Construction Site Security guide
Contents |
[edit] Introduction
Secured by Design (SBD) is a police initiative that seeks to encourage the construction industry to adopt crime prevention measures in the design of developments, to assist in reducing the opportunity for, and fear of, crime.
SBD 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.
[edit] Site security guide
In 2021, SBD published a guide entitled Construction Site Security. The publication offers advice about how to protect sites from theft, vandalism, arson and other types of security violations that may result in additional long-term financial and scheduling consequences caused by the interruption of work.
The guide was prepared by SBD with assistance from the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), Police Scotland, the Considerate Constructors Scheme, London Fire Brigade (LFB), the National Business Crime Centre, Sold Secure, the UK official Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) and the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC).
The guide can be downloaded for free from the SBD website.
[edit] Overview
The advice is based on crime prevention principles that are suitable for all types of sites. The information in the guide is designed for security personnel and all other members of staff.
Topics in the guide include:
- Perimeter security.
- Site access.
- Site offices.
- Lighting.
- CCTV.
- Vehicle protection.
- Plant, machinery and tools.
- Urban exploration or Urbex (this refers to the unauthorised, after hours exploration of infrastructure sites - sometimes with the use of drones - typically for the purpose of photographing and posting to social media).
- Fire prevention.
- Employment screening (including guidance regarding personnel pre-employment requirements and verification measures).
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- Access to construction sites.
- Drone regulations and safety.
- Health and safety.
- Perimeter security.
- Preventing unauthorised access to construction sites.
- Secured by design.
- Urban exploration UE.
[edit] External resources
Featured articles and news
We're expanding our collaborative mission by launching DB Intelligence, an exclusive market research advisory panel. Built environment professionals can now get paid to share their expertise on industry trends, products and services.
Panel members receive direct financial incentives for participating in research projects like short surveys, 1-2-1 interviews and focus groups. Register today to shape the future of the construction sector.
Planning condition discharge in England and Wales
A brief exoplanation from a building compliance expert, with further links.
Overheating guidance and tools for building designers
Guidance for dealing with element of building fabric control that have increasing importance.
Shading for housing, a design guide
From the Good Homes Alliance and British Blind and Shutter Association.
UK Standard Skills Classification (SSC)
A shared framework for describing skills needs.
Social media ban consultation comes to close
CIOB urges UK Government to consider social media’s role in careers guidance in ban debate.
The latest of eight Skills England apprenticeship units
The addition of battery manufacturing welcomed by ECA with a warning about the risks of fast-tracked apprenticeship units.
Building Control Independent Panel final report
A precis of a key report led by Dame Hackitt with full recommendations and link to the government response.
Building Safety recap April, 2026
A short and longer run-through of the month, with links to further information and sources.
CIAT May 2026 briefing.
From medieval scribes to modern word art.
ECA welcomes crackdown on late payment and push for clean energy, whilst CIOB seek fixed cladding removal timeframes.
Cyber Security in the Built Environment
Protecting projects, data, and digital assets: A CIOB Academy TIS.
Managing competence in the built environment
ITFG publishes new industry guide on how to meet the ICC principles.
The UK's campaign to reduce noise pollution: Mythbusting, articles and topic guides.