Glossary

British Standards Institution
Incorporated by Royal Charter, BSI is the independent national body for the preparation of British Standards. In addition to the preparation and promotion of standards, BSI offers specialist services including the provision of information through the BSI library and a Standards database. Any person making use of a British Standard,who finds an inaccuracy or ambiguity can notify the BSI who will investigate the matter.

BS ‘kitemark’
The British Standards Institution is the owner of a registered certification trademark. It is shown with the words ‘approved to British Standards’ and the number of the relevant standard. The presence of this mark on or in relation to a product is an assurance that the goods have been produced under a system of supervision, control and testing, designed to ensure compliance with a British Standard.

Ceramic marker
A special marker used to leave a permanent mark on items of pottery or porcelain. Inexpensive and easy to use.

Crime Prevention/Reduction Officers
Specialist members of police staff. Their skills include the development of inter-agency initiatives; reduction of crime through crime analysis; development of crime profiles; and the application of problem solving approaches - including technological solutions - to all facets of crime activity.

Deadlock
A lock in which the bolt can only be moved outwards and inwards by a key.

Diamond tipped marker or Scribe
A marker used to etch the postcode on metal surfaces. It usually comes supplied with a stencil for this purpose.

Differs
The number of keys required before you get a repetition of the one for a particular lock. So the more differs, the more keys the burglar has to carry.

Door chain
A simple and effective device allowing the door to be opened a few inches whilst a caller’s identity is verified. It must be stressed that it is not an extra lock and should only be engaged when there is someone at the door.

Door viewer
An optical device designed to be installed at eye level, enabling the occupier to identify callers before opening the door. It allows a wide angle of vision and is usually quite simple to install, needing just one hole drilled in the door.

Five lever mortice/Sash deadlock
A lock in which the body of the lock is morticed, or fitted into a hole cut into the edge of the door. Its mechanism is operated by five levers. A minimum standard for locks is British Standard 3621. There are many locks in excess of this standard that do not carry the kite mark.

Formal surveillance
This term means surveillance by persons employed or tasked with keeping watch. It includes Police and security guards.

Hinge bolts
Fixed bolts fitted to the edge of the hinge side of a door. When the door closes they engage into holes morticed into the doorframe. An inexpensive but effective way of protecting outward opening doors with the hinges exposed. They prevent the door from being removed from the hinge side if the hinges are attacked. Usually one bolt per hinge is recommended.

Internal security
This term means protecting the target inside the dwelling. It covers such security aspects as property marking, safes, concealment of articles and intruder alarms.

Mortice security bolts
These are round bolts cut into the edge of the door. The bolts are operated by keys with a serrated edge. They are also suitable for doors that are too thin to hold a mortice lock and will in such cases supplement a rim deadlock. Mortice security bolts always operate from the inside face of doors. They should be fitted about 150mm (6”) from the top and bottom of the door.

Natural surveillance
The design of a property or area which provides surveillance opportunities for the community going about its normal business.

Neighbourhood Watch
Also called Home Watch and Community Watch, it is a partnership between Police and public aimed at preventing crime in a residential area by informal surveillance, reporting suspicious incidents and developing social cohesion.

Opportunist criminal
A term to describe the criminal estimated to account for 80% of recorded crime. Two types of opportunist criminal are often identified. The first is not particularly intent on committing a crime, but when the circumstances present themselves will do so. The second actively seeks out opportunities. Both can be contrasted with ‘professional’ criminals who pursue a known target resolving to overcome whatever obstacles may be placed in their path. There is no clear distinction between these ‘types’ which simply serve as convenient shorthand when describing criminal activity. It is believed that the opportunist can be more easily deflected from his or her purpose.

Passive infra red detectors
These are sensors designed to detect rapid thermal or heat changes such as an intruder entering a room. Passive infra red detectors receive but do not transmit energy.

Patio door locks
Secure the sliding section to its frame. Various makes and types on the market suit all types of doors. Refer the householder to themanufacturer’s leaflets and give general advice as to siting etc.

Perimeter protection (intruder alarms)
A term for any form of detection device that operates at the time of or before the entry of an intruder into a protected area i.e. a sensor located on the window frame of a home.

Perimeter protection (security)
In relation to domestic surveys this means the private space belonging to the dwelling situated outside the shell of the premises. It includes the garden and any walls or fences, rear yards, driveways and side access. The perimeter is the first line of defence against the intruder.

Reducing the pay off
Means making the target less valuable in the hands of the thief. In consequence he or she may be deterred from stealing it. Property marking is an example.

Removal of the means to commit crime
Frequently crime is committed because of the availability of items to assist its commission. For example tools in a garden shed that can be used to force windows. By denying the criminal access to these items, opportunity for crime can be reduced.

Rim deadlock and rim automatic deadlock
There are several makes and types on the market. It is more secure than the rim night latch. In this lock the spring latch bolt can be converted into a deadbolt. The deadlocking facility prevents opening from the outside. It should be recommended for doors that are too thin to hold a mortice lock.

Rim night latch
A lock fitted to the inside face of the door with a spring operated latch bolt. The bolt operates automatically when the door is slammed. A key on the outside and a knob on the inside usually operate the bolt. A common and popular device which can be found on most front doors. It has very little security value when situated next to glass and can be overcome by a variety of methods: 1. Breaking the glass panel, reaching through and turning the knob. 2. Shoulder charging or kicking the door resulting in the receiver being forced away from the doorframe. 3. Inserting a plastic card or thin foil strip in between the frame and the bolt forcing the bolt back and away from the receiver. 4. Using a crowbar or similar instrument to force back the bolt and the receiver.

Shell protection
The shell of the building means the main fabric or structure of the dwelling, and includes the walls, roof, external doors and windows. The shell needs to be very secure and the weakest points are usually the doors and windows. The target is situated inside the shell so we must make it as difficult as possible for the shell to be breached. We call this target hardening.

Target
The target is what the potential criminal would want to steal or damage.

Target hardening
Means placing physical and/or electronic barriers between the criminal and their target. The greater the attraction of the target the greater the strength or resistance of the barriers required. It can include fitting door and window security and alarm systems. The term can encompass security for many targets other than buildings, such as boats and vehicles.

Target removal
Removing the target so that the criminal cannot commit the crime. Examples can include; moving valuable items so that people walking past the home cannot see them, locking a bicycle away in the garage or removing valuable items to a bank.

Trap protection (intruder alarms)
Any form of detection device that will not operate until an intruder actually enters the area protected by the device. For example - a passive infra red movement detector protecting one room in a home.

Ultra violet marker or pen
An inexpensive and easy way to mark property. The pen uses a marking agent that is invisible to the naked eye but which can be seen by using an ultra violet light source. It can wear off in time and needs checking at regular intervals.

Window locks
Are designed to prevent windows from being opened other than by use of a key. Window locks are available for most types of windows and their cost varies with quality. Leaflets are available from all the major lock companies and a selection should be handed to the householder. There is also a glossary on the Crime Reduction Website.