TITLE: CONTRIBUTION OF CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH

ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN (CPTED) CONCEPT AS A CRIME PREVENTION

STRATEGY.

RUQAYYAH BINTI MOHD ZAINI 1613244

SHAHIRAH BINTI ASHARI 1619256

INTRODUCTION

Crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) concept is a useful planning

tool for assisting in the creation of more efficient, sustainable and liveable urban design that

can improve the safety of the society. The needs of society to stay in peaceful area without

any harm is the right of the community especially in the neighbourhood or residential area.

CPTED is based upon the idea that “the detailed and effective design of the physical

environment can influence human behaviour from committing a crime as well as reducing the

fear of crime and the incidence of crime while increasing the quality of the environment and

the quality of life”. Furthermore, a safe neighbourhood tends to have a lower crime rate,

which means that incidences of thefts, burglaries, and other crimes are relatively few. With a

safe environment, the community tends to start know each other, the crime will be reduced. It

is because the people will be scared and embarrassed to make a crime and will avoid

involving in the crime that absolutely can make them hated by the community. So that, the

crime will be prevented and lead to a harmonious and peaceful area and surrounding.

Moreover, the concept of CPTED will be implemented with successfully without issues

or problems rises. In common with all crime prevention strategies, there are limitations to this

approach. (P. Cozens, 2015). There are activities that cannot be avoided for implementing

CPTED concept. First, “irrational “offenders such as, those intoxicated by alcohol or drugs
are potentially less likely to be deterred by first-generation CPTED strategies, but similarly,

they might be less likely to respond predictably to any crime prevention initiatives.

Second, negative socio-economic and demographic dynamics can also reduce the

efficacy of CPTED strategies, or enhance the efficacy of CPTED if those dynamics are

positive. The ecological threshold or “tipping point” (Saville, 1996) of a neighbourhood is the

notion that like any natural ecosystem, it has a limited capacity for certain activities and

functions. Returning to the original social ecology formulations of CPTED from Jacobs

(1961), tipping points treat neighbourhoods as social ecosystems.

In result with people is more rely in CPTED concept for example gated communities

without sufficient community participation a “fortress mentality” can result, where citizens

and neighbourhoods (e.g. gated communities) withdraw behind walls, fences and fortified

homes.

Other than that, it shows that how important the community participation in realizing

the CPTED concept. Allah says in the Qur'an, "You are the best of communities brought forth

for mankind." (3:110) Abu Su'ud describes this verse in his commentary: This means the best

people for others. This is an unambiguous expression which states that the good [mentioned

here] lies in benefit provided to the people. This is also understood from the expression,

"brought forth for mankind" -namely, brought forth to benefit them and advance their best

interests. It can be summarized that when the community participates and stand together, it

can achieve something that can give a benefit to the community.

Hence, every one of us demand a safe and liveable environment. Through CPTED

concept, it helps in realizing that dream. The assertion that crime prevention through

environmental design is a pragmatic and effective crime prevention tool. It is strongly

believed that crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) concept plays an
important role in enhancing safety, upgrading security and improving social activities among

society.

MAIN IDEA 1: CREATING A SAFER ENVIRONMENT AND COMMUNITY.

The fundamental idea of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)

concept is that it is possible to use knowledge and creativity to design those built

environments in ways that lessen or prevent the incidence of such crime which occurred in

settlement area such as city, urban and rural.

The livable urban design components are not only in a built environment but also

social, economic and natural factors that connect the people with the quality of cities (Cozens

& Love, 2015). The concept of Natural Access Control is a design strategy that is directed at

decreasing crime opportunity. The primary goal of an access control strategy is to deny

access to a crime target and to create a perception of risk to the offender. It does this by using

design features to deny offenders access to targets, reduce escape opportunities and guide

legitimate users through the environment. Natural Access Control by limit access without

completely disconnecting the subdivision from adjacent subdivisions. Design streets to

discourage cut-through or high-speed traffic. Then, install paving treatments, plantings, and

architectural design features such as a columned gateway to guide visitors to desired

entrances and away from private areas. Install walkways in locations safe for pedestrians, and

use them to define pedestrian bounds.

Movement Predictors direct people, especially pedestrians and cyclists, along a

particular route or path. In some cases, they implemented this without providing obvious

alternative escape routes or strategies for safety, for example pedestrian tunnel, pedestrian

bridges, enclosed pathways, staircases or overpass. According to Sarkissian and Locca (2003)
“They are often routes that may be difficult to escape from if someone is being followed or

chased. Often when alternate routes are unavailable to pedestrians, the movement predictor

contains entrapment and concealment areas where offenders can hide and wait for victims.”

In other cases, they merely direct people in a certain direction, what designers called

wayfinding. It is important to carefully design and situate movement predictors so as not to

provide potential attackers with places to lie in wait for people on a certain path.

In conclusion, liveable city, urban, rural and so on is a great and safe place to live

especially with the combination of the CPTED concept. It is more safety, resilient as well,

with competitive social, economic and environmental advantages. In the Quran also stated

about safety, “if any of the idolaters ask you for protection, give them protection until they

have heard the words of Allah. Then convey them to a place where they are safe. That is

because they are a people who do not know.” - Surah At-Tawbah (9:6).