2N, the global market leader in internet-enabled intercoms and access control systems, has announced that all of its intercoms and access unit readers have become Secured by Design (SBD) accredited.
SBD is the flagship UK police initiative to help ‘design out’ crime through the use of high-quality, innovative products and processes. In order to achieve SBD status, 2N’s intercoms and access unit readers (the 2N® Access Unit 2.0 and the 2N® Access Unit M), had to adhere to rigorous test standards required by the police which assessed their resistance to forced entry. When installed along with the 2N Security Relay, all of these products now have the right to carry the SBD logo.
The announcement comes on the back of the Office for National Statistics publishing crime figures for England and Wales for the year up to June 2022. The data was encouraging when it came to burglary – rates were down 28% compared with the year leading up to the start of the pandemic – but warned against complacency, concluding that it was “too early to say whether these decreases represent a change in long-term trends”.
SBD standards have a tangible impact in terms of protecting against crime. In West Yorkshire, for example, research demonstrated that newly-built developments built to SBD standards were up to 75% less likely to be burgled. In Glasgow, a separate study concluded that refurbished developments employing SBD principles were up to 63% less likely to experience crime.
2N showcased its newly-certified products at the London Build 2022 Expo, the UK’s leading construction show, which took place in Olympia London on 16-17 November.
Michael Nicholson, 2N’s Business Development Manager for the UK & Ireland, said: “We are very proud that our intercoms and access unit readers are now SBD accredited. Our products are being incorporated into more and more big projects in the UK – Sópers House, just outside London, and Burlington House in central Manchester are recent examples – and SBD certification is being requested more and more often, both in commercial and residential buildings. It’s an objective guarantee that our products meet the highest security standards, and it will be a big advantage as we continue to grow our business in the UK.”
Lyn Poole, Development Officer at Police Crime Prevention Initiative Secured by Design, said: “Access control in residential or commercial buildings needs to be fit for purpose and the fact that 2N’s products have been independently tested and certified within doorsets to police-recognised standards will help their customers feel more confident about their safety within their building when these products are installed.”
Secured by Design (SBD) is the official police security initiative that is owned by the UK Police Service with the specific aim to reduce crime and help people live more safely.
SBD seek to improve the physical security of buildings and the surrounding area using products such as doors, windows, locks and walling systems, along with fencing systems, that meet the SBD Police Preferred Specification security requirements.
In addition, SBD work closely with builders, developers, local authorities and registered housing associations to incorporate the 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. Over one million homes have been built to SBD standards with reductions in crime of up to 87%.
SBD have many partner organisations, ranging from the Home Office, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities through to local authorities, housing associations, developers and manufacturers and work closely with standards and certification bodies.
SBD developed a product based accreditation scheme over 20 years ago – the Police Preferred Specification, which provides a recognised standard for all security products that can deter and reduce crime. SBD work with manufacturers and standards authorities to ensure that security standards are current and updated to keep pace with emerging crime trends.
There are currently many hundreds of companies producing thousands of attack resistant crime prevention products, across over 30 different crime categories, which have achieved Police Preferred Specification.
SBD is the only way for companies to obtain police recognition for security-related products in the UK.