Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design Site Surveys

CPTED

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design Guidebook

Preface


We have created this guide book to assist our community in understanding the concept of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED). This information is meant to provide information on the principles of CPTED; and can help inform decision making in many stages of property development and redevelopment.

CPTED equips our community with a set of tools that have proven beneficial worldwide. Each section of the guide focuses on a different CPTED concept and includes recommended design strategies to consider for your property.

Introduction

CPTED utilizes a proactive approach to reducing criminal opportunity via thoughtful design implementation, guided by the principles of CPTED. The main goal of CPTED is to create and design environments where our residents feel safe and secure.

There are many ways that CPTED endeavors to accomplish crime reduction goals:

  • Natural Surveillance
  • Natural Access Control
  • Territorial Reinforcement
  • Maintenance
  • Social Management

Conventional crime prevention techniques concentrate only on target hardening, however, CPTED offers a multi faceted approach to making spaces less desirable locations for criminal activity.

You may be wondering how else CPTED can benefit our community?

  • Potential reduction of crime
  • Reduced fear of crime
  • Better quality of life
  • Encourages community engagement
  • Safer public spaces

CPTED marries the concept of physical and social management to accomplish these goals in our community and in many other communities in Florida, the United States and beyond.

Natural Surveillance

Natural surveillance relies on maximum visibility of physical features within a location to influence the behavior of individuals.

Appropriate use of lighting, manicured landscaping and clear sightlines all work together to provide natural surveillance.

The people who frequent a space are the ideal providers of natural surveillance. Surveillance camera systems are considered mechanical surveillance and would not be considered a form of natural surveillance when utilizing CPTED concepts.

Recommendations: 

  • Avoid creating light islands and aim for uniformity of illuminance instead
  • Direct lighting for maximum impact and utilize shields, be careful to avoid light trespass onto neighboring properties.
  • Be mindful of the amount of window. coverage on businesses -- ensure that customers can see in and out of your windows.
  • Landscaping should comply with the 2 foot 6 foot CPTED rule. Hedges and shrubs should not exceed 2' from the ground level up, and tree canopies should allow for 6' of vertical clearance.
  • Consider fencing that allows for natural surveillance. 

Natural Access Control

Natural access control equips visitors and residents of Titusville with a sense of confidence by defining public and private spaces.

Clearly defined public streets, sidewalks, landscaping, entrances and exits help to guide users and provide natural access control, keeping people safely in public spaces and avoiding private spaces.

Recommendations: 

  • Provide wayfinding signage for visitors that is identifiable and clearly legible.
  • Clearly delineate entrances and exits to properties.
  • Distinguish between public and private spaces by installing CPTED friendly fencing.
  • Make certain that premise identification is present on buildings.
  • Landscaping can be used to guide people throughout your property.
  • Restrict access to private areas via signage.
  • Ensure all locks on windows and doors are operational.

Territorial Reinforcement

Territorial reinforcement is technique that works by establishing and defining territorial boundaries on a property.

The creative use and combination of landscaping, fencing and signage, discourage illegitimate user activities like trespassing.

Recommendations: 

  • Install landscape features, short fences or walls to represent ownership of a space.
  • Use distinguishing features, such as, a change in pavement, to represent the transition zone from public to private space.
  • When employing landscaping as a territorial boundary ensure natural surveillance is preserved.
  • Signage should indicate any areas of restricted access.

Maintenance

Making maintenance a priority on your property helps promote pride of place and acts a a crime deterrent by further cementing territorial reinforcement strategies.

Timely maintenance ensures that people understand that the owners care for a space and will take action to protect their space.

Recommendations: 

  • Remove graffiti as soon as reasonably possible.
  • Conduct routine maintenance of trees, shrubs, bushes, and landscaping.
  • Ensure protective treatment and paint on buildings is in good condition.
  • Keep your property free of trash, junk and debris.
  • Replace broken or non operational lighting fixtures.

Social Management

Consider creating opportunities to develop and foster community relationships.

Positive community connections help to create safer public spaces and potential discourage criminal activities.

Recommendations: 

  • Explore ways to encourage placemaking where you live, work or spend leisure time.
  • Create public art installations or consider covering large blank walls with murals.
  • Discover unique and creative ways to bring the community together in pubic spaces
  • Attend public events to foster a sense of community in our city.
  • Embed yourself into the community by creating or finding volunteer opportunities.

 

How we can help?

The City of Titusville has invested resources into creating a team of Florida Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design Practitioners, (FCP) and Florida Crime Prevention Practitioners, (FCCP).

These staff members conduct CPTED site plan review as well as:

  • CPTED site surveys
  • Residential Security Surveys
  • Educational Q&A sessions
  • Consultations

Documents available from Code Enforcement for self service:

  • CPTED Self Assessment
  • CPTED for Multi Family Self Assessment
  • Home Inventory

Download CPTED design guide by clicking the link below

  1. CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN.pdf