It is now widely recognised that there is a link between design and crime and that careful attention to the planning of towns and to the design of estates and individual buildings can help reduce crime.

 

Policy is set out in " Planning Policy Statement 1: Delivering Sustainable Development" and " Safer Places: the planning system & crime prevention", which state that planning proposals can help reduce crime, particularly if they are considered as part of a strategic approach incorporating a wide range of measures, including, for example, estate or town centre management and CCTV.   The Policy Statement accepts that crime prevention is a 'material' planning consideration which can legitimately be taken into account in preparing plans and deciding planning applications.

 

The Policy Statement suggests that if areas, such as town centres, are occupied after dark, the presence of people produces informal supervision which reduces vandalism and crime. A mix of users, including housing and entertainment will ensure that the area does not become a deserted and therefore potentially threatening environment.

 

Planning of new residential developments should provide a reasonable mix of housing type, tenure and size, the creation of a sense of place, the provision of facilities for the young and proposals to create a more attractive environment, since it has been shown that packages of such measures are successful in reducing crime.

 

Detailed design measures can help reduce vandalism and crime. Attractive, well cared for environments are less prone to vandalism, but in some cases it is recognised that the need for crime prevention measures will have to be balanced against visual amenity. Thus with landscaping it is important to avoid planting which can screen wrong doers close to footpaths, but the use of spiky bushes can help deter crime. Footpaths should be well lit and well supervised by passers by and overlooking residents. Car parks should be well lit and supervised where possible. Shutters on shops may rarely be necessary but if justified should be attractively designed, for example with open grilles, to avoid 'dead' shopping frontages and graffiti.

 

Liaison between the developer, the planning authority and the police can ensure that new developments have crime prevention measures built into their design.

 

Crime prevention should be taken into account in the planning of all developments.

 

The Police Architectural Liaison Officer is available to help.   

Contact:

Mr Chris Green
Architectural Liaison Officer
Western Area
North Park Road
Harrogate
HG1 5PJ
Tel: 01423 539452
Fax: 01423 539473
email: chris.green@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk