Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design – (CPTED)
What is CPTED?
CPTED or Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design is based upon the belief that crime can be directly related to the design of the physical environment.
The goal of CPTED is to create a climate of safety by designing environments that positively influence behavior, encourage desired activities and discourages undesired ones.
The primary benefit of CPTED is in the physical design of new or renovation capital construction projects. However, it also has excellent value when incorporated into existing sites.
The Major Benefits of CPTED
- Reduction in crime
- Reduction in potential for crime
- Perceived greater safety and security
- Improvement and beautification of the physical environment
- Improved quality of life with increased business activity – people feel safer
- Lower design and building costs – minimize number of doors
- Less electronic security systems (20-25%)
- Lower maintenance costs – less equipment to repair
- Lower utility costs – lighting in stairwells
- Lower operation costs – security officers
CPTED Incorporates Five Key Concepts
- Natural Surveillance
- Natural Access Control
- Territorial Reinforcement
- Maintenance
- Activity Support
The Security Survey normally addresses four (4) primary components or elements:
- Environmental Security
- Physical Security
- Electronic Security
- Procedural Security
A CPTED Security Survey focuses primarily on the following two (2) components or elements:
- Environmental Security
- Physical Security (primarily lighting)
