Secured by Design ( SBD ), the police initiative to guide and encourage those engaged within the specification , design and build of new homes , and those undertaking major or minor property refurbishment , to adopt measures to reduce the opportunity for crime , celebrates its 35th anniversary in 2024 .

Part of the Police Crime Prevention Initiatives portfolio , SBD was created in 1989 following the housing boom of the 1960s-1980s when there was a huge and urgent demand for housing , with estates being built quickly and often cheaply without any basic security . This resulted in a significant rise in burglary , and it was clear that criminals were taking easy advantage of residential layouts that failed to provide adequate natural surveillance , were highly permeable , where anonymity was absolute and escape routes plentiful . Add to this scenario the lack of effective physical security standards associated with homes at the time , it was of no surprise that by 1996 UK burglary figures peaked at 1.8 million offences a year .

It was obvious that something

needed to be done to reduce burglary and encourage the adoption of improved standards of design , layout and security and in response , the Police Service set up SBD .

Initially only the police forces of Kent , Sussex and Surrey in the southeast of England utilisedthe design criteria being offered by the scheme . However , due to the positive results of early evaluations , by 1992 , all 53 police forces throughout the UK ( including Scotland , Northern Ireland and Wales ) had adopted it and assigned staff to operate and manage it . These individuals were referred to as an Architectural Liaison Officer ( ALO ) or Crime Prevention Design Advisor ( CPDA ), now more commonly referred to as Designing Out Crime Officers ( DOCOs ).

SBD works closely with architects , builders , developers , local authorities and registered housing associations to incorporate police crime prevention standards into developments from initial concept and design , through to construction and completion . Police forces throughout the UK have specially trained Designing Out Crime Officers ( DOCOs ) who

offer police designing out crime and SBD advice free of charge .

The role of the Designing Out Crime Officer

Liaising with planners , architects , designers , developers and those responsible for the refurbishment of buildings of all types , DOCOs provide ongoing specialist advice 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 .

Over the years the importance of the role of the DOCO has grown exponentially , with the DOCO role now being designated as a specialist role within policing in recognition of the highly specialist knowledge and skills that a DOCO must possess , and the criticality of their role in reducing crime .

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

Improved security

Developers around the UK can achieve SBD awards for incorporating crime prevention measures and techniques into their developments in all kinds of building sectors , such as residential

, education , health , transport , commercial , retail , sport and leisure . Indeed , SBD can be used as evidence to discharge third-party obligations under Part Q of Schedule 1 ( Security ) to the English Building Regulations , the Scottish Building Standard 4.13 ( Security ) and Welsh Building Regulations Part Q ( Security – Dwellings ). These awards are gained by working with the aforementioned DOCOs , who advise architects , developers and local authority planners long before construction begins – and continue to provide advice and guidance until the development is complete .

To date , over one million homes and commercial properties have been built to SBD standards with reductions in crime of up to 87 %. A number of local authorities have even gone so far as to introduce SBD standards as a planning requirement .

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