The Sanctuary Scheme is a victim centred initiative which aims to make it possible for victims of domestic violence to remain in their homes and feel safe.

Due to the increasing number of burglaries and incidents of domestic violence, the creation of a Sanctuary Room within an individual's property has proved to be an effective solution towards protecting them while they wait for emergency assistance. Central government have now made it a mandatory requirement for local authorities to provide this scheme.

Over the past five years PLC Security, working in tandem with local and police authorities, have successfully completed nearly 4,000 Sanctuary installations and have become the UK's leading suppliers and installers of the scheme.

The main feature of a sanctuary is the creation of a Sanctuary Room, which consists of having an internal door replaced with a solid core door, reversing it to open outwards, so that the door jamb acts as an additional barrier.

Two mortice bolts, three steel hinges, hinge bolts and a door viewer are also added. Additional security can be provided, i.e. locks on windows and doors, grilles, gates, fire escape ladders and anti arson letterboxes.

Every Sanctuary Project would be tailored to accommodate the needs and circumstances of the individuals involved. The security recommendations generally fall into two categories:

Sanctuary

The standard specification for a Sanctuary room is:

• A door to a main room, generally the master bedroom, is replaced with a solid core door and reversed to open outwards.
• Two mortice bolts are fitted to the inside of the door, one at the top and one at the bottom. The door is also fitted with:
• Three large steel hinges
• Hinge bolts
• 180 degree door viewer.
• Fire safety equipment is also provided.

Sanctuary +

This specification includes all the above plus some / all of the following depending on circumstances:

• Door / window grilles
• Extra Sanctuary  doors to the front and rear of the property,
• London and Birmingham  bars
• Window locks
• Security alarm

The key benefit of the sanctuary scheme is that victims of domestic violence are able to stay in their own home and:

• Avoids families having to move (possibly repeatedly) and subsequent disruption
• Reduces voids in properties
• Reduces damage and management issues with property
• Enables family support structures to remain
• People feel safer and less isolated
• Reduces Homelessness

The following case study is a live example of a sanctuary scheme. We have changed the names and other details to protect the identity of the individual concerned:

Suzie is in her mid thirties and lives with her young  baby in a two-bedroom ground floor flat which she rents from a Housing Association. Police were called to her home by a neighbour when her ex-partner Jon tried to gain entry to the flat. By the time the police arrived, he had gone. Suzie explained that Jon had been sending her text messages and telephone calls threatening to kill her and her baby. Jon is a crack addict and is very violent.

Sally was very concerned for her and her baby’s safety, as he has assaulted her on previous occasions over recent months and she believed that he was capable of carrying out the threats.

Suzie was visibly terrified and said that she didn’t want to move to another property as she was settled at this address, but felt she had no option. The Crime Reduction Unit carried out a survey at the flat. The wooden front door consisted of a hardboard bottom panel with glazed top panel, rim latch lock, two brass hinges and a letterbox. There was a glazed panel above the door. The wooden French doors at the rear consisted of numerous glazed panels, 3-lever mortice lock and two brass hinges per door. The wooden single glazed windows did not have locking handles.

• The front door was replaced with a solid core door.
• The frame was reinforced and a ‘London’ bar fitted to the lock side of the frame and a ‘Birmingham’ bar fitted to the hinge side of the frame.
• Two Europrofile locks were fitted to the top and bottom of the door, keyed to the same key, with thumb turns on the inside, three 4” steel hinges, hinge bolts, key operated door chain, memo door viewer and wall mounted external letter box. The glass panel above the door was reinforced.
• A collapsible grille was fitted to the inside recess of the French doors.
• Key operated window locks were fitted and security film applied to the windows.
• The master bedroom at the front of the property was chosen to assist the Fire Brigade with access.
• The bedroom door was replaced with a solid core door and reversed to open outwards onto the hallway. The frame was reinforced and two Europrofile locks were fitted to the top and bottom of the door, keyed to the same key, with thumb turns on the inside, three 4” steel hinges and hinge bolts. A memo door viewer, intumescent fireseal, emergency light and fire safety pack were also provided.
• A collapsible grille was fitted to the ‘Sanctuary’ window, as it is at ground level.