How to keep your home safe and secure - blog

Kenny McHugh, the National Manager for the official police security initiative Secured by Design, looks at some simple steps that you can take to keep your home safe. When we are at home we are safe - and we want to keep you that way.  So here are a few simple steps that you can take to ensure that your home stays safe and secure. The first thing I would recommend is that you consider your security through the eyes of an opportunistic criminal, who is likely to walk on by if the risks of being seen and heard are too great. A visible deterrent gives criminals the first indication that you have an awareness around security. What is a visible deterrent? This is as simple as having well maintained walls, fences and hedges at the front.  They should be a maximum of 1 metre in height, to maximise surveillance and minimise hiding places to ensure criminals are on view from both the home and street. Alternatively, railings or picket fencing can be used. Hedges, trees and bushes should be regularly cut back. As a general recommendation, shrubs should be selected to have a mature growth height no higher than 1 metre, and trees should have no foliage or lower branches below 2 metres. At the rear and sides of your home, taller boundaries are recommended, with fencing at a minimum height of 1.8 metres and topped with 0.3 metres of trellis to make climbing over more difficult. Side gates should be a minimum of 1.8 metre high, robust and capable of being locked. Use prickly plants, such as pyracantha or climbing roses, to protect fencing, easily accessible windows and drainpipes. Remember, when the nights start to draw in, it is important that to have some lighting around your property.  At the front of your property look to have a light that automatically comes on at dusk and switches of at dawn.  Energy efficient LED bulbs are the most energy efficient and they give off a good white light.  At the side and rear of your property you can install a switched light (one you switch off and on as you need it) or one that is automatically activated by heat or a motion sensor, commonly referred to as ‘PIR lights’.  You can find lots of examples on-line or in any local DIY store.  Just a wee note of caution, when doing any alterations or additions, think about light pollution and is this going to impact on my neighbours? Gravel driveways or pathways can be attractive and help you hear the noise of approaching footsteps. Energy efficient dusk to dawn external lighting at the front and rear of your property will provide added security, as thieves do not like to be seen. It is important for buildings of all types to be physically secure to deter criminal activity and reduce crime, and this includes sheds and outbuildings. People often pay less attention to garages, sheds and other outbuildings, however these are vulnerable as they are generally not very secure and also contain expensive equipment and tools with which a burglar can use to assist them to gain entry into a home. You should therefore ensure that all external outbuilding doors are of solid construction with suitable locks or a close shackle padlock and lock bar fitted to it. Consider fitting non-returnable screws or coach bolts to the hinges.  There are external containers available which are designed for the secure storage of mopeds, scooters, motorcycles or bicycles and other property which have attained Police Preferred Specification. Locks should be fitted to all outbuilding windows and ideally a shed should have no windows. Garage doors can be vulnerable and you can make them more secure by installing additional security, such as padlocks, to provide multiple locking points or using floor-mounted locking T-bars. If you have a door connecting the garage to the house make sure this has the same level of security as your front door, with locks that meet BS 3621, or fitting a door that has achieved Police Preferred Specification. Whilst it’s great to get the right lock, if the door is worn out or badly maintained then you should be replacing the entire doorset.  Do not forget that ladders and tools left outside can be used to assist burglars to break into your home.  Ensure they are well secured, or alternatively stored in a garage or shed. We advise that doorsets – door, frame, locks, fittings and glazing – which allow direct access to your home achieve our high security standard, Police Preferred Specification. Easily accessible windows, including easily accessible roof lights and roof windows, should also meet Police Preferred Specification standards. Both door and window frames must be securely fixed to the building fabric in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and specifications. If you have decided your property would benefit from an alarm system, you should ensure that you use a reputable alarm company. To obtain information on reputable companies who supply and install security systems in your area, I recommend you contact the following Independent Inspectorate Bodies who will be able to supply you with these details - the National Security Inspectorate (NSI) or the Security Systems & Alarm Inspection Board (SSAIB). Both Inspectorates have search functions on their websites to help you find an appropriate installer and having an alarm system certified by one of the accredited independent Inspectorate Bodies will ensure you have a reliable and well maintained system that meets relevant British and European standards and which could result in lower insurance premiums. When having an alarm fitted, check that the installer is a Secured by Design accredited installer – Secured by Design alarm standard will ensure a high quality alarm system and give you enhanced levels of reassurance that the alarm installation company meets the exacting standards of the Police Service. Good-quality doors, windows and locks are excellent deterrents, but there’s even more you can do to stop burglars in their tracks. Make your valuables less attractive to thieves by using a property or police recognised forensic marking solution – this includes for valuable tools and bikes that are stored in outbuildings and garages. Lastly, you can have the best security in the world but don’t forget, keep your doors and windows locked! Now throughout this blog I have made reference to Police Preferred Specification.  Here at Secured by Design we work with manufacturers, the construction industry and standards authorities to ensure that security standards are current and updated to keep pace with emerging crime trends. Our Police Preferred Specification product based accreditation scheme has been operating for over 20 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 security products can attain police recognition. There are currently many hundreds of companies producing thousands of attack resistant crime prevention products which have achieved Police Preferred Specification. Academic research has shown repeatedly over the last 20 years that these accredited, quality products have reduced burglary where they have been installed. You should therefore look for the Secured by Design logo on products or ask your supplier if they are Secured by Design. This website lists all products that have achieved the rigorous Police Preferred Specification standard. There is also has a dedicated page which explains the different security standards for all manner of products.