Crime and the City: Designing for Prevention

Well-designed and maintained urban and suburban spaces encourage safe enjoyment and improved quality of life for everyone. One key area of interest for designers, planners, police and local councils is the development of public spaces that are low in crime. This unit will introduce students to the theory and practice of crime prevention Through Environmental Design or CPTED. CPTED draws on the work of environmental criminologists, sociologists and planners and focuses on the design, modification and management of the built environment to improve safety and reduce or eliminate the incidence of crime. This unit will introduce students to the different generations of CPTED, up-to-date research about what works in urban design for crime prevention, and provides an overview of the CPTED framework in Victoria. Students will engage in hands on project-based activities, for example, designing a new space or responding to problems in a pre-existing space through conducting a CPTED audit.