WA CPTED Awards

Crime prevention by design...

What is 'target hardening'?

Target hardening is the use of designoutcrime strategies to make it harder for a crime to be committed and reduces the gains of crime.

Target hardening increases the efforts that offenders must expend in the commission of a crime and is the most long-established and traditional approach to crime prevention. It is directed at denying or limiting access to a crime target through the use of physical barriers such as fences, gates, locks, electronic alarms and security patrols.

Excessive use of target hardening tactics, however, can create a 'fortress mentality' and imagery whereby residents withdraw behind physical barriers and the self-policing capacity of the built environment is damaged. This is, effectively working against CPTED strategies that rely on surveillance, territoriality and image. In addition it can reduce the benefits offered by positive image management.

The DesignOut Crime/CPTED components of surveillance, access control, territorial reinforcement, activity support, image/management, and target hardening have all individually contributed to reducing crime and the fear of crime in a broad range of studies.

By optimising opportunities for surveillance, clearly defining boundaries (and defining preferred use within such spaces) and creating and maintaining a positive 'image', urban design and management can discourage offending.

This is explained by the fact that offenders are potentially more visible to 'law-abiding' others, and therefore, perceive themselves to be more at risk of observation and subsequent apprehension.

Additionally, a well-maintained and appropriately used environment can signify that a sense of 'ownership' and proprietary concern exists within the community.

Some researchers (e.g., Fisher and Nasar, 1992) have introduced a threefold grouping of physical features; prospect (for the user), refuge (for the potential offender) and escape (for the user and potential offender) into CPTED theory. Taylor and Harrell (1996, p. 9) conclude;

Research confirms that fear [of crime] is higher in locations that offer good refuge for the potential offender but low prospect and escape for the user

Some have expanded on these ideas to consider social and demographic dimensions, since it is people who must 'self-police' within urban space. This may not always happen, however, even if the space is designed to encourage it.

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Burglar tells how

Peter Woolf, a reformed burglar, speaks on local news and demonstrates how easy it is to break into a home.

 

 

Designing Out Crime

Innovative design is important to reducing crime says UK Home Office. New types of crime have evolved with society and technology  and Design helps prevent new crimes and reduce criminal activity.

What is CPTED?

  • CPTED is Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design.

    Underlying the use of CPTED is the assumption that the proper design and effective use of the built environment can lead to a reduction in the fear and incidence of crime, and an improvement in the quality of life(Crowe, 2000, p. 46).

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Organisers

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Funding Sponsor

  • The WA CPTED Awards are sponsored and funded by the WA Police Community Engagement Division.

    WAPCED website

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CPTED in school

  • A rapid review of CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) applied to a school or educational setting.