Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design
Houston Police Department Public Affairs
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Introduction
We live with crime every day. Unfortunately, it has become a fact of life. Discussions on the subject have traditionally focused much more on arrest and punishment than on crime prevention; measures that cannot be taken until after a crime has been committed. Preventing crime offers tremendous savings to everyone.
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Crime An act or commission of an act that is
forbidden or the omission of a duty that is commanded by a public law and that makes the offender liable to punishment by that law.
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Types of Crime
Reported crimes.
Unreported crimes.
Unacknowledged - shrinkage
Undetected
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Fear of Crime
Public perception is
that crimes of all kinds
is rising and that public
safety faces a greater
and greater threat.
Globe and Mail
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Crime Prevention
Crime Prevention is the
anticipation, recognition
and appraisal of a crime
risk and the initiation of
some action to remove or
reduce the risk
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What is CPTED? Pronounced sep-ted
Crime
Prevention
Through
Environmental
Design
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CPTED Defined
CPTED (pronounced sep-ted) is based on the
premise that the proper design and effective use of
the built environment can lead to a reduction in the
fear and incidence of crime and an improvement in
the quality of life.
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CPTED
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CPTED Houston, Texas Idealistically practitioners
prefer that CPTED is implemented at the design and planning stage.
That rarely occurs in Houston, TX the fourth largest city in the country.
There are no local laws that mandate the implementation of CPTED.
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Design Phase/ Blueprints
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CPTED & HPD The Houston Police Department
began utilizing CPTED as a crime prevention tool in the early 80s.
CPTED Assessments are provided by request to the residents of the city of Houston free of charge.
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CPTED Assessment
What is an Assessment?
A free service provided to citizens, neighborhoods, businesses, multi-family properties, residents, etc. by trained personnel from the Houston Police Department. The purpose of this assessment is to reduce the formability of crime, by making a good faith effort to provide a safe environment. (Also referred to as inspection and or survey)
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How does a citizen receive this service?
Contact local storefront in your area.
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What does the survey entail? Personnel meet the requestor and a day and night inspection of the property is rendered. The inspection focuses on crime prevention related deficiencies on and around the property. Recommendations to help deter potential and or future criminal activity are discussed on the day of the inspection and an official summary of the inspection is forwarded to the citizen within a specified time period.
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The suggestions and recommendations are made for the purpose of reducing the likelihood of criminal activity.
While no guarantee can be stated or implied, the concepts of CPTED have proven themselves internationally. The Houston Police Department offers this assessment as a public service, with the understanding that there is no way to predict or prevent all crime risks.
What is the intent
of the survey?
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Where can CPTED Assessments be performed?
Condominiums and Public Housing
Multi-family Properties (Blue Star)
Central Business District/ Regional Centers/ Town Centers
Offices/ Retails/ Hotels
Educational Institutions and Schools
Industrial Areas
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Parking Lots
Parks/ Open Spaces/ Playgrounds
Back Lanes
Public Washrooms
Sidewalks/ Walkways
Underpasses/ Pedestrian Overhead Bridges
Bus Shelters/ Taxi Stands/ MRT/ LRT Stations
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CPTED Presentations HPD personnel are not only available to perform
CPTED assessments but they also are available to provide PowerPoint presentations.
Civic Club
PIP Meetings
Schools
Corporations
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CPTED Trained The Houston Police Department provides annual
CPTED training to police officers twice a year and/or on an as-needed basis, therefore officers are available to provide assessments and presentations in all patrol areas throughout the city.
Contact your area storefront or go onto the HPD website for request.
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5 Principles of CPTED 1. Natural Surveillance
2. Natural Access Control
3. Territorial Reinforcement
4. Maintenance
5. Activity Support
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Crime Prevention PSA
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Key CPTED Concepts Natural Surveillance
Natural Access Control
Territorial Reinforcement
SATS
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Natural Surveillance Natural surveillance refers to areas where
people and their activities can be readily
observed. Such areas can be created by:
Designing landscapes that allow clear,
unobstructed views of surrounding areas.
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Natural Surveillance Improving visibility with lighting
or transparent building materials.
Avoid the creation of building
entrapment areas.
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Natural Surveillance Things that are examined during the assessment. Surveillance ask the question will I be seen?
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Residential
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Commercial Storefronts Keep customers and employees in view of each
other Check-out counters should be located in front of
the store and clearly visible from the outside Make private areas harder for non-employees to
access Prevent easy access to the roof/fire escape If rear parking is offered, provide rear access to the
store
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Natural Access Control
Natural access control means controlling
access to a site. It can be achieved by:
Ensuring that entrances are visible, well lit
and overlooked by windows.
Clearly define entranceways and control
other points of access to a site.
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Access ask the question, how can I get in and out?
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Clearly define entranceways and control other points of
access to a site.
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Territorial Reinforcement Refers to peoples sense of ownership.
In CPTED; it refers to the development of areas
or places where the users feel a strong sense
of ownership. It is an umbrella concept,
embodying all natural surveillance and access
control principles.
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The question is asked, does anyone care about what
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Schools
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School Drop-Off and Pick-Up
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CPTED Strategies
Target Hardening
Landscaping
Fencing
Lighting
Public Art
Lighting
Landscaping
Fencing
Target
Hardening
Public Art
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Lighting
90 % of crime occurs after dark
Proper lighting enables law abiding
citizens to observe / report crime and
to identify suspects.
It makes people feel safe.
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Lighting Maintenance
Lighting requires maintenance to preserve visibility. Bushes and trees that block off lighting should be trimmed. Lighting fixtures should be located at suitable heights for easy maintenance and replacement. Light fixtures should be maintained in a clean condition and promptly replaced if
burnt or broken.
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Protection of Lighting
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Lighting needs are determined after
the night survey
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Landscaping
Landscaping can become overgrown
Overgrown or improperly placed landscaping can create ambush points
Improperly placed landscaping may disrupt access control
Poor landscaping can reduce visibility
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Landscaping Trees should be trimmed between 8 10 feet from the
ground
Shrubs should be no more that 3 feet in height or below window seal
Barrier plants (thorns and needles) can be used to deter criminal trespass
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LANDSCAPING
A maintenance plan
is essential in
landscaping!
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Fencing
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Target Hardening
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Public Art
Determine whether Public
Art is advantageous to the
neighborhood
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Additional Crime Prevention
Multi-family Properties & CPTED
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Blue Star Program
15 Minimum
BLUE STAR
CPTED Requirements
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Blue Star Program
The Blue Star Program is a partnership between the Houston Police Department, the owners and managers of rental property, and property residents to keep drugs and other illegal activity out of the community.
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Blue Star Designation There are three phases that must be completed before a Blue Star designation is awarded: Phase One: The property manager and staff attend an eight hour seminar presented by HPD. Phase Two: The property must meet the minimum CPTED requirements required by Blue Star. Phase Three: The Houston Police Department conducts a resident safety event onsite.
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Maintenance
Allows for the continued use of a space for its intended purpose. Serves as an additional expression of ownership. Prevents reduction of visibility from landscaping overgrowth and obstructed or inoperative lighting.
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Maintenance usually deters offenders
Neglected and poorly maintained properties are the breeding grounds for criminal activity
Broken Window Theory
Suggest that one broken window or nuisance if allowed to exist will lead to others and ultimately to the decline of entire neighborhoods.
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Remove graffiti immediately upon discovering.
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Repair fencing.
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Activity Support
Placing activities where individuals
become part of the natural surveillance.
Move playgrounds where parents can observe them. Property of the Houston Police Department
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Communication is the
Key
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CONCLUSION
CPTED is not the total answer to community problems, but it
does provide community with the means to eliminate or reduce
environmental obstacles to social, cultural or managerial control.
Timothy D. Crowe
Criminologist & CPTED Practitioner
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Through the use of CPTED principles, the physical environment can be modified or designed to eliminate or reduce the opportunities for crime to be committed.
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If all else fails
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Questions
Contact Information
Princina Brown-Thomas Planner Leader Citywide CPTED Coordinator 713.308.3247 Email: [email protected] Website: www.houstonpolice.org
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