Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)

This assignment delves into the concept of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), highlighting its role in reducing crime and improving quality of life. It outlines various CPTED strategies, such as natural surveillance, access control, territorial reinforcement, maintenance, and lighting, explaining how they effectively deter criminal activity and promote a sense of security in urban environments. The assignment emphasizes the importance of incorporating these design principles into the planning and development of safer residential and business areas.

Running head: PHYSICAL SECURITY
Physical Security
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Crime Prevention through Environmental Design [CPTED]..........................................................2
Strategies of CPTED........................................................................................................................2
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................4
Reference List..................................................................................................................................5

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Introduction
Crime is perceived as a social issue in our society that affects the lives of thousands of
people every year. By tradition, the community has relied upon the judicial system and the police
to dissuade the criminals and thus, punishing the accused. Now, Crime Prevention through
Environmental Design [CPTED] is a concept that affirms that the homeowners, architect,
community, planners and security professionals can play a significant role in safeguarding
themselves as well as the community from crimes by incorporating CPTED principles into the
management of physical environment (Crawford & Evans, 2017).
Crime Prevention through Environmental Design [CPTED]
The concept of CPTED is relatively new and has become a significant strategy to prevent
crime that is used by law enforcement agencies, architects, security professional, planners and
the citizens. The underlying principle of this concept is that a proper and effective use of the built
environment can reduce the occurrence of crime and improve quality of life. The concept of
CPTED purports to reduce crime opportunities that may be inbuilt in the design or structures of
the neighborhoods (Cozens, 2016). In order to implement the CPTED designs, it is important to
understand the purpose of the space and how appropriately does the physical design realize the
goals of CPTED. The strategies of CPTED acts as guidelines that encourage the design
professionals to resolve the urban security related problems issues.
Strategies of CPTED
The strategies and principles of CPTED aims at providing solutions that are not only visually
pleasant but are also of high quality that ensures enhancement in the effective and appropriate

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use of space. The following are the strategies of CPTED that aims at deterring in the urban
communities:
1) Natural Surveillance- this is a design concept that aims at keeping the burglars and
intruders under observation. This form of CPTED design or strategy accelerated the
perspicuity of the building or property. The proper position of lighting, windows enables
the inmates as well as the observers who is concerned about keeping a watch over the
intruders, and report any inappropriate conduct to the property owner or police. The
advantage of this design is that it makes the behavior of the offender perceptible to any
passerby or police control. In regards to visual connection established by such strategy,
activity rooms such as kitchen, sidewalks and alleys provide apparent view of common
areas such as parking or streets (Vera & Fabian, 2016).
2) Natural Access Control- this approach refers to the use of elements like fences, gates,
shrubs and doors, which denies access to the crime target and alerts the offenders that it is
precarious to choose target. The primary objective of this form of this strategy is to
prevent the offender to commit crime against the target and create a discernment of risk
to such criminals. Alarms, locks and bars are some other essential elements that act as
mechanical and physical means of access control measures.
3) Territorial maintenance- this CPTED approach refers to design elements such as
porches, landscaping and sidewalks that helps to differentiate between private and public
areas. It further states that the users display signs like ‘ownership’ that sends messages to
the offenders who aim at committing crime against people (Cozens & Melenhorst, 2014).
Thus, the concept of territorial reinforcement signifies that physical design may create a

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perception for the offenders about territorial influence. For instance, landscape, low walls
often define space that belongs to the residents of the unit.
4) Maintenance- maintenance and care permits persistent use of a space for which it has
been built. The deterioration of such places signifies that the users of such site or places
are least concerned about the disorder. An appropriate way of maintaining safeguards
public health, welfare and safety in all the structures whether it is residential, non-
residential and other prevailing premises (Sohn, 2016). This is possible by establishing
standards and requirements that are acceptable. The inmates or the owners are highly
responsible to ensure care and effective maintenance.
5) Lighting- good lighting is one of the most effective strategies used to prevent crimes for
occurring in the community. An appropriate way of using this strategy discourages
criminal activity and increases natural supervision opportunities resulting in less fear. A
constant level of lighting enables good visibility at night (Joyce & Armitage, 2016).
Conclusion
CPTED concept can be beneficial for the urban community planners, as it would enable
them to take into account crime risks in their design process to ensure safer residential and
business areas. It further enables to develop innovative solutions that prevent the urban
communities from being subjected to crimes.

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Reference List
Cozens, P. (2016). Think crime! Using evidence, theory and crime prevention through
environmental design (CPTED) for planning safer cities (pp. 1-211). Praxis education.
Cozens, P., & Melenhorst, P. (2014). Exploring community perceptions of crime and crime
prevention through environmental design (CPTED) in Botswana. In Proceedings of The
British Criminology Conference, Edge Hill University, Lancashire (pp. 65-83).
Crawford, A., & Evans, K. (2017). Crime prevention and community safety (pp. 797-824).
Oxford University Press.
Joyce, C., & Armitage, R. (2016). Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED)
and retail crime: Exploring Offender Perspectives on Risk and Protective factors in the
Design and Layout of Retail Environments.
Sohn, D. W. (2016). Residential crimes and neighbourhood built environment: Assessing the
effectiveness of crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED). Cities, 52, 86-
93.
Vera, Y., & Fabian, N. (2016). Crime prevention through environmental design.