KJM Group has written to the North West Hampshire MP Kit Malthouse, calling on him to support its calls for discounted home insurance premiums if doors and windows are accredited to a Secured by Design (SBD) standard.
Secured by Design (SBD) is the Police approved accreditation applied to products which meet enhanced levels of security and which have been shown to contribute to a reduction in burglaries by almost half. The cost of home insurance claims averages £2,178, with burglaries collectively costing the insurance industry tens of millions of pounds each year.[1]
But despite the contribution that Secured by Design accredited building products and specifications can make in keeping criminals at bay, very few insurers offer reduced premiums. Mark Pearce, Managing Director, KJM Group, said: “Given the cost to the insurance industry of break-ins, it seems to only make sense that a reduced premium should apply to those properties where SBD approved products have been installed in exactly the same way as they do for other security measures, for example burglar alarms.
“We believe that the insurance industry needs to step up to the mark and have written to Kit Malthouse MP calling on them to raise the issue with Government.” Called Home Security Sense, the campaign has already received support nationally from the police service.
To be accredited as ‘Police Preferred’ by SBD, doors and window products must not only be tested by the product manufacturer, but also undergo certification from a UKAS-accredited independent third-party certification authority.
Mark said: “Burglars are opportunistic and often innovative. Doors and windows fitted even just a few years ago may be vulnerable to the latest break-in techniques. “At KJM Group we’re always working to stay ahead. We offer an extensive range of enhanced security windows and doors manufactured to the SBD standard. This includes multi-point window and door locking, the latest high security key cylinders and hardware.
“We’re also offering free window and door security checks, so please get in touch.”
For more information visit www.kjmgroup.co.uk email sales@kjmgroup.co.uk or call 01264 359355.
[1] Halifax, October 2015
