How does a Design Out Crime Officer (DOCO) support counter terrorism and crime prevention?
You may have heard of the police role of DOCO and wondered what it entails and how it could support you. Here PC Russ Pengelly of the City of London Police explains the scope and aims of this role.
A Design Out Crime Officer (DOCO) is what used to be the Architectural Liaison Officer. This is a role that straddles Neighbourhood Policing and the Counter Terrorism world of policing. Every force nationally has at least one DOCO, which is mandated by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and the College of Policing.
What is the job? Well simply, you are the force security expert and provide specialist advice and guidance to developers, architects and the local authority on how to design, develop and build their properties in a way that is most resistant to antisocial behaviour, crime and terrorism. You then work alongside security specialists and architects, looking to provide commensurate security mitigation to the potential threats that are still present.
In my role, I also provide specialist technical advice and support to the Counter Terrorism Security Advisors on physical security of sites that have identified vulnerabilities.
The DOCO role is a good role if you’re interested in history. You get to see places that very few people will be exposed to. Recently I was asked to review the plans for the proposed development of the underground nuclear tunnels in Chancery Lane. Inspecting the two-mile tunnel system, which is at the same depth as the Central Line, was fascinating.
The City of London is a unique environment for a DOCO to operate in; nowhere else in the country, even the Metropolitan Police District (MPD), has the same number of tall buildings, with such niche requirements. In the past few years of doing the role I have worked on several new tall towers which will be appearing on the City skyscape at some point in the future.
One of the other roles of the DOCO is to provide specialist security advice on places of worship, which you conduct on behalf of the Home Office. Once complete, you can make recommendations that the place of worship is need of funding from central government to safely allow people to practise their faith in a safe and secure environment. Recently I was able to secure funding for St Paul’s Cathedral to upgrade their existing security.
Another specific role of the DOCO is to ensure that vulnerable victims of domestic abuse crime can feel safe within their homes. The Sanctuary Scheme is a national programme to provide a victim with effective security at home, to safeguard them from becoming a victim once more. This could be anything from window locks to a safe room. Cost is irrelevant and the works are conducted by the local authority based on the recommendations of the DOCO.
Training for becoming a DOCO is second to none within the policing world, resulting in you being registered with Secured by Design as a Suitably Qualified Security Specialist (SQSS). This training included high-level NVQs in Crime Prevention and Designing Out Crime.
These courses cover understanding crime and its causes, crime theories, auditing the environment, problem-solving approaches to crime, and leading on partnership projects. The Level 5 Designing out Crime NVQ provides extensive training in building design, crime prevention through environmental design, defensive space theory and accreditation standards and their application.
In my 23+ years in policing I can honestly say that I have enjoyed this role the most. One of the best parts of this role is that you can really shape the way that buildings are designed and alongside the architect, you end up leaving your stamp on the physical landscape of the City of London, keeping the workers and residents safe.
PC Russ Pengelly
