1. The University of Adelaide, School of Computer Science
Effective Physical Security
Fourth Edition
The University of Adelaide, School of Computer Science
4 May 2018
Chapter 1
Influence of Physical Design
Copyright © 2013, Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer

2. Physical Design and Informal Social Control
The University of Adelaide, School of Computer Science
4 May 2018
Physical Design and Informal Social Control
Many urban settings seem designed to discourage informal social control.
Recent move to develop designs to allow and build more informal social control to encourage:
More social interaction
Better crime prevention strategies
1: Influence of Physical Design
Copyright © 2013, Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Chapter 2 — Instructions: Language of the Computer

3. Physical Design and Informal Social Control
Current thinking:
Proper physical design of housing encourages residents to extend social control from homes to surrounding common areas.
Changes public and semi-public areas to private areas
Increases social control and interaction
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4. Physical Design and Informal Social Control
Better physical planning key to improved physical security
Closely knit communities tend to protect members
Opportunities for crime reduced or eliminated
Development of informal social control
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Defensible Space
Territoriality
A man’s home is his castle!
Idea largely lost in movement towards row houses, high-rise apartments, and housing projects
Do not feel responsibility for area outside their door
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Defensible Space
Lack of responsibility leads to:
Outside world as a no-man’s land
Lack of social sense of ownership
Criminals can act almost at will
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Defensible Space
Natural Surveillance
Increased presence of human observers needs action, depending on:
How much observers feel personal/property rights are violated
Extent to which observer identifies with victim
How much observer feels they can help
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8. Defensible Space—Architectural Guidelines
Site design:
Clustering residential units around private hallways, courtyards, recreation areas
Site interrelationship design:
Semi-private connecting and common spaces between private family clusters
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9. Defensible Space—Architectural Guidelines
Street design and other public space
Making spaces into semi-public extensions of resident clusters and connectors
Surveillance-specific design:
Increase general visibility (lighting, no physical barriers)
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10. Defensible Space—Modifying Existing Physical Design
Low-cost techniques to modify facilities
Install security devices
Divide common lawn areas into private yards
Improve semi-privacy of pathways/common areas
Reduce number of public access points
Establish audio and video surveillance
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11. Defensible Space—Modifying Existing Physical Design
Opposite of hardened security system
Living environment opened up and used by residents instead of being closed in
Stimulates a self-policing condition
Opportunities for crime may exist, but probability for criminal activity is reduced
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12. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)
To assist in neighborhood crime prevention, CPTED applies strategies incorporating:
Physical design
Citizen participation
Law enforcement
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13. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)
Sense of caution towards approach:
Not conclusively demonstrated
Disagreement among crime prevention theorists
Magnitude of typical project beyond practitioner’s current ability
Cost represents major financial investment
Copyright © 2013, Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

14. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)
Recent project results:
In Manchester, combining community policing concepts with CPTED led to crime reduction:
Drug activity—reduced 57%
Robbery—reduced 54%
Burglary—reduced 52%
Police calls for service—dropped 20%
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15. CPTED—Territorial Defense Strategies
Five strategies:
Land use planning
Building ground security
Building perimeter security
Building interior security
Construction standards
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16. CPTED—Confidence Restoration Strategies
Changes to consider:
Design features (locks, lights, fences)
Impact of implemented design features on residents and other legitimate property users
Direct and indirect effect of intervening factors on crime
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17. CPTED—Personal Defense Strategies
Prevention of violent crimes by:
Safe streets for people: Surveillance and activity support
Transportation: Stops located near safe areas
Cash of the streets: Encourage people to carry minimal cash
Citizen intervention: Organizing and mobilizing residents
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18. CPTED—Law Enforcement Strategies
Police funcitons that support community-based prevention activities
Police patrol: Deployment procedures to improve efficiency and effectiveness
Citizen–police support: Support activities to encourage cooperation in preventing and reporting incidents
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19. CPTED—Confidence Restoration Strategies
Mobilizing neighborhood interest and support to implement CPTED changes
Investor confidence: Promote economic and social investment
Neighborhood identity: Build community pride and social cohesion
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20. CPTED—Application Results
Results in featured cities include:
Reduced opportunities for crime
Cooperation between law enforcements and residents
Increased neighborhood identity
Public information programs
Improved transportation systems
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CPTED—Steps Taken
Steps to achieve goals were:
Outdoor lighting, sidewalk/landscaping improvement
Block watch, safe homes, area cleanups
Campaign to discourage carrying cash
Public transportation improvement/expansion
Improved street lighting
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Future of CPTED
Simplistic strategies for future CPTED use:
Clear border definition of controlled space
Clearly marked transitional zones
Relocation of gathering areas to locations with natural surveillance and access control
Redesignate space use to provide natural barriers
Improve scheduling of space
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