NEWLY-BUILT homes in York fail to offer security measures beyond the very basic, according to an investigation by trading standards.

Staff from City of York Council's trading standards department visited show homes and building sites in the area posing as potential buyers.

They found little in the way of extra security facilities and staff had limited information on security.

Matthew Boxall, principal trading standards officer at City of York Council, said: "Very few security aspects were incorporated into new homes other than those very basic ones required by the National House Building Council (NHBC) guarantee.

"It was virtually impossible to gather information about even the basics, such as window and door locks, from the front-line staff at show homes and site offices, and no one was aware of the Secured By Design (SBD) initiative."

SBD is a method of designing housing developments which provide fewer opportunities for crime by focusing on layout and types of property.

PC Jim Shanks, Community Safety Officer within the Safer York Partnership, said: "The results of this survey have not come as a surprise.

"It is unfortunate that the police are called in to give advice only after a development has been built when research has shown that, had the development been built to Secured By Design initially, the opportunity for crime would have been minimised."

York crime rates currently stand at 31 incidents per 1,000 properties. There are 11,000 new homes scheduled to be built in York by 2011.

Research carried out has shown that residents living on a SBD estate will be half as likely to be burgled, two-and-a-half times less likely to suffer vehicle crime and will be likely to suffer 25 per cent less criminal damage.

People thinking of buying a newly-built property can phone PC Shanks on 01904 669083 for advice on what security aspects to ask about when purchasing their new home.

Updated: 09:23 Saturday, May 08, 2004