The cash deposit box and/or safe must be controlled by a method of time delay.

Purpose:
It is widely accepted that the majority of robberies take 90 seconds to complete. By restricting the robbery to the contents of the till not only reduces the loss but deters future attacks.

Suggested Specification:
The time delay should restrict access for at least three minutes to deter criminals from accessing the surplus or reserve value during the robbery.

One of the following methods must be used to achieve the time delay:-

• Time delay lock fitted to the cash deposit box.
• Time delay lock fitted to the safe.
• Staff have no access to the cash deposit box or safe during trading hours.
• Keys to cash deposit box or safe held under dual control through a professional keyholding agency or cash-in-transit company. A number of cash-in-transit companies offer a facility that incorporates the retail staff holding one key to the safe and the cash-in-transit staff holding a second key. This system would require a double lock on the safe to be effective.

Signage must be displayed in the customer area highlighting that access to cash and valuable items is controlled by time delay. Alternatively, where staff do not have access to the safe, a sign must state this fact.
It is recommended that a time delay lock with a visual countdown display be used in order to allow a robber to see that a time delay is in operation.