Physical Security

Security standards for new housing

by Mark Rowe

The police scheme Secured by Design has welcomed the Department for Communities and Local Government’s (DCLG) latest proposals for security standards in the Housing Standards Review consultation. Secured by Design (SbD) says that it has been engaged in proactive discussions with the DCLG throughout the process, and these proposals reflect the views expressed across the academia, policing and the security industry.

The Housing Standards Review published in September will support a boost in house building, and crucially, by ensuring that crime prevention remains a core feature of housing standards, the safety of residents will not be compromised, says SbD. It points to security standards as relatively inexpensive and not placing much burden on developers. SbD says that the DCLG’s approach will help to put crime prevention in the mainstream and foster the market for products meeting security standards – the point of SbD.

Alan McInnes, General Manager of Secured by Design, said: “I commend the DCLG on its latest proposals that place the safety of residents at the centre of housing standards. Secured by Design is proven to significantly reduce burglary and anti-social behaviour, and creates wider public service cost savings. We are delighted that our standard is specifically signposted within the draft document for security, and are firmly of the view that this should remain so in the final version. We are keen to work with the department and others going forward to keep security standards under review, which is crucial given that the modus-operandi of offenders is constantly evolving.”

In the DCLG’s consultation document, the Government has also indicated its preference to introduce a mandatory Security Building Regulation requirement, applicable to all new homes. Details of the revised approach are set out in a new requirement for security of doors and window, Part Q – visit https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/356760/140905_HSR_Supporting_doc3_Security.pdf.

The Government proposes to go by the British Standard PAS 24 for doors and windows. The consultation document says: “Applying PAS 24 standards on a consistent basis could reduce the costs associated with achieving robust levels of security.”

The consultation deadline is November 7, with the new regulations to come into force in autumn 2015.

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