more going on behind the scenes that you might not even know about.

Spurred by repeated incidents at certain gas stations, convenience stores and other places that stay open late, a lawmaker in Prince George’s County, Maryland, says not all businesses are doing enough to ensure customers and employees are safe. kept safe. And worse, she says these companies are not being held accountable for their negligence.

According to a new bill introduced this week by Prince George’s County Council member Krystal Oriadha, that would change. She is proposing that the county require a “Nighttime Safety Plan” for any business that operates between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

“We have seen an increase in crime, specifically at night, in certain establishments,” Oriadha said, citing carjackings, robberies and other violent incidents that have occurred.

And although she admits that there is no one solution that applies to all companies, there is also not one that works in full: “These establishments can work with the police department to create a security plan that makes sense for their business.” .

Oriadha told WTOP the bill would require businesses to work with police to assess what they could be doing right and what they could be doing better. She cited scenarios like requiring businesses to get better cameras or store their surveillance videos on a “cloud” system that employees would have access to, rather than making police wait hours so the owner can get to the store and let them in. them to enter the back. desk.

“It may look different from location to location,” she said. “We are not going to prescribe what this will look like. Police better understand what they see in these different establishments and types of businesses.”

Police have long provided this service — and have repeatedly said they are willing to help provide security assessments to companies that request them.

“There are many ways to protect yourself and your business,” Police Chief Malik Aziz said Thursday.

He addressed this type of situation when asked how convenience stores can take steps to improve security after another ATM was stolen from one in Landover Hills on Thursday morning. One of the first things he mentioned was a security assessment offered by the police.

Much of the assessment focuses on ensuring that stores have quality video cameras installed so that the video cannot be stolen by thieves. Nowadays, a thief not only demands the cash drawer, but also the video system.

“These are our checks and measures to ensure these companies are doing their due diligence to keep the community safe,” Oriadha said.

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