From the Editor
To improve is to change ?
Last Sunday , I ate my evening meal , tidied up , locked all the doors and went upstairs . After the evening routine , I settled down to find something decent to watch on television and get into bed . It was 6pm . Since the streets were quiet , the light was fading and there was a distinct chill in the air , I ’ d wrongly assumed it was time for bed , without even checking the time .
» THIS TAUGHT ME TWO THINGS . SUMMER IS MOST definitely over . I need to start doing more with my weekends . Reading through the last issue ’ s introduction , I wrote about summer security and the importance of protecting our property from fair-weather thieves . As the seasons change , the threat doesn ’ t diminish . In fact , it ’ s no coincidence that October marks National Home Security Month . Add to that a cost-of-living crisis and burglars seem to have even more reason to get their hands on our belongings , even if the heating might be off when they break in .
Much has changed since the last issue of The Locksmith Journal , and I don ’ t just mean the weather . In the last two months , we have seen a new Prime Minister move into Downing Street and a new monarch begin his duties . No matter your opinion on either , the ceremonial aspect of both – especially the latter – always reminds me of locksmithing in a strange way . Our industry is steeped in tradition , and when I read the History & Heritage section of each magazine , I ’ m always fascinated at how much locks have evolved but also at how its core values have never really changed .
As Brian Morland writes in this very issue : “ It seems to be a basic human condition to protect and secure , not only from the elements but also from our fellow man . It also seems that it ’ s a human trait to err and including , for some , to steal from others . So man , very early on , devised a mechanical device to try and modify his fellow man ’ s behaviour – the lock .”
And , when it comes to security ( more so than fire safety for example , which is much more often accidental ) I rarely actually consider the fact that most of the products and services in our magazine are designed and developed as a reaction to an act of crime . That is to say , it is a strange thought to think that without the criminals , we wouldn ’ t have the need for locks and keys at all . I ’ m in no way suggesting we should thank them , please understand .
See you next time , Gemma
POLICE CPI SUPPORTS NATIONAL HOME SECURITY MONTH 2022
» POLICE CPI IS DELIGHTED to once again be supporting National Home Security Month 2022 ( NHSM ), the annual campaign from leading UK security specialist , Yale .
Taking place every October , and with a decade of protecting homes under its belt , the objective of NHSM is to raise awareness of home security and coincides with the start of the autumn when the nights start to draw in and the clocks go back an hour .
Earlier this year , Yale commissioned a national survey to understand the perceptions of home security and see how UK homeowners prioritise the protection of their property .
Whilst those surveyed have their own tactics to secure their homes , such as keeping a light on when they go out ( 52 %) and leaving on a TV or radio ( 28 %)*, it was revealed that two thirds haven ’ t upgraded their home security in the last two years . These worrying statistics not only show the weak protection methods homeowners put in place when leaving their property unattended , but also highlight the lack of prioritisation of home security in general .
According to Yale ’ s recent research , in 23 % of cases , burglars gained access through the front door , highlighting just how important the protection of this area of the home is to homeowners . The survey showed that only 1 in 10 people change the locks when they move house , a particularly vulnerable time for opportunists operating in the area . Further to this , only 27 % of respondents knew what type of lock they need to prevent lock snapping , the act of breaking the cylinder of a lock , suggesting the need for more education on the subject .
Alongside this , the statistics have revealed that only 20 % of people have invested in security cameras and only 18 % utilise the many benefits of an alarm system , highlighting the general lack of outdoor security measures used by UK homeowners .
The extensive Police CPI portfolio covers a variety of crime prevention initiatives , of which Secured by Design is the most well-known , with all initiatives designed to keep the public safe from crime and to reduce the demand on the police service .
www . securedbydesign . com www . homesecuritymonth . com
* A poll of 2000 UK Adults ( Nationally Representative ) run by OnePoll , commissioned by Yale UK , 2022
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SEP / OCT 2022
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