Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design for Developers

Principles and Guidelines

1. Natural Surveillance

   Natural Surveillance aims to make spaces more visible to help deter criminal activity. It suggests designing areas with clear sightlines, using windows and lights effectively, and placing plants to avoid hiding spots. This can ensure that people can easily observe their surroundings, including activities of potential offenders, making them feel safer.

   • Ensure that the lighting on the property is bright enough for people to see clearly, but not too bright to cause glare, dispersion, or shadows that could conceal unwanted activities. People should be able to recognize a face from about 10 meters away. 

   • Use LED lights, as they are cheaper, last a long time, and spread light uniformly. This is especially important along walkways, entrances, exits, and parking lots. For more guidelines related to lighting, you can refer to Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) standards. 

   • Ensure that the main entrance is at least partially visible from the street.  

   • Use motion-sensor lighting wherever possible, especially in areas that are less frequently used. 

   • Ensure that dense plants, narrow alleyways, or placement of garbage cans and electrical boxes do not create hiding spots that are difficult to view from the street or windows.  

   • Ensure that there are clear sightlines and visibility of the site from the streets and windows of nearby buildings, especially in sensitive areas like parking lots and entrances/exits. 

   • Keep windows clear of pamphlets, signs, or plants that could block the view. 

   • Place workstations or active areas (like reception, dining tables, or cashier) near windows that overlook the street and parking lot. 

   • Follow the 2 ft / 6 ft rule for landscaping: keep shrubs no higher than 2 feet and tree branches no lower than 6 feet so that they don’t block views or light. 

   • Make sure driveways and parking spaces are visible from the front/back entrance, streets, and/or windows of the building. 

   • Design stairways so people can see through the stairs and railing to avoid blind turns. 

   • Paint parking garage walls and ceilings light colors and add convex mirrors at turns to help drivers and pedestrians see better. 

2. Territorial Reinforcement

   Territorial Reinforcement helps create a sense of ownership and responsibility for spaces. It uses elements like fences, signs, and landscaping to delineate public and private areas. This helps residents feel in control of their environment and signals to visitors the boundaries of private territory.

   • Use fences, bollards, paving treatments, low walls, or plants to show where the property line begins and to separate public areas from private ones. 

   • Put up signs that show who own the property, when it’s open, permissible activities, and any other important details like the building number, reminders to close garage doors, rules about trespassing, or how to report problematic behaviors on site. 

   • Clearly mark access and exit points so that new visitors can easily find them. 

   • Wherever necessary, create transition zones using paving treatments or landscaping to communicate the difference between public, private, and semi-private spaces. 

3. Access Control

   Access Control uses design to limit access to certain areas while enhancing authorized entry. This helps manage who can enter a space and also reduces the ease of crime for an offender. 

   • Use the design of pathways, landscaping, directional signs, etc. to naturally guide people towards entrances and from exits. 

   • Use barriers like fencing, bollards, or thorny bushes to block access to sensitive or restricted areas. 

   • Install gates or electronic systems to control access, like key fobs, automatic doors, and vehicle sensors (for parking garages). 

   • If possible, have only one entry and exit point so that it can be monitored at all times. 

   • Ensure that fencing, walls, and gates are designed to be difficult to climb.  

   • Install cameras, buzzer systems, or peepholes on apartment doors so that residents can see visitors before letting them inside. 

   • Design benches and seating area in a manner that is inviting for short-term use and gathering but discourages long-term loitering. 

4. Maintenance

   Maintenance signals that an area is cared for and watched over, which can discourage crime. This principle encourages regular upkeep of properties, prompt repairs, and the removal of litter. A clean and well-maintained environment improves aesthetics and fosters community pride.

   • Assign specific people to take care of regular maintenance, and separate private and community responsibilities as needed. 

   • Create a maintenance plan to keep lights working and landscaping trimmed for better visibility on site. 

   • Set up a system for regular repairs and landscaping to avoid making the place look neglected or abandoned. 

   • Keep landscaping and weeds trimmed and short enough that people can see over and around it.  

5. Activity Support

   Activity Support focuses on getting people actively involved in legitimate activities to make places feel safer. By creating spaces, events, and opportunities for people to hang out, engage in recreation, and connect with others, it is possible to build "natural guardians" - people who help deter crime just by being present and involved in possible activities. 

   • Provide infrastructure like sports equipment, activity spaces, event rooms, etc. to encourage community activities on site. 

   • Design parks, gathering areas, and seating in places where people can see and be seen from windows, streets, and other busy areas. 

   • Place busy activities in areas that are usually hidden or at-risk of illicit behavior, so that there’s always a flow of people who can keep an eye on those spots. Similarly, locate high-risk sections of the site (eg: ATMs and restrooms) where they are easily visible in areas of high use.  

6. Target Hardening

   Target hardening and mechanical surveillance:   

   • In places where it's hard to naturally watch or control access through design, or where there might be blind spots, use mechanical systems like cameras and emergency alarms. 

   • Make sure doors are at least 1.75 inches thick with strong hinges and locks. Also, put smash-resistant film on windows, especially those on the ground floor. 

   • For retail properties, it is recommended to install alarms that go off if items are stolen, using security tags on products.