SBD member company recognised for their youth safety work

The Youth and Community Centre Safety Scheme is a blue light collaboration between the Metropolitan Police Service, London Fire Brigade, London Ambulance Service and Secured by Design (SBD) which has been creating safer places for staff and members of the community to enjoy educational, diversionary and community-based activities. 

Neil Johns, Managing Director at Premier Security and Fire Consultants, was thanked by the Met for going “above and beyond to forge relationships and collaborate with communities and other Blue Light Services to deliver this innovative project on time and in budget.” Neil’s work, commitment and passion for the Youth and Community Centre Safety Scheme, which has resulted in safer places for communities and young people to use, safer places for staff to work and sustainability of this vital community resource, was also highlighted. 

Neil Johns said: “To see this scheme develop from concept to reality has been truly amazing and to know that Premier’s designs and security systems have been embraced by the Youth and Community Centre Safety Scheme is incredibly rewarding and pleasing for us. Working alongside the Designing Out Crime Officers has been an education and I believe we have all benefited from the collaboration.” 

Lyn Poole, Secured by Design, said: “I have had the privilege to be part of a working group with a team of committed and professional people from the London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade, spearheaded by the dedicated Designing Out Crime Team at the Metropolitan Police. This scheme is just one of the many additional projects these four Met Police teams undertake on top of their everyday role. 

“SBD member companies such Premier Security and Fire Consultants, spearheaded by Neil Johns, have been chosen to work on the project as they are able to provide doors, glazing, access control systems and bespoke panels which are perfect for the premises concerned. They will keep everyone safe, reduce the fear of crime, and will deter offenders from choosing the locations to commit violent crimes.

“I have worked with Neil for a number of years and he is always innovating and thinking of ways to ensure that his products remain at the forefront when it comes to safety.

“I hope other large towns and cities across the UK take note of the Youth and Community Centre Safety Scheme and look to adopt it too.” 

The Youth and Community Centre Safety Scheme was the brainchild of Metropolitan Police Service DOCO James Smith and came about after the tragic murder of a young man in 2019 who was chased into a youth centre and stabbed. Physical security upgrades were subsequently installed at the youth centre by an SBD member company using tested and accredited security rated products which had achieved the Police Preferred Specification standard. 

In March 2020, James and his Designing Out Crime Officer colleagues worked to secure funding from the Home Office to build on the successful intervention at the youth centre and replicate it at other youth clubs across London. The scheme is now in its third year, with ongoing funding being provided by the Mayor of London’s Office and to date twenty-six venues across the capital have benefitted from fully funded security upgrades, improving the safety for staff and users. 

James Smith said: “The Youth and Community Centre Safety Scheme is about finding elegant solutions to problems, it is not about turning places into fortresses, we want places to feel welcoming to young people. 

“This scheme has flourished because there is an excellent partnership in place here, a partnership that is leading to real safety at the venues involved. We would be delighted to see this scheme extended across the UK given its success in London.” 

You can find out more about the Youth and Community Centre Safety Scheme here.

Premier Security and Fire Consultants Managing Director Neil Johns founded the company in 2008 and has helped build an organisation now recognised as one of the UK’s leading suppliers of security systems, boasting a portfolio of LPCB-certificated security doors, windows, screens and gates, including fire-rated and thermally-broken options. 

You can find out more about Premier Security and Fire Consultants and their extensive range of SBD accredited products here and here.