Alfie Hosker, Secured by Design (SBD) Technical Manager, shares his journey in crime prevention and the direction of the company.

What led you to work with Secured by Design and what is your background in crime prevention?   

I joined Secured by Design in 2014 after serving over 20 years in the UK Police Service across a number of disciplines, originally on secondment, then several years later, formally joining the company.

This included CID (Criminal Investigations Department), the stolen vehicle squad, public order, response, neighbourhood policing, licensing and crime prevention.

I then spent a number of years within the various Planning, Highways and Building Control Departments advising on Designing Out Crime, Counter Terrorism, enforcement, planning policy & applications. That led me to join SBD.  

I have studied at Leeds University and later undertook other qualifications facilitated by Oxford Brookes University in the field of Crime Prevention and the International Security Management Institute on the subject of Security Management. I am also a qualified teacher.  

Can you share a bit about the training and expertise required to become an SBD professional?   

The years I spent within the various advising on Designing Out Crime, counter terrorism, enforcement, planning policy & applications gave me a solid base to build on when joining SBD, as I had knowledge of the principles of crime prevention and Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) and how they can be applied to building design and layout.

That expertise in building design and construction, coupled with a good understanding of building materials, construction methods and architectural design principles, was crucial for assessing security vulnerabilities and recommending appropriate solutions.

The above is further supported by carrying out regular Continuous Personal Development (CPD) and completing related formal qualifications.  

However, the primary responsibility of the SBD Technical Manager is to lead on issues of a technical nature affecting SBD, both on a day-to-day basis, and at a medium to long-term strategic level.

The work includes engaging with a variety of organisations such as the Government and both National and International Test & Certification Bodies, as well as offering guidance on the technical aspects of product testing and certification, ensuring that products meet the rigorous security standards required for SBD accreditation.   

This part of the role requires an in-depth knowledge of security products and standards, including an understanding the technical specifications, testing procedures, and certification requirements for a wide range of security products from doorsets to locks, barriers and other related security products and services to highlight a few.

As the field of security is dynamic and ever-evolving, the role demands a commitment to continuous learning to keep pace with the latest advancements and threats.  

What benefits does SBD’s Police Preferred Specification guidelines for products provide personnel?  

Products or services which have achieved the Police Preferred Specification must be capable of preventing or deterring crime. 

SBD’s focus is on the critical factors that combine to deliver a product’s performance – design, use and quality control.

In the main, these products and services must be independently third party tested and certificated by a UKAS approved test and certification body or similar.  

Products that have met the Police Preferred Specification provide reassurance to the specifier, purchaser or user and better quality means these products last longer too, making them more cost-effective and leading to greater sustainability in crime prevention.

Equally significant is the potential of return on investment (ROI) for the purchaser, because often, products are also supported with ‘fit for purpose’ testing & certification – i.e. cyclic test and weather testing for example – resulting less maintenance and product failure, increasing the life span and continued function of the product.

Without this, products may need fixing or replacing, potentially resulting in security vulnerabilities whilst this is awaited.  

How do you assess whether a building or development meets SBD standards?   

The built environment influences the behaviour of people who work, live, socialise or simply pass through. SBD seeks to create environments where the law-abiding feel safe and secure, whilst at the same time causing the criminal or anti-social to feel vulnerable to detection and thereby influence behaviour in a positive way.   

SBD has produced a series of authoritative Design Guides to assist the building, design and construction industry to incorporate security into developments to comply with the Building Regulations in England, Scotland and Wales and meet the requirements of SBD.

These Design Guides have been updated over the years to keep pace with changing patterns of criminal behaviour and advances in building design and new technology.

A key element to these updates are consultation with test & certification bodies, other relevant stakeholders and security specialists who are actively involved with keeping people, assets and other associated applications safe and secure.   

Developers around the UK can achieve SBD awards for working to these design guides, incorporating crime prevention measures and techniques into their developments.

These awards – Gold, Silver and Bronze – are gained by working with police Designing Out Crime Officers (DOCOs), who advise them, as well as architects and local authority planners, long before construction begins – and continue to provide advice and guidance until the development is complete.  

How has SBD evolved over the years, and where do you see its impact in the future? 

SBD has constantly evolved since its inception.

The police service continually re-evaluates the effectiveness of SBD and responds to emerging crime trends and independent research findings, in conjunction with industry partners, as and when it is considered necessary and to protect the public from crime.

The success of SBD has shown that individuals, as well as small, medium and large-scale international companies, can all come together under one umbrella, gaining business opportunities whilst acting in the best possible interest of our communities. 

This article was originally published in the March 2025 Edition of Security Journal UK. To read your FREE digital edition, click here.