From the Editor
IT ’ S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOCK LIKE CHRISTMAS
The Christmas lights may not be on for as long this year and the cards and presents may be a bit late for some , but love it or loathe it , ‘ tis the festive season once again .
» FOR LOCKSMITHS AND AUTO LOCKSMITHS , THE ‘ holiday ’ ( I use this term loosely for those on-call ) period can see us getting people into more doors than your standard advent calendar , when it comes to people losing keys during shopping frenzies , grown children returning home for the holidays ( with no spare key in sight ) and locking ourselves out chasing delivery drivers down the road .
Sadly , all the above ‘ joys ’ that come at this time of year can be mitigated with opportunist thieves and burglars setting their sights on more than just our Christmas decorations ; also eyeing up vacant commercial properties . Glad tidings we bring as they take everything else .
So what ’ s on The Locksmith Journal Christmas list this year ? If this issue of the magazine is anything to go by ; it ’ s as varied as a selection box . From decades of experience , to training programs for beginners and experts , to adding new skills and sales opportunities to your repertoire ; the news pages for this edition are filled with features that showcase the past , present and future of our industry .
If hints and tips are more your bag ( or Santa sack ), you won ’ t be disappointed either , we have the latest and greatest legislation and regulation guidance , a brand new lock ID service to help you identify locks on-site and under pressure , plus the truth on key copying protection from the masters of security .
What products would you like to see under your proverbial tree ? We ’ ve got the pick of locking picking machines , all the key trends of keys , plus padlocks and post boxes , handles and hinges . Extra special features in this magazine include Commercial Security , Safety & Hardware , Safes & Safe Locks plus The Auto Locksmith supplement ; just like the December Radio Times , we have something for everyone ( but a lot less repeats ).
Who doesn ’ t love an annual at Christmas ? Don ’ t forget you can see all our past editions on www . locksmithjournal . co . uk alongside the latest news . All that ’ s left to say is a very Merry Christmas to all our readers , your families and customers , and a happy , healthy and prosperous 2023 .
See you next year , Gemma
Wheat Quarter receives SBD Gold Award
» WHEAT QUARTER PHASE 1 in Welywn Garden City has been presented with a Secured by Design ( SBD ) Gold Award from Hertfordshire Constabulary ’ s Chief Constable , Charlie Hall and Police CPI ’ s CEO Guy Ferguson .
The development , which is under construction at the iconic former Shredded Wheat factory site on Broadwater Road , has won praise from the force thanks to the innovative planning which went into the site from the start . Higgins Partnerships has worked with local police Designing Out Crime Officers to ensure the eventual residents will live in a super secure environment , where crime had been designed out .
The historic site was originally built in the 1920s , after being commissioned by Welwyn Garden City planner Ebenezer Howard ( for whom the Howard Centre is named ). The factory finally closed its doors in 2008 after 73 years of use and remained unused until it was given planning permission in 2009 . Building began in 2014 , when more than 200 flats were constructed at the site in consultation with police crime prevention officers , all to SBD standards .
Security features at the development will include each resident having an access fob , which grants entry into the flat blocks , garage areas and even controls the lifts so that each resident can only access the floor they live on .
The most important part of the construction was that every door , window , lock or camera is a product that has had independent testing to prove it is fit-for-purpose .
Since the first residents moved in , the area has been almost completely crime free , with burglaries etc . much lower than in other areas of the town . The next phase of the development is now almost complete with another 208 flats completed , also built to the same SBD blueprint .
Chief Constable of Hertfordshire Constabulary , Charlie Hall , said : “ In Hertfordshire we have moved to a Prevention First policing approach , to give ourselves a better chance of preventing crime , rather than having to pick up the pieces after an incident has happened . At the heart of this is working together to reduce demand , and the planning of this development strikes at the very core of this principle .”
www . securedbydesign . com
4
NOV / DEC 2022
locksmithjournal . co . uk Issue Takeover
Magazine Sponsor