The Seminole Police Department's philosophy of Neighborhood Policing recognizes the need for partnerships with other elements of the community to identify and solve neighborhood crime and disorder problems, and where practical, to create an environment in which problems do not arise. In land development the SPD would like to see a variety of crime prevention measures incorporated in the initial design of new projects. These measures are would complement and reinforce other efforts on Tribal land to improve public safety and security through community planning, redevelopment, transit-oriented design, etc. Examples of these measures are outlined in this paper under the four basic concepts of Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED).
The Seminole Police Department has certified crime prevention specialist who can conduct surveys and provide a written report that provides suggestions on how to safeguard your business or home utilizing Crime Prevention through Environmental Design. Call (954) 967-8900 and ask for assistance.
CPTED CONCEPTS AND MEASURES
CPTED is based on a set of four design and usage concepts that can lead to a reduction in the incidence and fear of crime, and an improvement in the quality of life. These concepts are defined briefly as follows:
- Surveillance. Involves the use of electrical and mechanical devices, and the location of physical features, activities, and people to provide good visibility in the environment. Creates a risk of detection for offenders and a perception of safety for legitimate users.
- Access control. Employs electrical and mechanical devices, people, and natural measures to create a perception of risk to offenders and deny them access to targets. Also guides legitimate users safely through the environment.
- Territorial Reinforcement. Uses physical features and signs to define ownership and control activities in the environment. Delineates spaces with limited or no public access.
- Maintenance. Allows the continued use of spaces for their intended purposes. Maintains the effectiveness of measures employed for surveillance, access control, and territoriality.
1. Surveillance Surveillance measures use electrical and mechanical devices and various physical means to enhance visibility in the environment. Surveillance is said to be natural if it comes from people and activities normally in the area.
2. Access Control Access control measures use electrical/mechanical devices and various physical means to deny offenders access to targets.
3. Territorial Reinforcement These are measures that define ownership and control activities in the environment. They delineate spaces with limited or no public access and guide legitimate users safely through the environment.
4. Maintenance These are measures that define ownership and control activities in the environment. They delineate spaces with limited or no public access and guide legitimate users safely through the environment.
CAVEATS
CPTED measures employ three elements -- people, devices, and design features -- to deter crimes of opportunity by making it more difficult for an offender to commit a crime and escape without being stopped or detected.
Although devices and design features are important, the human element is the critical one. People in the environment must:
- Take advantage of the visibility provided to observe and question intruders.
- Report suspicious behavior and criminal activities.
- Use the access control measures provided to keep intruders out.
- Use security measures to protect themselves and their property.
- Exercise control over their environment.
But even all of this will not stop many types of offenders. Other concepts and strategies will be needed to deal with offenders who are:
- Determined and skillful in defeating surveillance and access control measures.
- Irrational in their behavior.
- Acting as a member of an organized gang.
- Under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Reckless or undeterred by the risks of detection and apprehension.
- Unconcerned about possible punishment, or legitimately in the area.
The need for the community, police, and other agencies and organizations to work together as partners to employ other concepts and strategies is especially critical in dealing with gangs. This is because organized gangs can also use surveillance, access control, and territoriality measures, along with terror and intimidation, to make an environment safe for their criminal activities.
Finally, CPTED measures do not deal with many types of crimes that occur in social, home, and business environments. For example, they do not help to prevent crimes in which the victim knows or provides access to the offender, i.e., domestic violence, child abuse, acquaintance rape, substance abuse, workplace violence, fraud, and forgery. Counseling, education, enforcement, and other measures are needed to deal with these situations