Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) approach

 

The basis of Crime Prevention Through Environment Design (CPTED), pronounced as sep-ted, strategies rely upon ability to influence the decisions of individuals to commit crimes before they actually do it. Research into criminal behaviour shows that the decision of a criminal to commit a crime or an offence is influenced more by a sense of perceived risk of being caught than by the reward associated with the crime or offence. In other words, certainty of being caught is the main deterrence for criminals and not the severity of the punishment or value of reward. Therefore, if the built environment is capable of raising this perceived risk of being caught, the occurrences of criminal acts will correspondingly reduce. (www.cpted.net). Consequently the guidelines for implementing such design interventions are based upon the theory that the proper design and effective use or manipulation of the built environment can reduce crime, reduce the fear of crime, and improve the quality of life.

There are four major principles behind the guidelines that must be applied while carrying out the design assessment of the environment

1. Natural Surveillance: This principle aims at establishing an environment having underlying goal as "See and be seen". A person is less likely to commit a crime if they think someone will see them do it. Natural surveillance occurs by designing the placement of physical features, activities and people in such a way as to maximize visibility and foster positive social interaction among legitimate users. Potential offenders feel increased scrutiny and limitations on their escape routes. Lighting and landscape play an important role under this principle.

2. Natural Access control: The goal with this CPTED principle is not necessarily to keep intruders out, but to direct the flow of people while decreasing the opportunity for crime and utilizes the use of walkways, fences, lighting, signage and landscape to clearly guide people and vehicles to and from the proper entrances. The principle emphasises on placing entrances and exits, fencing, lighting and landscape selectively at strategic locations to limit access or control flow.

3. Territorial reinforcement: The main aim of this principle is to have a design which results in providing a clear perception of distinction between a private space and public space. An environment designed to clearly delineate private space does two things. First, it creates a sense of ownership. Owners have a vested interest and are more likely to challenge intruders or report them to the police. Second, the sense of owned space creates an environment where "strangers" or "intruders" stand out and are more easily identified. By using buildings, fences, pavement, signs, lighting and landscape to express ownership and define public, semi-public and private space, natural territorial reinforcement occurs

4. Maintenance: This principle works on the logic that neglected and poorly maintained properties are breeding grounds for criminal activity. Well maintained properties give a perception of ownership which cares while as deterioration indicates less control by the intended users of a site and indicate a greater tolerance of disorder. These cues are taken by the criminals who perceive poorly maintained areas as low risk as owns do not seem to bother much. This is also explained by a theory called “Broken Window Theory” which stresses upon the importance of maintenance.