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Primary school development receives award for achieving Secured by Design crime prevention standards

A primary school development in Kilmarnock, Scotland, which brings together two schools on a new site, has been recognised for achieving high standards of security in its layout and landscaping as well as its physical security.

Secured by Design (SBD) trained Designing Out Crime Officers worked with architects Keppie Design (Glasgow), and Morrison Construction, a leading Scottish contractor, from the initial planning stage through to final construction to incorporate many proven crime prevention techniques into the £12.4million Whatriggs Primary School campus.

The design and construction teams met frequently to discuss the layout of the school grounds and its buildings to maximise natural surveillance as well as perimeter defence and the use of lighting and CCTV to ensure optimum security, whilst making sure the building remained a welcoming and attractive place for pupils and teachers.

The physical security of the building was achieved through the use of windows and doors from companies that have met SBD’s Police Preferred Specification standard. This recognises that they are sufficiently robust to resist physical attack from opportunistic burglars. SBD is the only way for companies to obtain police accreditation in the UK.

Morrison Construction appointed SBD member companies Metal Technology Limited, of County Antrim, and CMS Window Systems, of Castlecary, Cumbernauld, to manufacture the doors and windows used throughout the school.

Keppie, Morrison and the school were all presented with a certificate to recognise that the high standards of security recommended by SBD had been achieved.

Stuart Ward, National Designing Out Crime Manager of Police Scotland, said: “This new school campus is an attractive and safe place for pupils, their parents and staff and shows what can be achieved when different organisations come together to design out crime.”

Whatriggs, which brings together the former Bellfield and Kirkstyle primary schools, and includes an Early Education Centre, opened its doors for the first time at the start of the Autumn term.

Secured by Design
Secured by Design (SBD) is the national police crime prevention initiative. Our aim is to achieve sustainable reductions in crime through design and other approaches to enable people to live in a safer society.
Tel: 0203 8623 999
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Video: https://youtu.be/jZ7oeAQcHmc

Whatriggs PS SBD Presentation Nov 17 1024x683

Presentation from left: Chief Inspector John Cairns; Head Teacher Diane MacKinnon; David Wright, of Morrison Construction; Ayrshire Designing Out Crime Officer PC Jamie Dunlop; and East Ayrshire Council’s architect John Thomson.