HOME SECURITY

SURVEYS
A training package for Barnet Neighbourhood Watch
Created by Alun Withers PS 17SX
Developed from a presentation by PC Duncan Harris CPDA ZT

Neighbourhood Watch
Crime Prevention Training
Aim:
To provide Neighbourhood Watch
Co-ordinators with the knowledge to
provide basic crime prevention advice
within their NHW area.

Introduction
This package does Not provide you with any
qualification. It will simply provide you with:
A basic understanding of Crime Prevention
advice in relation to domestic properties.
An awareness of issues to consider when
providing advice and the disclaimer you
should to inform people of.
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The idea of this training is to enable you to

provide advice when asked and to offer
advice to persons within your
Neighbourhood Watch area.
It is recommended that whenever you
provide advice you provide a disclaimer
similar to that on the following slide

Disclaimer
Explain that you do not accept any legal
responsibility for the advice given; it is given
free and without the intention of creating a
contract and is based on the information
supplied by the occupier and current crime
trends in the area.
If someone is not happy with that arrangement
please advise you are unable to help them.
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When providing advice, do so with the occupier

present and at the location in question. This will
help them understand why you are suggesting
specific security measures.
It also allows you to highlight the good aspects of
their existing security
Best Practice would be to make a note of the
advice you provide and why it was given.
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The Occupiers Liability Act

1984
Be aware of this piece of legislation. Under
this Act:
Householders have a responsibility to ensure
the safety of any visitors to their home
(including burglars)

What does that mean?

If any person, not necessarily a burglar,
injures themselves on measures taken to
secure a property, they can sue the
occupier for damages.
This would generally only be in extreme and
unusual circumstances but it is a risk that
needs to be highlighted.

People, therefore, need to carefully consider

what they place on the Boundaries to their
property, especially if it boarders a public right
of way.
Installation of any form of physical anti climb
barrier (Anti climb paint, barbed/razor wire, rotary
spikes etc.)at a height of less than 2m may be
illegal.

It should not be possible for an unsuspecting

innocent party to come into contact with it!
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Points to consider: Security products used to protect your home

should not be hidden (e.g. Plants being
allowed to grow around it)
Well displayed notices drawing attention to
the hazards, while not a complete defence,
helps to show that the occupier has done all
that is possible to prevent injury
This does NOT include injuries from plants.
Old fashioned climbing roses will cover
trellis within one season and have very large
thorns.
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When providing home security advice you

should: advise on methods of home
security
check that there is sufficient
security
advising on what improvements
could be considered

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Reassurance
It is inevitable that by giving home security
advice, you will raise the occupiers fear of crime
even further, thats why it's also important to
highlight the good things about their security.

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Key Messages
Crime prevention advice must be accurate
and appropriate to the situation
It must maximise reassurance and minimise
expense
Specific products should not be
recommended

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Key Principles of Crime Prevention

Target Hardening Make the premises (doors,
windows etc.) more resistent to any attempt to gain entry
Target Removal make sure targets valuable items are not visible from outside the property.
Remove the means Making sure that material capable
of being used to help an offender commit a crime is not
accessible."
Increase the chance of being caught - Anything that
slows down an offender or increases their risk of being
caught."
Reduce the payoff Use a safe to prevent items being
stolen. Use property marking to make it harder to sell
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items on. Register items www.immobilise.com

Principles of Crime Prevention cont.

Visibility / Surveillance - Making sure that offenders
would be visible if they carried out a crime
Three types:
Natural surveillance Removing hedges (Front), changing fence
height, using lighting to increase visibility of the premises

Formal Surveillance CCTV or alarm systems to monitor the

location. Private security guards.

Informal Surveillance Residents and the community being

vigilant A key factor on which NHW is based!
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Onion Peeling Principle

The best way to approach a home security survey is to start from
the outside of the property and work your way to the centre,
treating each area as a layer, until you reach the potential target.
This is known as the 'onion peeling principle'.
Although the layers differ for each property, generally they can be
broken down into the following:

Target
Building
Boundary
Outbuildings

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PLAN
Onion Peeling
Principle
Shed

tree

Garage
Tree

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What opportunities do burglars look for?

