The Misuse of Drugs (Safe Custody) Regulations 1973

General

4.—(1) Where sheet steel is used in the construction of a safe, cabinet or room, its edges shall be lapped inwards around the margins of apertures and around the edges of doors and service-hatch covers in such manner as to be inaccessible from the outside; and where sheet steel is fixed on a framework, it shall be so fixed as to prevent removal from outside the safe, cabinet or room of which the framework forms part.

(2) Any steel mesh used in the construction of a safe, cabinet or room shall be—

(a) welded steel mesh not lighter than 10 standard wire gauge having rectangular apertures not exceeding 75 millimetres (3 inches) by 12 millimetres (½ inch); or

(b) expanded steel not lighter than 12 gauge having diamond apertures not exceeding 44 millimetres (1 ¾ inches) by 19 millimetres (¾ inch).

(3) Except where otherwise specified in this Schedule, the edges of each panel of sheet steel or steel mesh used in the construction of a safe, cabinet or room shall be are-welded to a steel frame along their entire length, or, in the absence of a steel frame, continuously are-welded along the entire length of all joins.

(4) Each hinged door, half-door or leaf of a two-leaf door in a safe, cabinet or room shall be fitted with at least two hinges.

(5) If any part of the hinges of such a door, half-door or leaf of a two-leaf door is on the outside of the door, it shall be fitted—

(a) in the case of a safe or cabinet, with at least two dog-bolts of mild steel of similar gauge and dimensions to the frame of the safe or cabinet or an internal flange or rebate running the entire length of the door and so fitted as to prevent access without unlocking in the event of damage to the hinges;

(b) in the case of a room, with at least two dog-bolts of mild steel which—

(i) are of similar gauge and dimensions to the jamb and either project at least 16 millimetres (⅝ inch) into the jamb or are attached to the jamb and project to a similar extent into the frame of the door, where the closing frame of the doorway is constructed of angle-iron; or

(ii) are of at least 50 millimetres (2 inches) width and 6 millimetres (¼ inch) thickness and either project at least 16 millimetres (⅝ inch) into the jamb or are attached to the jamb and project to a similar extent into the edge of the door, where the closing frame of the doorway is constructed of timber or pressed steel.

(6) Each bar, grille or service-hatch cover and each lock, bolt assembly and other means of securing doors and service-hatch covers in a safe, cabinet or room shall be fitted internally.

(7) The bolt of each lock and each other bolt or catch securing the cover of any aperture in a safe, cabinet or room shall be protected against cutting or manipulation from outside.

(8) Each screw, bolt or other fixing device used in the construction of a safe, cabinet or room shall be such as to be incapable of being removed from outside and shall be of a strength at least equal to that of the component part which it fixes.