Secured by Design (SBD) has launched the SBD Commercial 2023 Design Guide, tailored to help public premises reduce the risk of crime
The latest in its series of new/updated design guides, for the first time the SBD Commercial Guide 2023 is divided into Gold, Silver and Bronze award gradations.
SBD Commercial provides design guidance and specification requirements for commercial premises so as to reduce the risks of crimes against the person or property such as burglary, theft, arson, vehicle crime and assault.
The scope of the document ranges from new schemes to refurbishments of existing buildings and encapsulates both commercial developments where the public have no formal access, as in a factory or an office building, and those where public access is integral to the commercial use, such as in 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 updated design guide benefits from industry insights
SBD Commercial 2023 is the most comprehensive publication of its type to date, being written with contributions from a wide range of individuals from differing backgrounds, including the Police Designing Out Crime Officers, the Fire and Rescue Service, trade and industry experts, access control professionals, local authority and building control professionals, together with professors of academia.
Michael Brooke, deputy chief operating officer at Police Crime Prevention Initiatives, said: “SBD Commercial provides 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 property-related because modern business uses an array of desirable and easily transportable goods with a ready market such as plant, raw materials, laptops and many other valuable assets.
“Among other crime types to be considered when designing commercial properties are vandalism, graffiti, robbery, assaults on staff members and cybercrime, including the Internet of Things, which is covered in the Cybercrime and the Internet of Things section of the guide.
The SBD Commercial Guide 2023 should be part of a comprehensive management plan
“It is 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 in order that communities will be protected from crime for years to come.
“It is 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. More information about risk management in both new and existing commercial buildings can be obtained from the SBD partner initiative Secured Environments at: www.securedenvironments.com.”
This iteration of Secured by Design Commercial is applicable to all SBD applications made after 1 August 2023.
You can view and download SBD Commercial 2023 for free.
SBD Development Awards
Secured by Design is owned by the UK Police Service with the specific aim of reducing crime and helping people live more safely.
SBD works closely with builders, developers, local authorities and registered housing associations to incorporate its 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.
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.
These awards are gained by working with SBD’s specially trained police Designing Out Crime Officers (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. This service is provided free of charge.
The Commercial SBD Design Guide is part of an extensive range
SBD Commercial 2023 is part of a series of authoritative Design Guides produced by SBD to assist the building, design and construction industry incorporate security into developments to comply with the Building Regulations in England, Scotland and Wales and meet the requirements of SBD.
These Design Guides have been updated over the years to keep pace with changing patterns of criminal behaviour and advances in building design and new technology.
They are a valuable source of reference to architects, developers, self-builders, local authority planners and police officers and cover a range of building sectors, including residential, education, health, transport and commercial.
All SBD Design Guides are available for download for free here.
Should you wish to contribute to any of the SBD Design Guides, please contact Secured by Design by email at sbdconsultations@police-cpi.co.uk.
Architects & town planners
Architects and Town Planners can request a professional development session on crime prevention and designing out crime from SBD.
This RIBA-accredited online course provides architects and planners with an introduction to the Secured by Design (SBD) initiative.
The completion of this course attracts three CPD points for architects from RIBA and achieving this CPD course will provide a better understanding about the benefits of SBD and contribute to an effective working relationship with the local police Designing Out Crime Officer (DOCO).
Julian Hurst
Press, Public Relations & Social Media Manager
Police Crime Prevention Initiatives
Tel: +44 203 8623 999
