Crime reduction 

Doors, locks and windows

Please consider the business crime prevention advice below to make sure that your doors, locks and windows are secure.

Doors

• Security doors must meet Product Assessment Specification (PAS) 024.
• Doors should be level with the building line, with no recesses. They should fit their frame well enough to prevent them being forced open with jemmies or crowbars.
• Frames should be as strong and as securely fixed as the door itself.
• Wooden doors should be at least 44 millimetres thick.
• Take care when using materials such as aluminium and UPVC - they can be less strong and durable.
• Protect external hinges and make hinge pins non-removable.
• Any door glazing should be laminated glass. This prevents accidents and makes it more difficult to break the glass.
• Fit external doors and security doors with a closer. This should always be on the inside face of the door.
• On letterboxes, use letter cages. If your risk assessment indicates any possibility of arson or mail-borne threats such as letter bombs, you must consider using fire-suppressing and blast-containing letterboxes.
• Install spy-hole viewers in service doors, where appropriate. These are cheap and easy to install. They will help you to make sure that you know who visitors are before you let them in.