Preventing the Predictable: 21st Century Crime Prevention

Focus on accommodation for older people

Secured by Design (SBD), the national police crime prevention initiative, works closely with the Police Service around the UK to design out crime at the planning stage. We work in many building sectors, including  providing secure accommodation for older people, who are one of the most vulnerable groups in our society. Our advice has encompassed a wide range of accommodation in this specialist sector ranging from residential care and retirement homes through to property solutions and schemes that provide a varying degree of care and support. Developments for older people could include apartment blocks, bungalow estates and retirement villages.

How SBD works

SBD trained police officers and staff, known principally as Designing Out Crime Officers, liaise with architects, developers and local authority planning officers on new build developments at the outset to incorporate proven crime prevention techniques.
These measures encompass layout and landscaping, such as to increase surveillance and limit through movement, to make criminals feel uncomfortable with a greater likelihood of them being seen and challenged.
We also work to increase the physical security of the buildings by encouraging the use of a wide range of security products that meet our Police Preferred Specification standards. For example, our accredited doors, windows and locks which are sufficiently robust to resist physical attack from casual or opportunistic burglars.
Our accreditation requires products to be certified by an independent third-party UK Accreditation Service (UKAS) certification authority, which involves manufacturers undertaking regular production audits and re-testing to ensure quality is maintained and is current to the present day – compared to products that may have been tested only once many years previously.
Using our accredited products ensures Building Regulation compliance for security and SBD is the only police organisation in the country to accredit security related products.

Our crime prevention measures

Typical crime prevention measures incorporated in accommodation for older people could include:

The building

• secure entry doors and accessible windows, including windows to apartment balconies
• main access control systems
• video entry system for residents’ guests
• proximity key card locks to the residential aspects of the development and to each apartment
• spy holes on flat entrance doors

The grounds

• perimeter access controls and restrictions, such as to car parks
• strategic use of CCTV
• landscaping, and tree and planting, to ensure natural surveillance and secure boundaries
• lighting across the development, such as pole lighting at the front, bollard lighting at the rear or in the garden, and wall lighting to both front and rear of the property
• fencing and gating, such as a minimum of 1.8m high metal railings to secure the perimeter with matching powered access gates
• the removal of climbing points/recesses

Longbridge, Birmingham

One of the most recent retirement care developments to benefit from SBD crime prevention techniques is Longbridge Village, which is located on part of the former iconic MG Rover car production site at Austin Avenue, Longbridge, Birmingham. It is one of five similar developments in this city to have achieved SBD status – the result of a partnership between Birmingham City Council and the ExtraCare Charitable Trust. The £48m Longbridge Village opened in July 2017. Set on five acres, Longbridge Village provides 260, 1-2 bed apartments. Its facilities include a village hall, bar, bistro, gym, IT suite and hair and beauty salon.

Bangor, North Wales

SBD advised on 42 self-contained 1-2 apartments for people aged over 55 with housing and care needs Cae Garnedd, Bangor, North Wales. It was North Wales Housing’s third Extra Care scheme and first in partnership with Gwynedd Council. It provides independent and secure living backed up by care and support when required. It includes a number of private lounges, a dining room/restaurant and outside patio area.

Keyford Heights, Frome, Somerset

A development of 36 flats for elderly care was included in the regeneration of 135 homes at Singers Knoll and Randolph Road, Frome. The former estate had a reputation for crime and unemployment.  SBD trained Designing Out Crime Officers advised on the entire development after being involved in discussions with tenants prior to any regeneration so we could better understand the local issues and concerns. The development received an SBD award for security when completed.

Reducing crime and maintenance

Independent academic research shows that SBD developments that include our crime prevention techniques in the built environment and SBD accredited products in buildings can reduce crimes like burglary by up to 75% in new build homes. Evidence suggests that this figure is sustainable year-on-year. In addition because our accredited products are of high quality and last longer, they require less maintenance, repair and replacement over time – a huge benefit to housing providers and managers.

Secured by Design

Our aim is to achieve sustainable reductions in crime through design and other approaches.
Tel: 0203 8623 999
Email: enquiries@police-cpi.co.uk
Web: www.securedbydesign.com
Video: https://youtu.be/jZ7oeAQcHmc