Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk drawing board stage - and consideration given to the quality of things such as doors and windows that are being fitted to a property - it is highly likely that the future need for such measures could have been designed out at zero cost. It is true that crime is an ever moving target. Keeping pace with new offending behaviour is not easy, but with its close ties to policing, SBD has always been in a good position to provide an appropriate response and adapt to the challenges society faces as the criminals learn their trade and become more skilled. The advantages of building in accordance with SBD is not purely limited to reducing crime. A number of academic studies has also found that there are other, and perhaps less obvious benefits too. Here’s just a few to be aware of: • Reduced anti-social behaviour (a huge concern to many individuals and communities) • Reduced criminal justice costs (fewer crimes mean less victims of crime but also less offenders to deal with) • Increased social cohesion (crime drives communities into a lock-down mentality where everyone is a suspect, this hinders social interaction) • Reduced rehousing (SBD estates, because of dramatically reduced crime levels, become places where people want to live, rather than move away from, as is often the case in the rented sector) • Better general health (crime and the fear of crime impact our wellbeing, it can lead to a need for medical intervention with missed days from work or school for example) • Improved educational achievement (ultimately those missed days at school have an impact) • Less carbon (crime generates carbon as can be shown if we think of all those journeys made by police to the scene of a crime and add to this the environmental cost of manufacturing new items to replace those that have been stolen or damages during the crime. In circumstances where a prosecution is made there is also the carbon generated by the judicial process which can be huge) • Reduced maintenance (as an example, less broken doors or windows due to less crime means less calls for service. It should also be noted that enhanced security products such as doors and windows utilised within a SBD development, also carry independent endorsement in terms of their fitness for purpose) • Reduced insurance premiums (again, fewer crimes means few claims and this equals smaller premiums) • Increased property values (areas become places where people want to reside, own, invest in, rather than leave. For example, increased demand for properties always inflates prices) • Increased economic output (crime in the UK is a serious fiscal drag on the economy) This huge building programme is an opportunity we cannot afford to miss – get it right and we can increase the wellbeing and sustainability of our communities for generations to come. THE door industry journal winter 2024 Secured by Design The new government’s proposals for ‘Getting Britain Building Again’, with plans to reform the planning regulations to unlock the economic potential of the country and build 1.5 million homes over the next parliament, can only be good news for door, window and lock manufacturers. The increase in properties being built will offer very significant opportunities to those involved in the manufacture of such products, with an increased demand for products and thus increased sales opportunities. However, we must also ensure this housing is safe and secure. The poor design, construction and overall quality of substandard doorset, window and lock products should not be allowed to place an additional burden on those living in these new homes, the environment, the criminal justice system, local authorities or indeed wider society. Whilst Part Q/ADQ of the Building Regulations sets a security baseline requirement, when it comes to doors and windows it does not guarantee the same level of security as products meeting the Secured by Design (SBD). The SBD standards for doorsets and windows, often referred to as the ‘Police Preferred Specification’, exceeds that of Part Q/ADQ of the Building Regulations. Operating for 25 years, the ‘Police Preferred Specification’ provides a recognised standard for all security products that are sufficiently robust to resist physical attack by casual and opportunistic burglars. It is the only way for companies to obtain police recognition for securityrelated products in the UK. The SBD focus is on the critical factors that combine to deliver a product’s performance - design, use, quality control and the ability to deter or prevent crime. SBD recognised doorset and window products must be tested by an appropriately qualified UKAS (or an EA MLA equivalent National Accreditation Body) and certificated by an appropriately qualified third-party certification body. All SBD listed products are regularly audit tested and manufacturing/fabricating facilities are subject to regular factory production control visits to ensure standards are maintained. This includes checks to ensure laminated glazing is utilised in the appropriate qualifying doorsets and windows. The better quality of these SBD products means they last longer too, making them more cost effective and leading to greater sustainability as they are less susceptible to criminal attack and therefore do not need to be replaced as often – and indeed many other benefits, which you can read about in the article alongside. Constructing well designed places, buildings and communities that reduce crime and harm, and promote sustainable, strong, cohesive, vibrant and participatory communities is an objective that everyone who cares about our communities shares and it is clear that having doors and windows achieve an appropriate security standard is a part of this. Every family deserves a secure, decent home and I would encourage you to find out how you can join us in helping to keep people safe at www.securedbydesign.com . Jon Cole, Chief Operating Officer Secured by Design A regular column by Jon Cole, Chief Operating Officer, Secured by Design, the official police security initiative, which has been delivering a wide range of crime prevention activities across the UK for over 30 years and operates a product-based police accreditation scheme for security-rated products. Jon Cole
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy Mzg2Nzk=