A purpose-built security vault, Vitessa Vault, in North London has become the first of its kind in the UK to achieve a Secured by Design (SBD) Gold Award, recognising the highest standards of crime prevention through design.
The independent facility in Oakwood opened its doors to customers in April and offers one of the most secure private storage facilities available in the UK. Designing Out Crime Officer (DOCO) Les Gipps, from Metropolitan police, was involved from the outset, providing specialist advice to ensure the facility met the highest standards. Following a detailed assessment confirming it met and exceeded Secured by Design principles, the site was awarded SBD Gold.
Layered security approach
Housed within a former NatWest bank branch, the building benefits from existing robust infrastructure, which has been further strengthened with additional steel and concrete reinforcement for protection, with seismic sensors and drill protection for added reassurance.
Inside, multiple layers of physical and electronic security work together to provide a controlled secured space for storing valuables including documents, jewellery, precious metals and other high-value items.
Secured by Design member company, Warrior Doors, played a key role in delivering the facility’s physical security requirements, supplying high-security doors, access systems and high-security display vaults as part of the overall design.
Key features include:
Grade 9 high-security vault – designed to exceed industry standards
24/7 monitored security systems – including advanced CCTV coverage and monitoring
Cutting-edge alarm systems – multi-layered protection including seismic detection technology designed to identify unusual movement or interference
On-site security guards – providing an additional layer of monitoring
Advanced biometric access control system – incorporating fingerprint and facial recognition to restrict access to authorised users only
Dual-key security system – each safe deposit box requires a client key and vault key by authorised staff to provide additional safeguarding
CCTV monitored car parking at the front of Vitessa Vault – adding an additional layer of security for arrivals and departures to the facility
Together, these measures create a highly secure environment where access is tightly controlled, and risks are minimised through both design and operational practice.