Retiring Kingdom Housing Association Group Chief Executive Bill Banks has been recognised by Secured by Design (SBD) for his work around designing out crime in its properties.

Banks joined social landlord Kingdom in 1987 as an admin assistant and held various roles in the business.

Headquartered in Glenrothes, Kingdom works across East Central Scotland, providing housing to meet a wide range of needs including affordable housing and low-cost home ownership.

As well as being a provider of housing, Kingdom also provides a comprehensive support and care service, helping people to live independently in the community.

He was Director of Development & Property Services and Deputy Chief Executive before being appointed as Kingdom’s Group Chief Executive in May 2014.

Stuart Ward, National Designing Out Crime Manager for Police Scotland, said: “I am delighted to present Bill with this well-deserved certificate in recognition of all the work that he has done around Designing Out Crime in Kingdom Housing Association’s properties.

“Bill has long championed Secured by Design for all of the new builds and refurbishments that Kingdom Housing Association have taken on and owned.

“In 2017, Police Scotland found that 3,000 homes built to SBD’s nationally recognised police crime prevention standards in more than 150 Kingdom Housing Association developments in Fife experienced 87% fewer reported crimes compared to properties not similarly designed and protected.

“These results highlight the benefits of building to SBD security standards. Evidence suggests that SBD homes achieve significant reductions in crime and can continue to do so year-on-year. This is especially important as most SBD developments are in social housing in deprived areas.

“I wish Bill all the best in the next chapter in his life”.

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Banks said: “Kingdom has changed enormously since I joined 36 years ago.

“When I started, Kingdom had 16 properties and now owns and manages over 6,500 homes, has 2 subsidiaries, and over 500 staff.

“I’ve really enjoyed my time with Kingdom and I’m particularly proud of the sustainability initiatives we have developed, the quality we have been able to incorporate into our projects, including Secured by Design accreditation standards, the homelessness programmes we pioneered and the trainee programme we have implemented.

“It’s the variety of projects and the wide-ranging positive impacts on our communities that have made the last 36 years so rewarding.

“Kingdom’s first regeneration project to include SBD’s standards of security and crime prevention into new homes and the surrounding environment was in 1997 in Buckhaven, Fife, following relatively high levels of crime and antisocial behaviour in the area.

“We found that this first partnership with SBD resulted in a safer environment for our tenants and led us to deciding to incorporate SBD standards to all our new housing projects going forward.

“Kingdom’s achievements wouldn’t have been possible without the support of a dedicated Management Team and Board and, of course, great colleagues across the Group. I know Kingdom will continue to go from strength to strength and I’m looking forward to starting the next, less busy, chapter in my life, whatever that may bring.”