Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design

Definition: Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is a multi-disciplinary approach for reducing crime through urban and environmental design. It uses various tools to evaluate environmental conditions and utilize intervention methods to control human/ criminal behavior and reduce the fear of crime.

CPTED is pronounced ‘sep-ted’ and it is known around the world as “Designing Out Crime”, “defensible space”, and other similar terms.

Goal: to reduce opportunities for crime that may be inherent in the design of structures or in the design of neighborhoods.

Strategies: CPTED strategies aim to reduce victimization, deter offender decisions that precede criminal acts, and build a sense of community among inhabitants.

With C. Ray Jeffery’s work in Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design, we now have a way to verbalize the application of the four CPTED strategies:

Natural Surveillance (seeing what is taking place in that space)
Territorial Reinforcement, (who manages that space)
Natural Access Control (guiding you to that space)
Maintenance (making sure everything is working and looks inviting in that space)

Natural Surveillance: Design of a built in environment that allows for bidirectional visibility.

Examples:

Increase amounts of windows or blinds
Avoid solid walls
Increase the quality of lighting

Results: A potential offender should feel like they are being watched

Natural Access Control: Design of a built environment that obstructs or guides people and vehicles in and around property.

Examples:

Landscapes
Sidewalks
Signs
Visible Addresses

Results: A criminal should never feel like they have the upper hand nor that they have easy hiding places

Territoriality/Maintenance: Design of the built environment that clearly shows ownership of an area. Maintenance - the long term upkeep and repair of buildings and surrounding property.

Examples:

Landscaping
Bollards
Fencing

Results: A well maintained area sends the message that someone cares and will less likely attract crime.

Benefits of using CPTED:

Safety and Security foster healthy communities
Safe design enhances the quality of the environment
Integrating safety mechanisms saves money
Integrated planning makes a significant contribution to decreasing crime

How is HBPD using CPTED?

By using CPTED, we have created a platform to build on good design and positive social interaction. Training, understanding the strategies, social awareness, and inclusiveness is all part of a CPTED program. CPTED is an approach to reduce crime that can be applied to businesses, mixed use building, commercial, residential, etc. Our department works with the Huntington Beach Planning Department to review site plans in the early stages of the planning process. This allows HBPD to take a proactive approach to discourage future crime incidents in our city. As a result, this helps property owners save money and it allows first responders to concentrate their energy on larger crime incidents.

More information on CPTED:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_prevention_through_environmental_design

https://centerforthelivingcity.org/janejacobs#info

Designing out Crime from Evidence to Action by Paul Cozens

Jane Jacob’s book, “The Death and Life of Great American Cities,” and her use of the phrase “Eyes on the Street” is all about recognizing your neighbor and including design strategies that create opportunities for social interaction.

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design

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