Certain areas seem easier for criminals to vandalize wtih graffiti.
Every city and town has one: a street corner, parking lot or building that acts like a magnet for crime. Every time a mugging or assault victimizes another citizen, more people shun the area, but the problem only gets worse. Officials might feel tempted to mount a security camera or add extra police, but another solution exists: designing places that make crime harder to commit. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) empowers communities to prevent crime before it strikes.
Function
Security cameras can make people perceive an area as crime-ridden or unsafe.
Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) means designing places that naturally inhibit or discourage law-breaking behavior. Instead of adding surveillance cameras, locks, alarms or other security devices, a CPTED approach draws from the "normal and routine use of an environment," according to the Mesa, Arizona, Police Department website. Landscaping, lighting and strategic architecture limit access without locks. Users of the space provide natural surveillance. Subtle design cues give residents or users a sense of ownership, which inspires them to watch for criminal behaviors--like one school that uses a Cherokee alphabet on its sign to spark student pride, according to a 2007 article in "Entrepreneur" magazine.
For example, an apartment lobby with a leasing desk and large windows overlooking a bustling sidewalk will discourage break-ins by making a crook feel watched. A resident bulletin board inspires a sense of ownership and community. Most important, all of those elements feel natural to the everyday routine of the lobby. By contrast, a security camera mounted over the door might make a thief think twice, but it could also make residents perceive the building as crime-ridden and unsafe, according to the Mesa, Arizona, Police Department website. Since CPTED strives to eliminate crime and the fear associated with it, environmental designers would consider heightened anxiety a design failure.
Types
Because environmental design requires a collaborative effort, training draws from and addresses multiple disciplines: law enforcement, architecture, landscape, city planning and lighting, according to the Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design Training website. Different training courses also address different types of crime and design strategies, including symbolic and real fences, lighting design, public art, terrorism and parks, according to its Crime Prime Prevention Through Environmental Design Training website. The Center for Problem-Oriented Policing also offers environmental design training through its "Problem-Solving Tools" Series.
Misconceptions
CPTED does not take a "soft on crime" approach; nor does it make excuses for criminal behavior. On the contrary, it does not attempt to solve the root causes of crime or prescribe punishment. Instead, it looks for practical ways to remove opportunities for crime.
Significance
CPTED provides opportunities to improve public safety without sacrificing positive feelings about a place or costing exorbitant amounts of money. In fact, it can often save money over alternative options, according to a 2007 "Entrepreneur" magazine article. Since it also invites collaboration among agencies and citizens, it helps to unify communities and create coherent planning strategies.
Warning
Large panes of glass can cause injuries in case of natural disasters.
While CPTED exerts powerful influences over human behavior, it cannot always work alone. Some areas may still require additional security measures, such as banks or government buildings. Additionally, some CPTED strategies--such as large windows for natural surveillance--may leave occupants vulnerable to injuries in case of natural disasters or terrorist attacks, according to a 2007 article in "Entrepreneur" magazine. Proper CPTED training should address collaboration with a variety of experts to prevent unintended vulnerabilities.
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