NEW GUIDE HELPS DEVELOPERS KEEP UP WITH LATEST CRIMINAL TRENDS

[THIS YEAR’S Secured by Design (SBD)/ATLAS national training conference and exhibition saw the launch of Homes 2023, SBD’s updated guidance for domestic properties. Homes 2023 has been designed to cater for the security of all new and refurbished homes, including those for disabled and older people. It incorporates the latest security standards, developed to address emerging criminal methods of attack, and includes references to the Building Regulations and other statutory requirements across the United Kingdom.

Michael Brooke, deputy chief operating officer at Police Crime Prevention Initiatives, commented: “There have been some major changes from the Secured by Design Homes 2019 guide, with significant areas that have been changed – including bicycle parking, doorsets and windows and their fitness for purpose (BS 6375), lift security (BS EN 81) and the introduction of PAS 24:2022.

“The requirements and recommendations within this guide are based upon academically-sound research findings that have enabled SBD to deliver significant crime reductions and cost efficiency savings for a wide range of stakeholders, including local authorities, housing associations, landlords, residents and the police service. The police service continually re-evaluates the effectiveness of Secured by Design and responds to emerging crime trends and independent research findings – in conjunction with industry partners – as and when it is considered necessary and to protect the public from crime.

“The police service places great importance upon the need to build sustainable and inclusive communities and to raise awareness of the significant impact that low crime makes to the on-going and long-term sustainability of a development. Should you wish to contribute to this or any of the SBD guides, please contact Secured by Design by email at sbdconsultations@police-cpi.co.uk.”

The new iteration of Secured by Design Homes is applicable to all SBD applications as of 1 March. The guide can be viewed and download for free from www.securedbydesign.com/images/HOMES_GUIDE_2023_web.pdf

Homes 2023 is part of a series of authoritative Design Guides produced by SBD to assist the building, design and construction industry incorporate security into developments to comply with the Building Regulations in England, Scotland and Wales and meet the requirements of SBD. The guides have been updated over the years to keep pace with changing patterns of criminal behaviour and advances in building design and new technology. They are a valuable source of reference to architects, developers, self-builders, local authority planners and police officers and cover a range of building sectors, including residential, education, health, transport and commercial.

Developers around the UK can receive SBD awards for incorporating crime prevention measures and techniques into their developments in all kinds of building sectors. That includes residential, education, health, transport, commercial, retail, sport and leisure. The awards are gained by working with SBD’s specially-trained police designing out crime officers (DOCOs), who advise architects, developers and local authority planners long before construction begins – and continue to provide advice and guidance until the development is complete. That service is provided free of charge.

Secured by Design is owned by the UK police service with the specific aim of reducing crime and helping people live more safely.

Part of the Police Crime Prevention Initiatives portfolio, SBD was created in 1989 following the housing boom of the 1960s-80s, when there was a huge and urgent demand for housing. Estates were being built quickly and often cheaply without any basic security. That resulted in a significant rise in burglary; and in response the police service set up SBD to combat it.

SBD works closely with builders, developers, local authorities and registered housing associations to incorporate its police crime prevention standards into developments – from initial concept and design through to construction and completion. Police forces throughout the UK have specially-trained DOCOs, who offer police designing out crime and SBD advice free of charge.

Over one million homes and commercial properties have been built to SBD standards – that’s 30% of all new homes built since 1989 – resulting in reductions in crimes such as burglary of up to 87%. Those are sustainable reductions each and every year – which is significant, as most SBD homes are in social housing, many in deprived and higher crime areas. A number of local authorities have even gone so far as to introduce SBD standards as a planning requirement. q

• Find out more at www.securedbydesign.com