Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED)

CPTED is based on concepts that determine factors that may prevent crime in the built environment. These concepts include:

  • Crimes against people and property are less likely to occur if other people are around;
  • People in adjoining buildings and spaces should be able to see what is happening; and
  • It is important to give people options and safe choices, particularly in response to what is happening
  • CPTED achieves increased safety by creating environmental and social conditions that:
    • maximise the risk to offenders of being caught;
    • maximise the effort to commit a crime;
    • minimise the actual and perceived benefits of crime; and
    • minimise the excuse making opportunities

There are also a set of principles commonly used in the area of CPTED. These are as follows:

  • Surveillance – design to allow for passive surveillance;
  • Legibility – allows people to know where they are and how to get where they are going;
  • Territoriality – design provides clearly legitimate boundaries between private, semi-private, community group and public space;
  • Ownership of outcomes – encourage a sense of individual and community ownership of the space;
  • Management – design places to minimise opportunities for damage, allow regular maintenance and remove rubbish; and
  • Vulnerability design should respond to greater degrees of vulnerability or risk.

Architecture & Access is able to provide advice on CPTED by using the above concepts and principles to provide a framework for our services. Wide-ranging recommendations to architects include the planting of trees and shrubs, the elimination of escape routes, the correct use of lighting, and the encouragement of pedestrian and bicycle traffic in streets.

Architecture & Access

Melbourne

Level 5, 369 Royal Parade
Parkville VIC Australia 3052


T 1300 715 866
E info@archaccess.com.au

Brisbane

Bowman House, Level 4,
Suite 41B, 276 Edward Street
Brisbane QLD 4000 Australia

T 1300 715 866
E info@archaccess.com.au