Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED): What It Is and How to Implement It

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is based on a theory that the proper design and effective use of a facility can increase a feeling of safety and improve the quality of life for staff and volunteers, and, ultimately, reduce the occurrence of crime.

CPTED also aims to prevent crime by studying the site design and working with security professionals, architects, city planners, and landscape and interior designers to create safer designs in new and existing facilities.

CPTED Concepts and Strategies

CPTED considers how people behave in an environment, how that environment lends itself to productive and safe use and how crime prevention may be applied under the circumstances. Issues such as the natural observation, building orientation, entrances/exits, parking lot location, lighting, landscaping, fences, sidewalks and signage are just a few that are considered in a location review under CPTED principles.

Interior elements such as colors, lighting, ceiling heights, reception area design, hallway size and counter placement make environments feel safe and pleasing to staff and service recipients, while also preventing potential criminals.

Implementing CPTED Approaches

Many organizations are not designing new buildings, but occupying existing buildings and office space. These locations can also use CPTED approaches to help reduce crime. For example, lowered ceilings, softer and lower-wattage lighting and calming paint colors help reduce anxiety that can lead to shouting, acting out and other violence.

Narrowing the hallway from the main entry doors to the reception area naturally slows people down and directs them. Customer service counters constructed wider than the comfortable reach of a tall person’s arm protect employees and volunteers without caging them behind steel bars or bulletproof plastic.

These solutions not only help prevent crime, but also make the site more welcoming for guests.

Four Key CPTED Concepts to Remember

CPTED is much more than placing deadbolts on doors and locks on windows. The principles can be applied easily and inexpensively to new buildings or remodeling and have been implemented in communities across the nation.

CPTED applies four interrelated key concepts:

Natural Surveillance 

The placement of physical features, activities and people to maximize visibility, such as:

• Raised entrances 
• Low-level landscaping 
• Windows facing parking lots 
• Exterior of building well lit 

Natural Access Control 

The physical guidance of people entering and exiting a space that limits access and challenges unwanted visitors by the dedicated placement of: 

• Entrances and exits 
• Fencing 
• Landscaping 
• Lighting 

Territorial Reinforcement 

The use of physical attributes that express ownership and make intruders feel unprotected and unwelcome, such as: 

• Fencing 
• Signage 
• Landscaping 
• Pavement treatments 

Property Maintenance as Crime Prevention

Maintaining property shows that management cares for and will defend the property against crime by:

• Regular removal of graffiti
• Removal of litter and debris from grounds
• Lighting inspections to ensure adequate lighting

The way we react to an environment is greatly determined by the cues we pick up from those surroundings. Those things which make normal or legitimate users of a space feel safe (like good lighting), make unstable or uninvited users of the same space feel unsafe in pursuing undesirable behaviors (such as stealing from cars).

Safety and Security Precautions

The following are a few specific safety and security precautions you can take without rebuilding, remodeling or moving your facility:

• Allow a security professional to conduct a security assessment of your facility. Hazards or threats to your facility should be identified so that steps can be taken to address them. An assessment helps determine if you’ve implemented reasonable countermeasures to secure your premises and provide for the safety of your personnel, clients and visitors. The security professional will provide you with a list of improvements you can make to increase safety and security on your premises.
• Cut back foliage from windows, entrances and exits to reduce hiding spots and increase visibility.
• Use a buddy system to help employees stay safe walking to their cars.
• Maintain good quality locks on building entrances and windows.
• Offer classes in street smarts to employees and volunteers.
• Periodically inspect lighting around buildings to ensure proper operation and adequate coverage. Light covers should be cleaned at least annually.