GREEN SECURITY

Crime Prevention through Design also referred to as Safety by Design

Hand in hand with the recession has come the cost of preventing crime. Most people only think of using conventional alarm systems, cameras, ugly razor wire and electric fences to prevent crime and are not aware of other design features that can play a major role in deterring and preventing crime.

Heightened security need not be conspicuous or threatening. Crime Prevention measures can be developed to blend in with the environment and maintain an attractive appearance. 

Building and landscaping architecture can be planned to deceive and direct an intruder in the desired direction. Thorny hedges can be planted as natural barriers, in place of unsightly and hazardous electric fencing and razor wire. Security systems can be designed to blend with architecture, landscaping and equipment concealed to increase   resistance to defeat, enhance detection capabilities and contribute to aesthetics. Crime can be curbed by altering the conditions that provide the opportunities for criminal behaviour.

The pre-planned design of natural landscaping, lighting, water features, irrigation systems, pathways and planting can be an effecting and low cost component of the overall security framework plan. 

Building Architecture and Strategic Security Planning The architect and security planner should work together during the design stage of building.

It is important that the design and specifications for the installation of technology, hardware, fences, walls, gates and lighting are jointly planned with the security professional.

Construction management, usually for reasons of economy, will invite a security contractor to act as an unpaid security consultant in matters involving strategic security planning.  The problem in such an arrangement is that the contractor’s expertise will be in manufacturing, installing and selling security products, not in providing professional objective advice on holistic security planning. 

Space can be designed to increase the perception of natural surveillance. This decreases the ability of criminals to hide or carry out their activities. The perception of surveillance is more powerful than its reality.  Solid walls are best used for privacy.  However, where the boundary runs along a roadway, see-through fencing, such as weld mesh or diamond mesh allows passing traffic to see into the property and thus helps to deter criminals. Palisade and bar fencing is less suitable as this creates a solid barrier effect when viewed at an angle. There are currently a wide choice of cut resistant see through fences with form effective security barriers and virtual fences which provide effective perimeter early detection.

Thorny Hedges Thorny hedges and shrubbery can make effective fences/barriers. This is recommended on the inside and/or outside of fences/walls and also helps to prevent burrowing.

The maximum heights for shrubs and trees should be considered to ensure that these do not obscure surveillance cameras or obstruct lighting. Shrubbery should not be allowed to grow taller than 1 meter and the branches of trees should be no lower than 1.8 m to discourage criminals from hiding behind the foliage.

Lighting Adequate and selective lighting plays an important role as a deterrent and improves cameras picture quality.   Lighting that provides true colour is preferred for CCTV. Compact LED energy saving floodlights with a small footprint are preferred to unsightly large halogen floodlights

Security Vulnerability Assessment and Holistic Security Plan The most important part of security planning is the security vulnerability assessment. This needs to be carried out by a professional risk analyst qualified in the full spectrum of security planning.  The assessment will identify the areas in need of protection, the kinds of risks, most likely modus operandi, assess the probability of risk occurrence, determine the impact of risk, and prioritise security requirements accordingly.

Crime prevention through environmental design, (CPTED) is internationally recognised CPTED is a crime prevention strategy, which is becoming recognized by international security professionals who know that good security is more than uncompromising walls, electric fences, alarm systems, CCTV and access barriers and that the effective use of the environment can lead to a reduction in crime as well as an improvement in the quality of life.

Property developers and urban planners need to be made more aware of the benefits of CPTED and to work more closely with security planners.