Council leaders in call to stamp out insecure locks

Council leaders have joined forces with police, trading standards and industry specialists to stamp out the use of insecure household locks in Leeds.

Door manufacturers and locksmiths who attended a meeting at Leeds Civic Hall on Monday were told that locks fitted with Eurocylinders were known to be easy targets for burglars.

The meeting was organised by West Yorkshire Police and hosted by Safer Leeds, the city’s Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, to draw attention to the problems caused by the widespread use of Eurocylinders in the city.

Delegates were told that snapped euro-cylinder locks accounted for 20 per cent of all domestic burglary in West Yorkshire and West Yorkshire Trading Standards said, in future, traders who fitted poor quality locks could face legal consequences.

Councillor Les Carter, Leeds City Council’s executive board member for Community Safety and chair of Safer Leeds, said:
“This is a problem that the police are aware of but you are the experts. We need your help to tackle it if we are to reduce burglary in the city.”

Assistant Chief Constable David Evans from West Yorkshire Police said:
“Tackling this issue of insecure locks is a vital part of our overall strategy to reduce burglary. We need to create a climate where everyone understands the importance of fitting safer locks.”

Graham Hebblethwaite, Chief Officer for West Yorkshire Trading Standards, said:
“In future traders who fit locks they know to be insecure could face prosecution under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations which require traders to use their professional expertise and not leave their customers exposed to known domestic security risks.
“I would urge you to take forward this message and use it in your own marketing. We want you to be reliable and not liable.”

Safer Leeds staff will be following up those traders who had failed to attend the event to ensure they understood the seriousness of the situation.

West Yorkshire Police advise householders to install locks which conform to British Standard EN 1303:2005 and carry the BSI Kite Mark.

Anyone wishing to check the security of their homes can call CASAC for a free survey on 0845 5192122

ENDS
For media enquiries please contact:
Michael Molcher, Leeds City Council (0113) 224 3937
e-mail: michael.molcher@leeds.gov.uk