Why Safety and Security Should be Factored in Urban Planning and Design
As Urbanisation gallops across Africa at frenetic speed, so does the rate of exposure to incidents of violence and crime.
1). Urban planners and designers, more than any one else, hold the key to the fort of safety and security in urban areas
2). Crime can be curbed by either preventing it or exercising social control
i). crime prevention is directed at preventing someone from being a victim by reducing potential criminal’s opportunities and abilities to commit an offence
ii). crime control is targeted at reducing a potential offender’s motivation to commit a crime
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3). For a crime to occur three factors must be in place:
i). opportunity, ii). ability
iii). motive
4). Crime-reduction is part of the job of urban planners and designers and if they fail to tackle it they are encouraging crime by default
5). Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) strategy can help ensure security and safety in urban areas
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6). CPTED is a set of procedures and practices that address the design of public spaces in town, such as parks, walkways, alleys and bus stops in such a manner that such places cannot be used as hideouts for criminals
7). Because it is urban planners who approve site plans: i). they should recommend only those designs which incorporate safety into urban landscape ii). they could influence the private sector by recommending landscape designs for shared public spaces that reduce criminal opportunities
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8). Building standard and regulations and local government by-laws should be modified to include safety and security issues
9). Current structures should be re-designed or retrofitted to include safety considerations
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10). Urban Planning and design is more than just land-use maps and zoning; planners should factor any prevailing socio-political and economic situation into their work
11). An urban world may hold the key to reducing the number of people at risk from violence and crime; but only if local authorities become more accountable and transparent
12). By concentrating people, enterprise and their wastes in one place, there are economies of scale in reducing risk and in responding rapidly and effectively to violence and crime
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13). But, once again, only if CPTED is incorporated in urban planning.
14). Let safety and security reign in our urban homes and neighbourhoods through CPTED.
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