What is Territoriality?
Territoriality is one of the key components of CPTED and Design Out Crime.
Territoriality is a design concept directed at reinforcing notions of proprietary concern and a “sense of ownership” in legitimate users of space thereby reducing opportunities for offending by discouraging illegitimate users. In first-generation CPTED it is the primary umbrella concept upon which all the others are based. Different forms include symbolic barriers (e.g. signage) and real barriers (e.g. fences or design that clearly defines and delineates between private, semi-private and public spaces). Access control and surveillance will also contribute towards promoting territoriality by promoting legitimate users’ informal social control. CPTED emphasises crime prevention techniques that exploit the opportunities in the environment; both to naturally and routinely facilitate access control and surveillance, and to reinforce positive behaviour in the use of the environment
