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Terrance Glover (Urban in Mind principal), is one of the only firms in Canada with CPTED level two certification (from the Attorney General of the State of Florida).
Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design is a set of review tools based on ideas from Jane Jacobs (author) and her work related to natural surveillance. CPTED can be used by planners, designers, architects, police, and security, to approach crime prevention/reduction at the design stage. With proper CPTED design, the effective implementation of CPTED principles by CPTED Experts can reduce the incidents and fear of crime on a site. That eventually improves quality of life! CPTED is built upon 4 main principles, meant to influence people before potentially choosing to commit a criminal act. The 5th principle is an important factor in deterring or prosecuting criminal activities through CPTED Design Guidelines. (Though not considered as main principle)
These scientific principles, when applied effectively, can dramatically reduce the likelihood of potential perpetrators committing criminal activities on a site. The overarching theme of CPTED is increasing the perception of a controlled environment, being observed, and reducing opportunities for crime to occur. This is achieved through 1) Natural Surveillance, 2) Natural Access Control, 3) Territorial Reinforcement, and 4) Maintenance, followed by 5) Logical Fortification. These Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design Strategies are detailed below, but the main driving factor behind them all is the prevention and promotion of proper behaviour.
Anyone designing a building or planning a site should consider Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design principles at the design stage. The benefits and long-term cost savings can be huge for any size of development. If everything else is equal, using Crime Prevention design principles from the outset can save time on redesigns, produce better results, and even increase property values.
Even existing sites and buildings can benefit from a Crime Prevention design review because it can show how best to allocate limited resources within the confines of the existing building(s) already in place. Any building or site that sees repeated crime occurring on the premises should (among other things) have a CPTED review done to determine what actions can reasonably be taken to reduce the likelihood of continued crime occurrences.
The 4 main principles of CPTED are:
The 5th, quasi-principle is:
In more detail, Natural Surveillance is about maximizing visibility along with the opportunity for observation through the placement and design of physical and social site features. This Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design includes the placement of gathering spaces and points of interest, a building’s orientation, lighting, windows, entrances/exits, parking lots, walkways, security stations, fencing, landscaping, vegetation, signage, and any other physical obstructions. Maximizing the lines of sight across and through a site can dramatically reduce crime rates, simply because a potential perpetrator feels observed.
Natural Access Control focuses on logically restricting/encouraging and safely channeling the movement of people and vehicles around a site. This Crime Prevention design covers not only entrances, exits, pedestrian, vehicle separations or guards, but also the pathways between them and any gathering places. This allows ease in identifying individuals who stray from the areas intended for public use and gives a perception of control in the area. These Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) techniques should be coupled with Natural Surveillance for maximum effectiveness. This includes limiting unobserved and uncontrolled access to a site/building.CPTED Specialists help to implement these measures and provide peace of mind.
Territorial Reinforcement uses features like defined pavement lines separating public, private, and semi-private spaces. This Crime Prevention design can be accomplished with physical separations like fences, bollards, landscaping, and guard rails, or simply with a sign, a shift in surface treatment type, or even painted lines. These defined lines offer an easy way to identify those who venture beyond allowed area limits and give the perception of ownership and a sense of restricted use. Again, this Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design Principles should be combined with Natural Surveillance for maximum effectiveness.
The obvious level of Maintenance a site/building has can dramatically affect people’s perception of a site. A poorly maintained site gives the impression of abandonment and unruliness, while a very well-maintained building gives the perception of constant vigilance, dignity, and pride. Having all of a site’s lighting in a working state goes far in perpetuating a perception of good maintenance, but good lighting on broken, rusty equipment or areas strewn with waste won’t help very much in this respect. Overall maintenance can be difficult for certain sites, but with good site design, including placement of waste receptacles, snow repositories, and regular cleaning, any site can appear occupied and not abandoned. Along with Natural Surveillance, proper maintenance and following Crime Prevention design can dramatically reduce the attractiveness of a site for potential criminal activity.
The principle of Logical Fortification deals with what are often reactionary efforts to crime occurrences. Designing a site/building with this principle in mind can certainly reduce the amount of needed renovations and upgrades a site might require after the fact. Especially regarding cost. Furthermore designing a site with security cameras as per CPTED Consultant can eliminate potential blind spots that a site renovation can’t overcome. Using different materials in building construction or even landscaping can have dramatic effects on potential crime. Using materials that are easy to clean, difficult to break or even to appear dangerous can reduce the likelihood of crimes in the area because of a perception of strength or retaliation. Taking steps as per Crime Prevention Planner is crucial to provide physical hindrances for crimes at the design stage and can dramatically reduce the likelihood of crime occurring.
There are several newer principles in Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design that center around community strength and at the same time social connections (i.e. CPTED Level Three). This is not a replacement for the older principles, but rather additional considerations and political interactions. The CPTED Trained Planner represents the fact that no space exists in a vacuum and design principles should consider the wider community. These principles may not apply to every site, as there are many limitations for small sites in these respects, but large sites that plan on several buildings or subdivisions can certainly use them to great effect. The Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design Training program was structured to educate law enforcement officials, architects, and community leaders on the principles of CPTED.
At Urban In Mind, we have a proven track record of success, along with a diverse range of clients in both urban planning and crime prevention design—serving both private and government sectors. Our CPTED Consultants have the knowledge and experience to develop a useful, logical, and practical audit/review. This will assist in designing the best building/site possible as well as save money in the long run. Not only will the design be superior, but occupant safety will be increased, and the ‘perception of crime’ will be reduced. This makes for a better return on investment, and fewer insurance claims. Contact us to develop a brighter future for tomorrow.
Terrance Glover – owner of urban in mind
At Urban in Mind, we represent developers, builders, municipalities, landlords, special interest groups, neighbourhood associations and individual residents, to name a few… all in the hope of creating “Good” development for all. With over three decades of experience in the municipal planning, education planning and development field, we are confident that your project couldn’t be in safer hands.
Urban in Mind staff have been fully trained in advanced CPTED, through the Office of the Attorney General for the State of Florida. Ready to Get Started? Contact Urban in Mind Today.
At Urban in Mind, we represent developers, builders, municipalities, landlords, special interest groups, neighbourhood associations and individual residents, to name a few… all in the hope of creating “Good” development for all. With over three decades of experience in the municipal planning, education planning and development planning field, we are confident that your project couldn’t be in safer hands.
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