There certainly was a rule regarding the removal of locks, it does seem to have slipped a little from time to time though as occasionally the odd box appears on the market complete with it’s lock. Indeed in the case of the Chubb locks it is known that they were routinely re-keyed after each change of government by Chubbs at the factory. A practice which only ceased fairly recently.
Whether the change was instigated by the government or more likely by Chubb declining the work when the firm was taken over by assa abloy I do not know for certain.
I think when the current govt came to office the use of Bramah locks recommenced, which carries on to this day. Bramah was also used back around the turn of the century.