High Front Boundary

Low side and rear boundaries
Recessed, insecure side gate
Wheelie bin in front of side gate
Insecure garage door
Insecure shed

Paved driveway and path

No intruder alarm system
No security light
Insecure front door
Open insecure windows
Valuables not protected

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Front, side and rear boundaries

Front boundaries should not exceed 1m in height unless they
are metal railings which allow good vision through
Side and rear boundaries should be a minimum of 1.8m in
height. If it exceeds 2m planning permission will be required
Trellis can be added to the top of side and rear fencing, it is
difficult to climb and provides a framework for plants to grow on
Side and driveway gates should be the same height as side
and rear boundaries and be level with the building line
Metal side and driveway gates allow good natural surveillance
but need careful design to reduce climbing points
Anti climb topping for gates, such as a decorative spearhead
design, will make them difficult to climb
Wooden side and driveway gates should be secured with two
substantial hasps and staples and two closed shackle padlocks
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 Padlocks on side and driveway gates should be placed at the

top and bottom of the gate, on the inside
Barbed wire, carpet gripper or broken glass are not advisable
as these could cause serious injury which the occupier could be
legally responsible for
Use alternative toppings such as plastic strips with pointed
cones, these make it difficult to grip walls and/or fences and will
not cause injury. Signage is sometimes required
Gravel driveways and paths prevent a silent approach
Wheelie bins should be stored behind secure side gates until
collection day, to prevent them being used as a climbing aid

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Reduce the opportunities for

burglary
Low front hedges and gates allow unrestricted views
of house
High side and rear fencing with trellis deters climbing
Secure side gate on the front building line
Safe anti-climb topping on walls and fences
Spiky defensive planting around borders and on
trellis
Wheelie bins should be secured behind closed gate
Hasp and staples with close shackle padlocks to
secure gate
Gravel on paths and driveways
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Garages and Sheds

Metal up-and-over garage doors can be secured with extra
locks fitted either side of the door, 300mm up from the floor to
reduce leverage
An external mounted locking T-bar (garage defender) can be
fitted and will provide a good visual deterrent
Garage double doors can be secured with two substantial
hasps and staples with two closed shackle padlocks
Garage side and rear doors can be secured with TS 5-lever
mortice locks and two internal security bolts
Shed doors can be secured with two substantial hasps and
staples with two closed shackle padlocks on the outside, one at
the top and one at the bottom
Shed door hinges external screws should be replaced with nonreturn clutch head screws to prevent them being removed
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 Garage and shed windows can be secured

with welded mesh/metal grille screwed to the
inside
Garden tools and ladders can be secured
with a metal chain to a eyebolt/U-bolt
secured to the wall or ground
Tools and garden implements should be
visibly property marked (postcode and house
name/number) in order to deter theft

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Intruder alarms
Alarms are probably one of the best deterrents
available as burglars do not want to be seen or
heard
An alarm company should be affiliated to an
inspectorate body
DIY systems are available but not eligible for
police response
External active alarm boxes with sounders and
flashing lights are required at the front and rear of
premises visible deterrent
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If a police response to an alarm is required it must

be installed and maintained by a company that
conforms to the Association of Chief Police Officers
(ACPO) security systems policy and whos business
is subject to inspection by an independent body
accredited by UKAS.
Currently only two such organisations are accepted by the police:

The National Security Inspectorate

The Security Systems and Alarm
Inspection Board (SSAIB)
Approved installers available on respective websites
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Patio Doors and Windows

Patio doors should have a minimum of three locking
points, with an anti-lift device to prevent them being
lifted from the runners
All ground floor windows and any that are easily
accessible must have key-operated locks fitted
unless they are being used as fire escape
Externally beaded windows should be secured with
security clips, security tape or sealant
Window handles should be multi-locking, with shoot
bolts into the frame, if not, surface mounted key
operated window locks should be fitted
Louvre windows should be secured (glued in place)
to prevent removal or replaced with a solid glass
panel
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All vulnerable
and accessible
windows should
be fitted with
suitable key
operated locks

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