SECURED BY DESIGN
A recent study by Sgt Jon
Brown of Gwent Police of crime statistics in areas where properties fell
into two categories
(a) Secured by
Design (SBD)
and
(b) non SBD
have revealed some interesting facts.
A
2 year study into recorded crime data in areas covered by Six Housing
Associations (Glamorgan & Gwent, Gwerin, Aelwyd, Charter, Eastern
Valley and United Welsh) provided details on 9,173 properties in Gwent
representing 4% of the total housing stock. 81.7% of the properties
were non SBD and 18.3% were SBD properties.
Cross
referencing these properties with recorded crime data revealed that SBD
properties suffered at least 40% less burglaries and vehicle related crime
and 25% less criminal damage than the non SBD properties.
This report
suggests that SBD properties suffer half the rate of break-ins through
doors and windows than non-SBD per thousand dwellings. While this
suggests that target hardening is effective, no evidence of micro
displacement was discovered, i.e. door to window or house to car taking
place. Temporal analysis of recorded crime data suggests that
displacement is taking place with very few daytime offences occurring
against SBD properties. This may indicate the impact of enhanced
natural surveillance and attempts by offenders to avoid it.
As this
study did not specifically examine housing design or estate layout it was
not possible to specifically measure the impact of features such as access
routes or symbolic barriers.
Whilst the overall analysis may be
subject to an error factor of up to 8% there was evidence from interviews
with housing managers, residents and police officers that quality of life
issues, such as the ear of crime, may be reduced by SBD. These
results are also consistent with recent research from the Building
Research Establishment (BRE).
Crime is a major public concern and directly, or indirectly, we are
all affected. The community as a whole has to pay for crime.
Insurance premiums for property, household contents, vehicles etc. all
increase as the number of claims grow.
More research is needed into
the impact of the key component parts of SBD - target hardening,
surveillance, access and symbolic barriers etc.
The issue of crime in
Wales and Secured by Design is due to be discussed by the National
Assembly in October. From the evidence of studies to date, it is
clear that a partnership which promotes the prevention of crime is in the
long term interest of all including the private sector. The new
Welsh Assembly has a strategic role to play in promoting such initiatives.
Secured by Design is promoted by each of the 4 Welsh forces.
Contact details for your local Police Architectural Liaison Officer are as
follows:
Gwent Police
Sgt. Jon Brown
Direct Line
01633 642426
Dyfed-Powis
Police
Inspector Peter Westlake
Direct Line 01267 226462
South Wales
Police
Sgt. Roger Inward
Direct Line 01639 889196
North Wales
Police
D. C. Graham Lewis
Direct Line 01492 511267
Our thanks to Sgt. Brown and
his colleagues for their help with this article.
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