The Crime Prevention through Environmental Design Program in Queensland

Crime Prevention Program
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
Crime Prevention Program
Crime prevention programs and strategies play a significant role in regard to the style of police service in preventing crimes across the world. These programs requires the involvement of community members, the justice system and the police in order to achieve community and police oriented objectives of improving the quality of life and keeping people safe from any danger. These types of crime prevention programs are based on various factors such as the focus and rationale of the program, financial costs as well as the race. However, despite the effectiveness of the above factors, community participation is the primary key for the success of the program. There are various programs that deal with the issue of crimes in the society. More focus is on controlling crime with the notion that eventually crime control will reduce crimes in the society. An example of the programs that has been widely used and have proved to be effective is the Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED). Its basic principle is to make the quality of life safer for people who reside in the communities by improving the safety of the environment through scientific design strategies that discourage criminal activities. The purpose of this paper is to focus on the Crime Prevention through Environmental Design program in Queensland including its goals, how it is implemented as well as its effectiveness.
Primary Crime Prevention
These models of crime prevention involve the community to a certain extent. However, they tend to focus on the developmental stages of a crime. These models address the various environmental aspects that may lead to the occurrence of a crime (Andresen & Jenion, 2008). Therefore, the primary objective of primary crime prevention is to minimize factors that influence crimes.
Secondary Crime Prevention
Models under this category focus on preventing crimes by emphasizing on risk factors that may influence criminal activities. This model relies on identification and prediction. After the potential places, people or circumstances have been identified, then it is possible to predict and prevent crime from happening (Andresen & Jenion, 2008).
Tertiary Crime Prevention
These models are different from other the other categories because they focus on focus on prevention measures after the occurrence of a crime. Various steps are implemented to ensure that the victims do not fall victims again (Andresen & Jenion, 2008).
Current Trends in Queensland
Increasing Aging Population
There are more older people in Queensland than the younger generations. It is estimated that by the end of 2026 there will be more Queenslanders of more than 65 years of age. Therefore, there is a likelihood of elderly people participating in the daily activities representing a more significant group in the streets.
Changing Forms of Housing
As a result of changing community and lifestyles as well as an increase in housing choices, majority of the Queenslanders live in high-density housing areas. Additionally, the recent rise of medium and high-rise residential areas such as Inner Brisbane are occupied by the rich and is usually managed unlike the gated communities. The recent proposal by the South-East Queensland Regional Plan to emphasize on greater density housing in strategic areas, this development plan in accordance to CPTED principles is critical. Moreover, the different households and housing systems may suggest a different and the extent to which community and commercial facilities should be used.
Objectives of Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED)
CPTED is based on the implementation of scientific techniques and settings with the objective of decreasing crime activities in the society. It focuses on changing various elements of the environment with the aim of i) preventing or reducing crime; ii) reducing fear of crime; iii) increasing the safety of the environment; and increasing the qualitative value of life for those who people who abide to the law (Del Carmen & Robinson, 2000). Moreover, Robinson states further that for the approach to be effective, three important criteria must be present: development of a strong police department, have active citizens or residents and initiate certain actions to eliminate factors that contribute to criminal activities (Del Carmen & Robinson, 2000). Robinson has provided a clear analysis of where CPTED will be applicable (individual, group, school, community, and society. He goes further to assert that all levels focus on behavior because it stems from various factors. According to Del Carmen and Robinson (2000), a community based approach involves all the community members with the after-school programs being an example. The social level government is also included in such programs through various methods such a “granting cops in schools.” For crime prevention in schools, Robinson has advocated for the inclusion of all levels.
Some of the principles behind the CPTED programs includes targeting hardening that focuses on controlling access to areas through the use of various scientific techniques such as the installation of surveillance systems to minimize crime opportunities. Also, through territorial reinforcement where security measures are enforced in various settings where people are living or working. CPTED is problem oriented because it addresses a wide range of societal problems. Besides preventing crimes, it also analyses crime events that contribute to wrongdoings, which can be used in formulating policies that can help in addressing various problems in certain areas or locations. CPTED plays a significant role in delineating the problem and in decision-making process in regard to designing appropriate solutions to curb crimes in the society. CPTED’s overall objective is to reduce opportunities that contribute to the occurrence of crimes in the society by applying physical scientific techniques which are intentionally implemented with the goal of discouraging crime and encourages safe use of the environment.
Compared to other crime prevention programs, CPTED is different because its emphasis is on the aspects of design than other environmental elements. Some of the procedures involved in CPTED are aimed at denying the target group access to various areas through the use of preventive security measures. For example the use of locks or reliance on technological devices such as alarms and surveillance cameras in the detection and identification of offenders. Moreover, CPTED proves to be different from the police activities because it encourages the prevention of crimes before they are committed by considering the design and logistical aspects of a location. The traditional policing initiative valued taking actions to the crime by identifying and arresting the offenders.
Various crime prevention programs have been developed with most of them being...