Knowing that a product is fit for purpose is critical and SBD can help with this. SBD operates an accreditation scheme on behalf of the UK Police Service for products or services that have met recognised security standards. The SBD focus is on the critical factors that combine to deliver a product’s performance - design, use, quality control and the ability to deter or prevent crime – and these products or services are known as being of a ‘Police Preferred Specification’.
Police Preferred Specification ensures that products have been independently tested to a relevant security standard and fully certified by an independent third-party, United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) certification body, or tested and certified by an approved body such as Sold Secure or Thatcham.
In addition, Police Preferred Specification requires regular re-testing and annual inspection of the manufacturing facility to ensure quality and performance are maintained (by a UKAS body). This provides assurance that products have been produced under a controlled manufacturing environment in accordance with the specifier’s aims and minimises misrepresentation of the products by unscrupulous manufacturers/suppliers.
Better quality means these products last longer too, making them more cost effective and leading to greater sustainability in crime prevention.
Much research has been undertaken to look at the effectiveness of doors and windows which have achieved SBD’s Police Preferred Specification. A study of 1520 properties on two Nottingham City Homes estates that had SBD windows installed found that, compared to pre-installation, burglary was reduced by 42% compared to a city wide reduction of 21%.
There was a 58% reduction in burglary two years after the windows were installed, despite a slight rise in burglaries to properties on the same estates where the windows had not been installed. The proportion of burglaries with windows as a means of entry was halved from 30% to 15%, and a higher proportion of attempted burglaries where no entry was gained were reported in properties fitted with windows and doors compared to non-SBD properties.
If you are replacing a broken or defective lock, or looking to improve the security of existing windows, a Locksmith registered with the Master Locksmiths Association can specify the best & most secure lock to use for your type of window.
