Register      Login
New South Wales Public Health Bulletin New South Wales Public Health Bulletin Society
Supporting public health practice in New South Wales
Shopping Cart: ( empty )
You are here: Home > Journals > NB > NB07025
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 18(12)

Public health and the potential benefits of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design

Paul Cozens
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Curtin University of Technology

B Email: p.cozens@curtin.edu.au

NSW Public Health Bulletin 18(12) 232-237 https://doi.org/10.1071/NB07025
Published: 6 December 2007

Abstract

Studies have consistently found that safety and security are major public concerns; however, crime is rarely considered as an outcome in public health. The recent shift by planning policy towards promoting compact, ‘walkable’ communities close to public transport aims to redress many of the problems associated with urban sprawl. However, communities that do not feel safe are less likely to be active citizens. This paper argues that Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design has potential benefits for public health in the provision of local crime risk assessments and in delivering safer environments, which can support active living, walkable communities and public health.


References


[1] Wirth L. Urbanism as a way of life. Am J Sociol 1938; 44 1–24.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[2] Napier M, Du Plessis C, Liebermann S, Kruger T, Shaw M, Louw A, Oppler S. Environmental design for safer communities in South Africa. Volumes 1 and 2. Pretoria: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, 1998.

[3] Vanderschueren F. Towards safer cities. UNCHS Habitat Debate. 1998; 4(1): 1–5.


[4] Mayhew P. Counting the costs of crime in Australia. Australian Institute of Criminology Trends and Issues No. 247. Canberra: AIC, 2003.

[5] Johnson H. Crime Victimisation in Australia: Key Results of the 2004 International Crime Victimisation Survey. Research and Public Policy Series No. 64. Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2005. At http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/rpp/64/rpp64.pdf, accessed 22 June 2006.

[6] Brantingham PL, Brangtingham PJ. Environmental criminology. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications, 1981.

[7] Brantingham PJ,  Brantingham PL. Environmental criminology: from theory to urban planning practice. Studies on Crime and Crime Prevention 1998; 7(1): 31–60.


[8] Brantingham PJ,  Brantingham PL,  Molumby T. Perceptions of crime in a dreadful enclosure. Ohio J Sci 1977; 77(6): 256–61.


[9] Vrij A,  Winkel W. Characteristics of the built environment and fear of crime; a research note on interventions in unsafe locations. Deviant Behav 1991; 12 203–15.


[10] Kawachi I,  Kennedy B,  Wilkinson R. Crime: social disorganisation and relative deprivation. Soc Sci Med 1999; 48 719–31.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |

[11] Del Carmen A,  Robinson MB. Crime prevention through environmental design and consumption control in the United States. The Howard Journal 2000; 39 267–89.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[12] Crowe T. Crime prevention through environmental design: applications of architectural design and space management concepts. 2nd ed. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann, 2000.

[13] Jacobs J. The death and life of great American cities. New York: Vintage Books, 1961.

[14] McKay T. Empty spaces, dangerous places. International crime prevention through environmental design association. At http://www.cpted.net/, accessed 25 October 2007.

[15] Kraut DT. Hanging out the no vacancy sign: eliminating the blight of vacant buildings from urban areas. New York Univ Law Rev 1999; 74 1139–77.


[16] Ross CE,  Mirowsky J. Disorder and decay: the concept and measurement of perceived neighbourhood disorder. Urban Aff Rev 1999; 34(3): 412–32.


[17] Newman O. Defensible space people and design in the violent city. London: Architectural Press, 1973.

[18] Armitage R. An evaluation of secured by design housing schemes throughout the West Yorkshire area. Huddersfield: University of Huddersfield, 1999.

[19] Brown J. An evaluation of the secured by design initiative in Gwent, South Wales. MSc. Scarman Centre for the Study of Public Order, University of Leicester, 1999.

[20] Pascoe T. Evaluation of secured by design in public sector housing. Final Report. Watford: BRE, 1999.

[21] Cozens PM,  Pascoe T,  Hillier D. The policy and practice of secured by design (sbd). crime prevention and community safety Int J 2004; 6(1): 13–29.


[22] Cozens PM,  Saville G,  Hillier D. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED): A review and modern bibliography. J Property Management 2005; 23 328–56.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[23] Kawachi I, Levine S, Miller S, Lasch K, Amick BIII . Income inequality and life expectancy; theory, research and policy. Joint Program on Society and Health Working paper series. Working Paper No. 94-2. Boston: New England Medical Center, 1994

[24] Hsieh C,  Pugh M. Poverty Income Inequality and Violent Crime: A Meta-analysis of Recent Aggregated Data Studies. Crim Justice Rev 1993; 18 182–202.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[25] Mair J,  Mair M. CPTED and public health: a natural partnership. The Journal of the International Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design Association 2003; 2(1): 21–33..


[26] Wilson JQ,  Kelling GL. Making neighborhoods safe: sometimes ‘fixing broken windows’ does more to reduce crime than conventional ‘incident-oriented’ policing. Atl Mon 1989; 263(2): 46–52.


[27] Felson M, Clarke R. Opportunity makes the thief. Practical Theory for Crime Prevention. Police Research Series Paper 98. London: Home Office Policing and Reducing Crime Unit. Research Development and Statistics Directorate, 1998.

