Markets

Town Centre Management - Crime prevention

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.

Government guidelines helps councils decide on how they can design and protect their town centres against crime.

Government policy

Policy is set out in Circular 5/94 'Planning Out Crime', which states that planning proposals can help reduce crime, especially if they are considered as part of a planned method including a wide range of measures, including, for example, estate or town centre management and CCTV.

The Circular accepts that crime prevention is a 'material' planning concern which can legitimately be taken into account in preparing plans and deciding planning applications.

The circular suggests that if areas, such as town centres, are occupied after dark, the presence of people produces a form of informal control 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.

The regeneration of large housing estates should incorporate measures such as a variety of residences, the creation of smaller community areas, the supply 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 the design of a building.

Thus with landscaping it is important to avoid planting which can hide wrong doers close to footpaths, but the use of spiky bushes can help deter crime.

Footpaths should be straight, wide, 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 be necessary but should be attractively designed, for example with open grilles, to avoid 'dead' shopping frontages and graffiti.

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

Suggested guidelines

It is suggested that the following guidelines be adopted and that they be used in the preparation of development briefs and in the control of development.

General

Crime prevention should be taken into account in the planning of all developments
The Police Architectural Liaison Officer should be consulted about major development proposals

Town centres

A mix of uses - shop, food and drink and entertainment, and residential should be encouraged within centres to ensure the presence of people throughout day and night, whilst avoiding undue concentrations of uses such as pubs, which could give rise to public order problems
Security shutters, where necessary, should be of an open grille design, integrated into the design of the shopfront and should be painted to match. Special consideration should be given within Conservation Areas. They are not appropriate on Listed Buildings

Housing estates

Larger estates should make provision for open spaces where children can play in safety but without disturbing residents
All public spaces - roads, footpaths and open spaces and play areas should be well lit and overlooked by dwellings. Footpaths to the rear of properties should be avoided where possible
Private spaces, such as rear gardens, should be clearly demarcated by high walls or fences
Landscaping should avoid creating hiding places close to footpaths and spiky bushes could be used to deter unwanted visitors

Commercial development

Comments on landscaping as above
Security considerations should be integrated into the design process and consideration should be given to building design and security lighting as well as security fencing
Fences should be attractive and robust and chain link fences, concrete post and panel fences should be avoided in prominent locations