Secured by Design issues Commercial Guide 2023

In essence, the Secured by Design Commercial Guide 2023 provides design guidance and specification requirements for commercial premises in a bid to reduce the risks of crime – such as acts of burglary, theft, arson, assault and vehicle crime – perpetrated against the person or property.

The scope of the document ranges from new schemes through to refurbishments of existing buildings and encapsulates both commercial developments where members of the public have no formal access (eg a factory or an office building) and those where public access is integral to commercial use. Such locations would include retail premises, leisure centres, warehouses and public service buildings. Such developments may range in size from a single unit with a defined use to a group of buildings with multiple uses.

The Secured by Design Commercial Guide 2023 is said to be the most comprehensive publication of its type to date. It features contributions from a wide range of individuals, among them police designing out crime officers, members of the Fire and Rescue Service, trade and industry experts, access control professionals, local authority and building control practitioners and professors in the academic arena.

Practical level of risk

Michael Brooke, deputy chief operating officer at Police Crime Prevention Initiatives, observed: “The Secured by Design Commercial Guide outlines a practical level of risk and sustainable security measures which are compatible and sympathetic to successful business. The majority of crimes committed on commercial premises are related to property as modern business uses an array of desirable and easily transportable goods with a ready market. Plant, raw materials, laptops and many other valuable assets are included here.”

Brooke continued: “Among other crime types to be considered when designing commercial properties are vandalism, graffiti, robbery, assaults on staff members and cyber crime. Included in the latter will be the Internet of Things, which is covered in the Cyber Crime and the Internet of Things section.”

Further, Brooke noted: “It’s our intention to continually update this guide as a result of further consultations with partners, signalling new iterations of standards and improved styles of applying designing out crime methods such that communities will be protected from crime for years to come.”

Brooke concluded: “It’s vital that the benefits of a new Secured by Design commercial development are complemented with a clear management and maintenance programme together with a business continuity and resilience plan, which will further promote a safe working environment.”

*The Secured by Design Commercial Guide 2023 is applicable to all Secured by Design applications made after 1 August 2023

**View/download PDF copies of the Secured by Design Commercial Guide 2023 for free here

***Further information concerning risk management in both new and existing commercial buildings can be obtained from the Secured by Design partner initiative ‘Secured Environments’ at www.securedenvironments.com