Designing and planning out crime and anti-social behaviour is a cost effective way of tackling those issues head on. Just look at the facts;
People's perceptions*
- 63% believe crime as a whole was on the increase
- 17% believe that there are high levels of anti-social behaviour in their area
- 13% worry about a high level of burglaries
- Those living in the social rented sector (39%) & owners in the social sector (30%) were much more likely than those in the private rented sector (21%) to perceive an increase in the crime rate
*Taken from the British Crime Survey 2005/06
Association of British Insurers
report supports case for SBD
The report outlines the success of SBD in reducing crime and compares the modest cost of improving security in new homes with the cost of burglary to victims and the national economy.
The security upgrade can be achieved for as little as £480 and an average cost across a range of home types of £630, whereas the average cost of burglary is £3,300.
This equates to net savings to the national economy of £215m in the first year and £3.2bn over 20 years. Modern social housing already receives the benefit of SBD as Housing Corporation funding is geared to achieving the standard. The ABI believes that regulation through the Sustainable & Secure Buildings Act is the way to improve security in the private housing market.*
The report can be downloaded via the link www.abi.org.uk/securingthenation
*Taken from www.securedbydesign.com
Sustainable Communities
These are communities which succeed now, economically, socially and environmentally, and respect the needs of future generations.
They are well-designed places where people feel safe and secure; where crime and disorder, or the fear of crime, doesn't undermine quality of life or community cohesion. This is why the new Planning Policy Statement 1, the overarching PPS setting out the Government's planning objectives, has at its heart the need to plan for safe and sustainable communities.
Designing out crime and designing in community safety should be central to the planning and delivery of new developments... The prevention of crime and the enhancement of community safety are matters that a local planning authority should consider when exercising its functions under the Town and Country Planning legislation.
The guide focuses on 7 attributes of sustainability that are particularly relevant to crime prevention. Although not to be applied to all situations, they should be considered as means to thinking about crime prevention, and promoting community safety through the planning system. The attributes of safe, sustainable places are:
Access and Movement: Places with well-defined routes, spaces and entrances that provide for convenient movement without compromising security
Structure: places that are structured so that different uses do not cause conflict
Surveillance: places where all publicly accessible spaces are overlooked
Ownership: places that promote a sense of ownership, respect, territorial responsibility and community
Physical Protection: places that include necessary, well-designed security features
Activity: places where the level of human activity is appropriate to the location and creates a reduced risk of crime and a sense of safety at all times
Management and Maintenance: places that are designed with management and maintenance in mind, to discourage crime in the present and the future*
*Taken from Safer Places - The planning system and crime prevention, published by the Home Office and Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
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