Fastline Steel Services host DOCO awareness day

Fastline Steel Services held the event for officers from North Wales Fire & Rescue, North Wales Police, Staffordshire Police, West Yorkshire Police, Lancashire Police, Cheshire Police and Merseyside Police.

The DOCOs were welcomed by Fastline Group Business Developer Maj Gluchowski, followed by presentations from Chris Hunt at the Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB) - who provide certification against the Loss Prevention Standards, confirming that a product performs to fire safety and security specifications - and Alberto Banzola from DEA Security. A roundtable discussion around the current challenges on perimeter security concluded the day.

Hazel Goss, Secured by Design, said: “I wish to thank Fastline Steel Services for this excellent event, which was enjoyed by all who attended. It is always fantastic to understand both products and access the latest solutions and strategies for heightened security.”

Maj Gluchowski, Fastline Steel Services, said: “Fastline work across various industries and sectors and whilst we are a market leader, we believe in the importance of continuous personal and professional development. Events like this are not only valuable for attendees but for everyone involved. Close collaboration between Fastline and Secured by Design ensures that end clients have access to the best solutions for their security needs. On behalf of Fastline I would like to sincerely thank everyone that has been involved in the event and to everyone that attended.” 

Fastline Steel Services UK 

Fastline Steel Services manufacture steel perimeter security systems, including steel palisade, mesh systems, bespoke systems and all associated gate sets to suit.  The company are involved with high level security systems testing and continually developing their products and services to ensure that they remain at the very pinnacle of their industry.

Supplying hundreds of kilometres of steel perimeter systems each year ranging from multi use games areas (MUGA’s) to Ministry of Defence installations, any output/ demand can be met.  One of Fastline’s largest ongoing contracts is meeting regular and substantial orders for the National Rail infrastructure, predominantly for Network Rail, and where the company have continuously exceeded all expectation for the past 6 years.

With over 250 years combined experience, numerous offices/ factories and their own fleet of vehicles, the company place customer service and satisfaction as their highest priority.

Operating from their manufacturing facility in Wolverhampton, Fastline Steel Services have their Head Office in the same location and three other regional offices, ensuring good National coverage and supplying products to the UK and international market, with projects ranging from £50 to £5,000,000.

You can find out more about Fastline Steel Services and their range of SBD accredited gates and fencing systems here. 

Designing Out Crime Officers, specialists within policing

The UK Police Service has a number of highly specialised staff called Designing Out Crime Officers (DOCOs) whose role is to provide specialist security advice and guidance as it pertains to the built environment at every stage of the design process, from pre-planning to the full development control, in order to minimise the potential for crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour.

Liaising with architects, designers and developers, DOCOs provide ongoing specialist advice on the security of new buildings and the refurbishment of existing buildings to enable building designs to be as safe and secure as is reasonably possible, promoting an awareness of the principles of crime prevention through design to both build awareness of, and ensure the adoption of, recommended security standards and specifications. This advice is provided free of charge.

The DOCO role is referenced within planning policy for England, Scotland and Wales, adding significant weight to their involvement in issues of design and both the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and National Planning Practice Guidance (NPPG) promote creating safe and sustainable communities, encouraging pre-application discussion between planners and DOCOs, and also involving architects, developers and key stakeholders.

DOCOs engage with the rest of the policing family to ensure that a security solution is provided for the whole building and its surrounding environment. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is in place between Counter Terrorism Security Advisers (CTSAs) and DOCOs to support this measure and ensure they work together effectively to provide formal responses to relevant planning applications.

DOCOs are recommended as a source of assistance by the National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) due to their comprehensive, specialist training.

Reference was made to the crucial role of the DOCO in protecting women’s safety through their work providing specialist security advice in a parliamentary debate around planning and women’s safety.

Over the years the importance of the role of the DOCO has grown exponentially, with the DOCO role having been designated as a specialist role within policing by the National Police Chiefs’ Council a number of years ago in recognition of the highly specialist knowledge and skills that a DOCO must possess, and the criticality of their role in reducing crime and victimisation.