Christchurch CBD rebuild using Crime Prevention Through Environment Design principles
CPTED
- Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design was devised in the 1970’s but is becoming increasingly popular around the world including New Zealand.
- Christchurch has adopted CPTED as a priority for the inner city rebuild. Good Crime Prevention Through Design does not have to increase budget. It should also be invisible to the public.
- CPTED isn’t an architectural style, it is a series of measures and techniques that can be applied to any kind of building or space.
- An example of CPTED is the bus interchange that has been rebuilt in Christchurch. Statistics show crime in the new interchange has dropped dramatically. The police are convinced it has to do with the new design. For example toilet facilities that open on to a shared, observable foyer and visually permeable barriers in areas like bicycle storage.
CPTED is not just about reducing crime.
It seeks to maximise the use of public spaces by linking places with corridors and pathways that are well lit and open.
In this way designers don’t just minimise crime, they increase livability.
Christchurch’s top cop, Superintendent John Price, is a fan of preventing crime rather then simply responding to it and he is one who has identified the value of good design. “I’d rather not have to deploy so many police officers in the CBD, I want the CBD to largely police itself. And if we can do that through some basic CPTED principles, which we can, then we should”.
Insight EDS has experience in security audits and physical security. If you are interested in looking at CPTED for your business or new build contact us today.
