Why Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is Important for Urban Town Planning
CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) is a multidisciplinary approach to crime prevention in both natural and man-made environments.
CPTED has gained traction in a variety of development settings where one can use the link between environment and behaviour to reduce the incidence of opportunity-based crime.
The appropriate urban and town planning design and good use of the man-made environment can result in a decrease in the fear of crime and the incidence of crime, as well as an enhancement in quality of life.
Territoriality, surveillance, access control, and property management are the four aspects of CPTED that town planning services consider when designing a city.
These aspects, when utilized together, improve overall premise security and personal safety.
1. Territoriality
Firstly, territoriality refers to a person’s desire to protect the territory that they consider to be theirs while also showing respect for the territory of others.
The amount to which a person will protect territory is determined by his or her personal interest in or responsibility for it.
A homeowner, for example, is likely to put his or her life on the line to protect his or her house from an invader who is threatening their spouse or kid.
Here are some considerations for clearly defining your property.
- Do people use my property as a shortcut?
- Does my property ever look unkempt?
- Are there parts of my property where people loiter?
2. Surveillance
Additionally, criminals like to remain anonymous. You must be able to notice any illegal activities taking place to protect your property.
Property management should place physical features, activities, and people in such a way that they increase the ability to view what is going on to deter crime.
The answers to the following questions can assist you in determining your house or business’ visibility.
- Is my property’s view from surrounding homes obstructed by landscaping?
- Is there adequate lighting at all entrances, exits, and parking areas?
- Is there somewhere a person might hide near doors or windows?
3. Access Control
Furthermore, strategically placed entrances, exits, fences, and lighting can direct foot and car traffic in ways that deter crime.
By limiting or restricting the criminal’s mobility, Access Control limits or restricts access to a crime target, increasing the perceived risk of the offender.
These factors can help you control access to your property:
- Is it possible for people to trespass on my property without me noticing?
- What is the total number of entrances and exits on my property?
- Is it possible for someone to gain access to my property in unintended ways?
4. Property Management
Moreover, property management ensures that areas are adequately maintained and controlled throughout a building’s life cycle.
Property management encourages residents to portray a place in a positive light at all times. Spaces that aren’t well-managed are more prone to become disorganized and become targets for crime, terror, or both.
Crime fails if the chances of committing a crime are limited or removed. CPTED works by removing criminal possibilities from your property and its surroundings.
If your surroundings are prone to crime, your property would become less desirable to potential buyers.
People are more likely to feel uncomfortable and believe that inappropriate behaviour happens when there is a lack of maintenance.
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In a Nutshell
Our daily decisions about where we walk, where we exercise, and how we commute illustrate how closely we are linked to the architecture of our cities’ external surroundings.
We attempt to avoid situations that make us feel threatened or put us in danger of certain sorts of crimes.
Urban and town planning has a strong influence on people’s walking preferences and our overall well-being.