CPTED is based on the premise that “proper design and effective use of the physical environment can produce behavioural effects that will reduce the incidence and fear of crime thereby improving the quality of life. These behavioural effects can be accomplished by reducing the propensity of the physical environment to support criminal behaviour” (Crowe, 1991).

The Foundations of CPTED

1961: Jane Jacobs, The Death and Life of Great American Cities - active crowded streets can reduce opportunities for crime.

1970s: C. Ray Jeffrey coined the term “crime prevention through environmental design” - urban design can prevent crime and reduce opportunities for criminal behaviour.

1972: Oscar Newman, Defensible Space - restructured the layout of buildings and neighbourhoods to allow residents to retake control.

1980s: Donald Perlgut coined the phrase “manageable space”: Combined management policy practices with space designed and laid out according to CPTED.

1990s: Timothy Crowe - focuses on people and their physical and social surroundings; combines physical and urban design with behavioural and social sciences, law enforcement and community organisation.

2000s: Wendy Bell and Wendy Sarkissian - Focussing more on the wider situation, youth inclusive design, developmental approaches to safety

The Basic Principals of CPTED

The three CPTED Strategies are:

1. Natural Surveillance: The placement of physical features, activities, and people in a way that maximises visibility is one concept directed toward keeping intruders easily observable, and therefore less likely to commit criminal acts. Features that maximise the visibility of people, parking areas, and building entrances are: unobstructed doors and windows, pedestrian-friendly footpaths and streets, front porches, and appropriate nighttime lighting.
2. Access Control: Access control is another design concept directed primarily at decreasing crime opportunity by denying access to crime targets and creating a perception of risk for offenders. People are physically guided through a space by the strategic design of streets, footpaths, building entrances, landscaping, and neighbourhood gateways. Design elements are very useful tools to clearly indicate public routes and discourage access to private areas and structural elements.
3. Territorial Reinforcement / Ownership: Physical design can also create or extend a sphere of influence. Users are encouraged to develop a sense of territorial control while potential offenders, perceiving this control, are discouraged. This concept includes features that define property lines and distinguish private spaces from public spaces using landscape plantings, pavement designs, gateway treatments, signage, and open ("CPTED") fences.

CPTED and Local Government

CPTED has been a concept / strategy employed at differing degrees by local governments internationally. At the 2002 Local Government Safer Communities Conference held in Wellington, CPTED featured strongly, with presentations by Wendy Bell of the Sth Australia Crime Prevention Unit of the Government’s Attorney General Department. Local Government New Zealand and the Crime Prevention Unit have since agreed to work together to develop and promote CPTED guidelines that councils can incorporate into their planning.

Crowe’s Three CPTED strategies:

• Natural access control
• Natural surveillance
• Territorial reinforcement

CPTED Concepts and Language:

• Lighting
• Clear sightlines
• Clear ownership of Space
• Safe Routes
• Entrapment spots
• Signage
• Movement predictors
• Escape routes
• Landscaping
• Activities
• Mixed use of public space
• Materials
• Maintenance & Management

Analysis of Physical Space:

• Designation
• Definition
• Design

Users of Space

• Legitimate
• Illegitimate
• Observers