CPTED Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design Defensible Space

CPTED Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design

Defensible Space (Oscar Newman) • Physical expression of a social fabric that defends itself • Space controlled by the residents • Caring attitude, contact with other residents, improvement of the area, care for surroundings, pay attention to what occurs, intervene if an offense is seen.

Four Elements of Defensible Space % Territoriality – lay claim to an area % Natural Surveillance – observe daily activity by both friends and strangers % Image – appearance that it is not an area where a person or property can be easily victimized % Milieu – placement of home or buildings to reduce crime (feeling)

Intermediate Goals of CPTED • Access Control – limit to legit users • Surveillance – observe activities of others • Activity Support – interaction between citizens and other legitimate users • Motivation Reinforcement – enhancing feelings of territoriality and social cohesion through physical design features and enhancing and building pride in the area

Major Problems in Public Housing • • Scissor Stairs Mailbox Placement Elevators Location Long Central Corridors Fire stairs and Secondary Exits Location of Housing No Embellishments

Opportunity • • Distance Convenience Familiarity with Opportunity Access and Escape Ease of Movement Land Use (Isolation) Time

4 Approaches to Opportunity Changes 1. 2. 3. 4. Movement Control Surveillance Activity Support Motivation Reinforcement

Mechanisms for Change • • Physical Social Management Law Enforcement

Analysis for Change • • Frequency of Crimes 7 Ws Risk of Being a Victim Severity of Incidents Offenders and Victims Police-Community Relations Community Cohesiveness Crime Victim Problems

Change • • Effectiveness Implementability Compatibility Cost-Benefit Analysis

Tactics Daniel Ford and Allan Wallis (modified)

Surveillance Tactics • • Observation Improve interior lighting Improve outdoor lighting Remove interior blind spots Remove exterior blind spots Add windows to interior spaces Locate vulnerable areas near those which are actively used

• Locate key personnel where they can supervise a specific area or activity • Provide living quarters for a security person • Provide guard kiosks at majro access points • Install surveillance devices (to resident apartments or houses • Encourage the removal of visual obstructions in streets and public places

• • • Coordinate business hours Neighborhood watch Tenant patrols Police Patrols varied Community Policing

Identification Tactics • • • Project ID Screening devices at entries Establish territorial domains Marking territoriality Mark transition to private/less public areas • Increase visibility of detection devices

• Identify buildings in alleyways, hallways, front doors and curbs • Establish house sitting program • Establish a safe haven home • Schedule use of sub environments Color Codes • Require identification procedures • Assign officers on a neighborhood basis • Locate precincts and police subdivisions in highly visible areas •

• • • Provide call systems for remote areas Toll free emergency telephones (all are) Cell Phones for victims Proximity alarms for offenders Building design Lighting to help identify areas

Movement Control Tactics • Reduce the number of uncontrolled entrances • Designate pedestrian access corridors • Bike corridors • Provide key access to sub-environments • Limit the number of apartments sharing corridors, houses sharing streets

• • Control access to fire stairs Install barriers on vulnerable openings Fence off problem areas Fence off access to vulnerable populations Strengthen access point hardware Convert streets to pedestrian use in interior areas Close off through streets Control access to neighborhoods for non -residents

• Provide rear access to police • Locate vulnerable areas near sources of natural surveillance • Locate remote parking areas in well lighted, regularly used areas • Reduce the number of bus stops • Parking stickers • Schedule activities to support surveillance • Escorts • Security surveys

Activity Support Tactics • Create indoor activity areas • Create outdoor activity areas, small, limit users, under surveillance • Design facilities for specific age groups • Provide informational kiosks • Provide historical markers • Provide display areas (art, projects, etc. )

• • Activity areas at bus stops Cluster stores and hours Extend the use of school facilities Community zoning (use, security, etc. ) Get acquainted activities (night out, etc. ) Group excursions, projects, etc. Police sponsored activities for children, others • Special interest groups (scouts, big sisters, clubs, etc.

• • • Movies Concerts Plays Classes Internet Chatrooms Postings Web Pages • Draw them out

Motivational Reinforcement Tactics • • Improve the appearance of the area Subdivide large areas Landscape Personalize the environment Minimum security standards (code) Maintain public areas Community education programs

• Involve citizens for the area in developing land use guidelines • Improve police-community relations • Police programming • Crime prevention media campaigns • Security surveys by police officers • Reporting systems