[28] Sallis JF,  Bauman A,  Pratt M. Environmental and policy interventions to promote physical activity. Am J Prev Med 1998; 15 379–97.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |

[29] Ewing R,  Cervero R. Travel and the built environment: a synthesis. Transport Res Rec 2001; 1780 87–114.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[30] Frank L. Land use and transportation interaction: implications on public health and quality of life. J Plan Educ Res 2000; 20(1): 6–22.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[31] Speer P,  Gorman D,  Labouvie E,  Ontkush M. Violent crime and alcohol availability: relationships in an urban community. J Public Health Policy 1998; 19(3): 303–18.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |

[32] Wallace R. Urban desertification, public health and public order: ‘planned shrinkage,’ violent death, substance abuse and AIDS in the Bronx. Soc Sci Med 1990; 31 801–13.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |

[33] Wallace R,  Wallace D,  Andrews H. AIDS, tuberculosis, violent crime and low birthweight in eight US metropolitan areas: public policy, stochastic resonance, and the regional diffusion of inner-city markers. Environ Plann A 1997; 29 525–55.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[34] Cohen D,  Mason K,  Bedimo A,  Scribner R,  Basolo V,  Farley T. Neighborhood physical conditions and health. Am J Public Health 2003; 93 467–71.
| PubMed |

[35] Sampson RJ,  Raudenbush S. Systematic social observation of public spaces: a new look at disorder in urban neighborhoods. AJS 1999; 105 603–51.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[36] Merry S. Defensible space undefended: social factors in crime prevention through environmental design. Urban Aff Q 1981; 16(4): 397–422.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[37] Saville G, Cleveland G. Second-generation CPTED in schools. In: 1st Annual International CPTED Association Conference, Orlando, FL. 1997.

[38] Saville G,  Cleveland G. An introduction to 2nd Generation CPTED: Part 1. CPTED Perspectives. 2003; 6(1): 7–9.


[39] Saville G,  Cleveland G. An introduction to 2nd Generation CPTED: Part 2. CPTED Perspectives. 2003; 6(2): 4–8.


[40] Ekblom P. Gearing up against crime: a dynamic framework to help designers keep up with the adaptive criminal in a changing world. International Journal of Risk, Security and Crime Prevention. 1997; 2(4): 249–65.


[41] Shepherd J,  Hugget R,  Kidner G. Impact resistance of bar glasses. J Trauma 1993; 36 939.


[42] WAPC. Designing Out Crime Guidelines. Perth: Western Australian Planning Commission, 2006. At www.wapc.wa.gov.au, accessed 25 October 2007.

[43] WAPC. Designing Out Crime Planning Bulletin No.79. Perth: Western Australian Planning Commission, 2006. At www.wapc.wa.gov.au, accessed 25 October 2007.

[44] Government of Western Australia. Hope for the future: the Western Australian State Sustainability Strategy. Perth: Department of Premier and Cabinet, 2003.

[45] NSW Department of Urban Affairs and Planning. Crime prevention and the assessment of development applications Guidelines under section 79C of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. Sydney: Crown Copyright, 2001. At http://police.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/9390/duapguide_s79c.pdf, accessed 25 October 2007.

[46] Home Office. Cutting crime: a new partnership 2008–2011. London: Crown Copyright, Home Office, 2007.

[47] Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care. Health Impact Assessment Guidelines. Canberra: Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, 2001. At http://www.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/publishing.nsf/Content/health-pubhlth-publicat-document-metadata-env_impact.htm/$FILE/env_impact.pdf, accessed 25 October 2007.

[48] International Association for Impact Assessment. Social Impact Assessment: International Principles. Special Publication Series No. 2. 2003. At http://www.iaia.org/modx/assets/files/SP2.pdf, accessed 25 October 2007.

[49] Northbridge M,  Sclar E. A joint urban planning and public health framework: contributions to Health Impact Assessment. Am J Public Health 2003; 93(1): 118–21.
| PubMed |

[50] Krieger N. Theories for social epidemiology in the 21st Century: an ecosocial perspective. Int J Epidemiol 2001; 30 668–77.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |

[51] Gruskin S, Tarantola D. Health and human rights. In: Detels R, McEwen J, Beaglehole R, Tanaka K, editors. The Oxford textbook of public health. 4th ed. New York: Oxford University Press Inc, 2001. pp. 311–335.

[52] Kriebel D,  Tickner J,  Epstein P, et al. The precautionary principle in environmental science. Environ Health Perspect 2001; 109 871–6.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |

[53] Quinn MM,  Kriebel D,  Geiser K,  Moure-Eraso R. Sustainable production: a proposed strategy for the work environment. Am J Ind Med 1998; 34 297.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |

[54] McCamley P. Minimising subjectivity: a new risk assessment model for CPTED. The Journal of the International Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design Association 2002; 1(1): 25–34.


[55] Du Plessis C. The links between crime prevention and sustainable development. Open House International 1999; 24(1): 33–40.


[56] McDonald D No. 163. Violence as a public health issue. Trends and issues in crime and criminal justice. Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2000.