Police Preferred Specification
Police Preferred Specification is a Secured by Design (SBD) accreditation scheme run on behalf of the UK police for products or services that have met recognised security standards. Such products or services must be capable of deterring or preventing crime and are known as being of a ‘Police Preferred Specification’.
The Police Preferred Specification ensures that products have been:
- Independently tested to a relevant security standard
- Fully certified by an independent third-party, United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) certification body
Or
- Tested and certified by an approved body such as Sold Secure or Thatcham
Police Preferred Specification requires:
- Regular re-testing
- Annual inspection of the manufacturing facility to ensure quality and performance are maintained (by a UKAS body)
Secured by Design (SBD) does not undertake testing itself, but issues a full list of UKAS bodies that do, which can be found under the Testing and Certification section of the Secured by Design webpage.
There are a wide range of security standards available worldwide, from a variety of sources and for different products. A comparison of the standards with different risk levels, has been published in the form of different guides developed in conjunction with the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) and the Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB).
- Standards - Computer Security
- Standards - Security Screens
- Standards - Interpretive Document for BSEN 1627 - 1630
BSI Standards- Security products without the benefit of a suitable public test standard may be accepted having passed the BSI evaluation based on research by a technical authority acceptable to Secured by Design e.g. Forensic services, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory or Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre and Thatcham.
Sold Secure is administered by the Master Locksmiths Association. Approval is classified into 3 main categories; Bronze, Silver & Gold (with an addition of Diamond for certain product types). The categories reflect the amount of time allocated per test and the type of tools used. This can vary depending on what test is specified. The higher the grading (Bronze is the lowest) the higher the security provided by the product. They offer a range of specifications, including SS101 Motorcycles, SS102 Motor Vehicle, SS104 Pedal Cycles, SS105 Ground Anchors and SS323 Fences/Gates.
The most commonly used standards in the UK and those most likely to be requested by specifiers and Designing Out Crime Officers (DOCOs) can be found on the Security Standards Explained of the Secured by Design website.
Note that there is increasing synergy between common physical security standards and IoT / cyber security standards, with the emergence of ESTI 303645 & other such cyber security standards to ensure that the product is protected dependent on the risk, against both forms of criminal attack i.e. Burglar or hacker for example (Further information can be found on SBD Secure Connected Devices (SCD)
Secured by Design is owned by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and has the support of the Home Office Crime Reduction and Community Safety Group and other Government Departments. The National Police Chiefs’ Council for England, Wales and Police Scotland endorse and support the Secured by Design programme. For further information visit https://www.securedbydesign.com/
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Access control.
- CCTV.
- Commercial security systems.
- Digital door lock market.
- Entry control.
- Home security solutions market.
- Outbuildings security.
- Perimeter security.
- Proximity access control system.
- Secured by design
- Security and the built environment.
- Security glazing.
- Security rating scheme.
- Secure space.
- Sink estate regeneration plans.
- Suitably qualified security specialist.
- Types of alarm.
- Types of lock.
- Visitor door entry system.
Featured articles and news
OpenUSD possibilities: Look before you leap
Being ready for the OpenUSD solutions set to transform architecture and design.
Global Asbestos Awareness Week 2025
Highlighting the continuing threat to trades persons.
Retrofit of Buildings, a CIOB Technical Publication
Now available in Arabic and Chinese aswell as English.
The context, schemes, standards, roles and relevance of the Building Safety Act.
Retrofit 25 – What's Stopping Us?
Exhibition Opens at The Building Centre.
Types of work to existing buildings
A simple circular economy wiki breakdown with further links.
A threat to the creativity that makes London special.
How can digital twins boost profitability within construction?
The smart construction dashboard, as-built data and site changes forming an accurate digital twin.
Unlocking surplus public defence land and more to speed up the delivery of housing.
The Planning and Infrastructure Bill
An outline of the bill with a mix of reactions on potential impacts from IHBC, CIEEM, CIC, ACE and EIC.
Farnborough College Unveils its Half-house for Sustainable Construction Training.
Spring Statement 2025 with reactions from industry
Confirming previously announced funding, and welfare changes amid adjusted growth forecast.
Scottish Government responds to Grenfell report
As fund for unsafe cladding assessments is launched.
CLC and BSR process map for HRB approvals
One of the initial outputs of their weekly BSR meetings.
Building Safety Levy technical consultation response
Details of the planned levy now due in 2026.
Great British Energy install solar on school and NHS sites
200 schools and 200 NHS sites to get solar systems, as first project of the newly formed government initiative.
600 million for 60,000 more skilled construction workers
Announced by Treasury ahead of the Spring Statement.