Crime Prevention through Environmental Design

Crime Prevention through Environmental Design

Introduction

The persistently increasing terrorism and crime rate has given rise to need of building safe and secure infrastructure that can be relatively strong to safeguard citizens against crimes. In the past decades, researchers have proved that proper design and appropriate utilization of built environment can curb the potential for crime and terrorism (Atlas, 2008). The street crime and terrorism are actual threats to the buildings and related users so buildings and infrastructure requires substantial attention in terms of curbing crime rate and terrorism. This resulted into the development of Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) which coins the idea that the significant involvement of builders, architects and planners can contribute significantly towards the creation of safer communities and secure neighborhoods (Zahm, 2011).

Definition

Crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) can be defined as a multi-disciplinary approach to deter criminal behavior through environmental design (Zahm, 2011). CPTED is based on the idea that the proper design and adequate use of the built environment can notably reduce the crime rate and improves the quality of life in terms of safety and security (Parnaby, 2007). Hence if a site or building is constructed with integration of techniques embedded in CPTED, the possibility for being affected in a crime is curbed remarkably.

Purpose of Crime Prevention through Environmental Design

The main purpose of CPTED is to prevent crime and potential terrorism by analyzing the

site design and working in collaboration with the public development agencies and development community to develop safer designs in existing and new developments. CPTED is aimed at emphasizing modifications in the physical environment by complementing block watch, community based policing and social programs that tackles the underlying causes of unlawful behavior and terrorism probabilities. The main objective of CPTED is to minimize the inconvenience caused to the end user to least possible extent and putting the potential criminals into the state of fear and trouble to put a maximum check at their suspicious activities. CPTED depends upon the advancements and developments in the physical infrastructure to make them compatible with the requirements of current uncertain security conditions (Kirk, 2012). The purpose of CPTED is not only confined to crime prevention, but it also intends to acquaint citizens with the valuable feeling of security and protection which has diminished in the current era featured with terrorism and crimes(Beard,, 2010). The CPTED approach ensures a better quality of life for the loyal citizens at relatively minimal costs and less effort involved in making desired accommodations to cope up with the external threats successfully.

Principles of CPTED

CPTED is based on four major principles that are described below.

Natural Access Control

Natural access control is basically a method to control and direct the behaviors of people entering and exiting a particular area (Parnaby, 2007). It implies the clear distinction between the private and public areas. An excellent example of this is mechanical controls like bollards installed at trail entrances greatly help in keeping cars off the respective trails. Similarly, the

gates of playgrounds ...