Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk 24 THE door industry journal winter 2023 Industry News The Importance of the Police Preferred Specification Standard for Security Products Secured by Design is a police initiative to guide and encourage those engaged within the specification, design and build of new homes, and those undertaking major or minor property refurbishment, to adopt crime prevention measures to reduce the opportunity for crime and the fear of crime, creating safer, more secure and sustainable environments. Secured by Design (SBD) was created in 1989 following the housing boom of the 1960s-1980s when there was a huge and urgent demand for housing, with estates being built quickly and often cheaply without any basic security. This resulted in a significant rise in burglary and it was clear that criminals were taking easy advantage of several factors, including the lack of effective physical security standards associated with homes at the time. It was of no surprise that by 1996 UK burglary figures peaked at 1.8 million offences a year. It was obvious that something needed to be done to reduce burglary, hence the creation of SBD. It is a not-for-profit organisation, self-funded through its prevention activities, which is owned by the UK Police Service and is supported by the Home Office. SBD work closely with builders, developers, local authorities and registered housing associations to incorporate its police crime prevention standards and products - such as doors and windows – which meet SBD’s security requirements into all types of developments, from initial concept and design, through to construction and completion. The experience gained by the UK police service over the past 34 years in the subject area of designing out crime has led to the provision of a physical security requirement considered to be more consistent than that set out within UK Building Regulations; specifically the recognition of products that have been tested to the relevant security standards but crucially are also fully certificated by an independent third party, accredited by a United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) Notified Body. The Police Preferred Specification Standard for security products Knowing that a product is fit for purpose is critical. SBD operates an accreditation scheme on behalf of the UK Police Service for products or services that have met recognised security standards. These products or services – which must be capable of deterring or preventing crime - are known as being of a ‘Police Preferred Specification’. This accreditation scheme has been operating for nearly 25 years and 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 security-related 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 – and these products or services are known as being of a ‘Police Preferred Specification’. The Police Preferred Specification ensures that products have been independently tested to a relevant security standard and fully certificated by an independent third party, accredited by a United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) Notified Body. In addition, the Police Preferred Specification requires regular re-testing and annual inspection of the manufacturing facility
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