A new affordable homes development in Fife has been awarded a gold certificate in the Secure By Design Award.

The Police Scotland 'Secured by Design' (SBD) scheme brings together police, landowners, housing associations, local councils, architects and developers in a holistic, multi-faceted approach. This includes establishing a set of standards for securing individual properties (e.g. installing security features, tested and approved windows, doors and locks); considering safety and security at the planning stage of new developments; and looking at ways to improve the environment of existing ones.

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Welcoming the gold certificate, Councillor Judy Hamilton, Convener of Fife Council's Community and Housing Services Committee said: "The 'Secure-by-Design' gold award is a tremendous commendation from Police Scotland that emphasises the safety band security of the overall design and build. I'm delighted that the development has met the highest standard for certification which means our tenants can feel safe and secure in their homes and the surrounding environment."

PC Laird from Police Scotland who presented the award added: "Here at the Ferguson Place Development in Burntisland, early consultation with the local Police has ensured that the principles of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design have been coupled with the Police Preferred Specification Products of higher standard windows and doors to achieve Police Secured by Design Status. Occupants of the development are over 85% less likely to experience any type of criminality at the development than on a non-SBD development."

(MH/JG)