A North Yorkshire company’s security product which protects lead roofs from metal thieves, has gained the police crime prevention accreditation Secured by Design.
The process used by York-based Trace-in-Metal involves infusing thousands of microdots into metal sheets ‘marking’ them with a unique identifying code. Even the smelting process cannot destroy the nickel dots and their unique tags, the firm says.
To achieve Secured by Design, this deterrent – which is in use on churches, stately homes and public buildings in Cumbria, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire – had to pass tests in independent laboratories.
Secured by Design works on behalf of UK police forces seeking to uses crime prevention techniques to reduce crime through environmental design to create secure spaces at the design stage and to set product standards that achieve ‘police preferred specification’.
Trace-in-Metal chief executive John Minary said: “Being awarded Secured by Design status really is the jewel in our crown. It is a massive vote of confidence in our system and will give potential clients the assurance to know that Trace-in-Metal is a highly regarded crime prevention product.
“To be a Secured by Design member we have had to undergo rigorous scrutiny and testing. I’m delighted we have passed and we now join an exclusive club.”
Secured by Design development officer Alfie Hosker said: “This is a really exciting crime prevention product. It is easy to apply and effective because it is uniquely traceable, even after the smelting process. This is a great deterrent to any opportunist thief or more determined, organised criminal. It will help to combat lead theft from heritage sites and church roofs through to locations where lead is used within the fabric of the building or structure.”
Last year Trace-in-Metal, which was officially launched at Ripley Castle in the summer of 2014, was awarded a £120,000 UK Government innovation grant.
The match-funded money – given by Innovate UK – has enabled Trace-in-Metal to further develop its metal marking and to help garner vital third party accreditations, including Secured by Design’s. Visit: http://www.trace-in-metal.com.
Pictured: Trace-in-Metal’s chief executive John Minary (front left) receives the award from Secured by Design development officer Alfie Hosker, watched by Trace-in-Metal staffers Sara Notfors, John Barr and Paul Batty.
