Prevention by Design in Ottawa: Toward a Strategic Approach to ...

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Crime Prevention Ottawa 9 Study and Recommendations for CPTED in OttawaJanuary 19, 2009 problem is particularly acute when dealing with existing properties, particularly when this involves private properties because owners cannot be forced to make changes to buildings that are unsafe from a CPTED perspective. Two options in these cases are establishing a voluntary certification system such as that used in Crime Free Multi-Housing or requiring security updates when there are extensive renovations. Lack of resources The lack of resources is another barrier to the effective use of CPTED. This was mentioned by many respondents, several of whom said it was a particular problem for Ottawa Community Housing. Funding has been very tight for this agency, and it has been difficult for them to do necessary repairs to infrastructure in aging buildings. This means that major CPTED changes often have a low priority. One respondent said that school boards may re-use plans several times and will not have the plans revised when problems are identified because of the cost of these revisions. One community respondent reported that she was unable to get the city to carry out most of the changes recommended by a series of safety audits; the report „fell on deaf ears‟ despite the concerns of the community. These problems are to be expected when there is no funding program to deal with the results of audits. Design considerations Design considerations can also be a barrier to the use of CPTED in new construction. Designers of buildings and parks have many other factors to consider besides crime prevention. Many people value the aesthetics of a building, and this may sometimes conflict with security considerations. Some features that make parks more enjoyable may increase the vulnerability to crime — a „moonscape‟ without trees or other barriers may increase security but will not be a place that people will want to use. One respondent gave the example of a park with a heritage feature that community members wanted to retain even though it might have provided an opportunity for crime. These considerations are important, and there will always be a need to reach a balance.
Crime Prevention Ottawa 10 Study and Recommendations for CPTED in OttawaJanuary 19, 2009 4.0 Best practices and lessons learned from other jurisdictions Several countries have implemented CPTED strategies that provide lessons for Canada. The United Kingdom has perhaps the broadest crime prevention legislation of any Western country. In 1994, the national government provided CPTED guidance to local planning authorities. While this guidance was only advisory, the importance of CPTED was reinforced in the Crime and Disorder Act of 1998 which required local governments and the police to establish Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships. These partnerships were required to conduct audits identifying local crime problems and to develop and implement community safety plans to address these problems. The British government also helped develop and promote the Secured by Design program that encouraged the use of CPTED in design and construction. CPTED also plays a significant role in crime prevention in Australia. The national governments of Australia and New Zealand have developed a CPTED policy framework, and all state governments have CPTED codes or guidelines (Cozens, 2004). The level of involvement varies among the states but several have made a strong commitment to CPTED. For example, Western Australia has an Office of Crime Prevention within the Department of the Premier and Cabinet which includes a Designing Out Crime unit that focuses on CPTED. As part of this strategy, the government of Western Australia plans to incorporate CPTED planning at the state and local levels, has developed a set of planning guidelines (Western Australia Planning Commission, 2006), and is providing training and consultations for local governments. Significant funding is also available for local Designing Out Crime projects. Several countries have implemented CPTED strategies that provide lessons for Canada. The United Kingdom has perhaps the broadest crime prevention legislation of any Western country. The national governments of Australia and New Zealand have developed a CPTED policy framework, and all state governments have CPTED codes or guidelines (Cozens, 2004). The level of involvement varies among the states but several have made a strong commitment to CPTED. Government involvement in CPTED and other crime prevention initiatives in the United States is very limited. According to Schneider and Kitchen (2002), very few U.S. jurisdictions have included CPTED considerations as part of their design and planning approval processes, and where they do exist, CPTED checklists tend to be „cookie-cutter‟ approaches that may actually be counterproductive. One of the few communities that does have a mandatory environmental design code is Tempe, Arizona. The CPTED code provisions apply to crime-prone land uses (e.g., bars, convenience stores) and also to all new construction and some renovations. Single and two-family dwelling units are excluded from the regulations. The legislation is enforced by a team of police officers and planning personnel who review development plans. The police officers work within the planning office, so there is a very high level of cooperation. The initiative began as separate legislation, but CPTED principles are now integrated into the municipal zoning code. Schneider and Kitchen (2007) believe that Tempe is the only U.S. jurisdiction in which CPTED personnel can stop non-conforming projects — a power that is normally only held by fire and building inspectors. This and other material is discussed in detail in Appendix D.
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